Advancement - Rank Requirements and Getting Signed Off

Overview of Advancement from Scouts BSA

Guide To Advancement - https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf

Scouts BSA Advancement Website - https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/

Trail to First Class Resources

List of links will go here.

Our Troop Rank Advancement Specifics

Scout Handbook

Every scout needs a Scouts BSA Handbook and they should bring it with them to every activity. There are two books, one specifically for Girls, and one for Boys. This is the complete training document for all ranks in the Scouts BSA program.

Handbooks are organized in a specific and deliberate manner. A majority of the handbook contains the detailed information Scouts will be learning to progress through the ranks. It is divided by topic, such as Character and Leadership, First Aid, Nature, Fitness, Citizenship, Outdoor Ethics, Navigation, Tools, Cooking, and Personal Safety Awareness. All the outdoor skills they will learn for each rank is documented here.

**The most important pages in the handbook are the rank requirement tracking pages (starting around page 440) **

The rank tracking pages lists all the requirements a scout must complete for each rank. Note! Listed next to each requirement is the page in the handbook where the scout can learn about the requirement.

Scouts complete the requirement by reading the information in the handbook and, if required, demonstrating the skill they learned. To complete the requirement the scout will share what they learned (or demonstrate the new skill) with an adult leader or a First Class, or higher, Scout.

An adult leader or First Class+ Scout will sign and date the scout’s handbook that the requirement is complete.

There are a few requirements that cannot be completed at a scout meeting, such as the swimming requirements. Many times, Scouts will complete these requirements at summer camp and they will be signed off there. In addition, for these types of requirements, Scouts may also video tape the activity and share it with an adult leader or First Class+ Scout. Please do not email videos to adult leaders, it is best that the video is shown in person where the youth discuss and reflect on the activity with the leader.

Camping, Hiking, and Service Logs

After the rank pages in the Scout Handbook are logs for scouts to record

• Camping Nights,

• Hiking locations and distance,

• and service hour details.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT SCOUTS RECORD EVENT DETAILS FOR COMPLETED ACTIVTIES IN THE LOGS!

Each rank has requirements for camping nights, troop outings, and service hours. Scouts will be asked by a Scoutmaster what events they have participated in and the logs are a great resource for helping scouts remember what they have done and for starting the conversation.

Handbook and Scoutbook Sync

Scoutbook is the official tracking of advancement. There are several opportunities for scouts to get Scoutbook updated to match their handbook.

1. During Rank/MB nights committee members will work with scouts to update their Scoutbook record. 2. Scouts may scan or photocopy and email copies to any scout leader and ask them to update their Scoutbook record (please make sure it is legible).

3. Scouts will be asked to submit a copy of their signed rank pages in their handbook as part of the board of review.

Where to Purchase a Handbook

You can purchase the book at the Seattle Scout Shop or the Tacoma Scout Shop, it is also available from the online scout shop. However, it can take up to 3 weeks for delivery from the online scout shop. Someone from the troop travels to the local Scout Shop once every month or so. The scout shops do take phone orders, so you can order and ask them to hold your order for pickup by Troop 498. An email will go out to the troop a week before pickup so you can call and complete your order for pickup.

Ranks

There are seven ranks total. Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle.

The first four ranks are considered the Trail to First Class (TTFC) and focus on Scouts learning all the skills needed to independently go on an outdoor adventure on their own successfully. Scouts will work on ranks independently, as well as at troop meetings and outings. Once Scouts complete First Class, the remaining ranks focus on leadership, citizenship, personal development, and community service.

We offer many opportunities for Scouts to accomplish their rank requirements. It is up to the scout to look at the requirements and talk to a Scoutmaster or First Class+ Scout to sign off on the requirements. While we encourage all scouts to progress through rank, we do not force anyone to “rank up”. Some scouts are happy attending events, learning the skills, and having fun with their friends, and we are ok with that - if we know that is the desired path for that individual scout. We will still encourage them to get items signed off, but it is not required to be part of the troop.