Advancement is a great way to keep scouts challenged and engaged but is never the sole goal of our troop. Every scout advances according to his abilities and ambition. We encourage scouts to reach Eagle Scout Rank and support him in every way we can. However, we celebrate every scout who achieves 1st Class and has fun doing it. It’s about each scout forging his own path and having the experience meant for him.
Journal
Every scout should keep a journal. The contents of that journal should include:
- advancement
- merit badges
- campouts (may be recorded in your scout handbook)
- volunteer service hours (may be recorded in your scout handbook)
- completed blue card & associated recognition card (a great way to store these are in baseball card collection sheets)
Download these journal pages to help you.
Rank Advancement
Although some requirements may be addressed during meetings, most are left to you to complete.
Always ALWAYS bring your book to campouts and meetings. Select 1 or 2 achievements you would like to accomplish and don’t be shy to ask a leader to test you on that achievement.
Every achievement lists the pages where you can read all the information you need. Read and come prepared. Read the Scoutmaster Signoff Memo for information about who can sign off and who cannot.
Merit Badges
Merit badges are such fun and challenging!! There are several ways to start a merit badge:
- You can request a blue card from the Advancement Chair for a particular merit badge. A merit badge counselor will be assigned. Get the Scoutmaster’s signature on the front of the card which grants you permission to start the card.
- You can take part in an organized activity like Merit Badge University, Summer Camp, or a special district event like Forestry Day. A merit badge will be started for you. At the conclusion of the event, if all the requirements for the merit badge were completed, the blue card will probably be processed for you. However, if some requirements still remain, the partial blue card will be returned to you. You can see which requirements remain and proceed to complete those requirements on your own with the direction of your merit badge counselor.
Read the Merit Badge Procedures for more information.
The following sites are great resources for individual Merit Badge Information, including worksheets:
Life to Eagle
Welcome Life Scouts. Please read this letter from our Eagle Advisor.
Scoutbook
Keep up to date with your boys advancement, merit badges, camping, and service hours. Click here to log in. If you do not have a login speak to the advancement chair at the next meeting.