1.                   PURPOSE

The Scout program is designed to teach basic skills, promote teamwork, and develop leadership qualities in the young men of our Troop. Scouting develops a sense of civic responsibility and sharing. These goals are achieved by earning merit badges, rank advancements and participating in service projects.

 

2.                   SCOPE

                This policy applies to all Scouts actively enrolled in the troop.

 

3.                   REFERENCES

            Boy Scout Handbook
Scoutmaster Handbook
Merit Badge Books
Eagle Rank Advancement Procedure

 

4.                   DESCRIPTION

 

4.1                Merit Badges

More than 100 different merit badges can be earned. Specific merit badges are required for the Eagle rank. A listing is included in the Boy Scout Handbook. Some merit badges are earned during troop skill sessions and campouts, some are earned at summer camp, and some are earned according to the Scout’s interest. 

The troop provides merit badge booklets to Scouts for certain merit badge sessions.  A deposit, to be determined by the merit badge counselor, will be charged for use of these booklets (recent deposits have been $2.00).  The deposit will be forfeited if the Scout fails to turn the booklet in to the merit badge counselor when requested. 

                               

4.2                Merit Badge Counselors

The troop Advancement Chair has a list of the Merit Badge Counselors, within and outside of the troop, available to assist with the various merit badges. Anyone with knowledge or experience in one of these areas can be registered as a Merit Badge Counselor to assist Scouts in achieving the particular merit badge's requirements.

4.1                Service Projects

Scouts demonstrate Scout spirit by voluntarily participating in community oriented activities called service projects. The best known one is Scouting for Food, but there are other troop projects, including helping other Scouts with Eagle projects.  Each Scout in the troop is required to participate in the troop’s annual fundraiser by working a total of 6 hours annually.  See Leaf-raking Policy for additional details.   

 

4.4              Rank Advancement
Ranks in Scouting are:  Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle and Eagle Palms.  Requirements for rank advancement are described in the Boy Scout Handbook. The Scout will learn and execute the various skills required for each rank and demonstrate those skills to his Patrol Leader or other members of the boy leadership. They will sign off each requirement after this demonstration so that the Scout has a record of his progress. For this reason, it is important that the Scout bring his Boy Scout Handbook to all Troop functions.

 

4.5                Scout Advancement Procedures
 When all the requirements of a rank are complete, the Scout should contact the Scoutmaster and request a conference.  For the rank of Scout, after the requirements are met, a Scoutmaster conference is required; a Board of Review is not required.   For all other ranks, except Eagle, it is the Scout’s responsibility to insure that all the requirements for that rank are complete and signed off by the boy’s leadership.
 
Scoutmaster Conference:
The Scout must contact the Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster's conference.  Completed merit badge cards and any other material necessary to show completion of the rank, should be brought to the conference.  Dress uniform is required.  After the Scoutmaster's conference, the Scout must contact the Advancement Chairman for his Board of Review.

Board of Review for Tenderfoot through Life:
The purpose of the Board of Review is not to retest a Scout, but rather to ensure that he has completed all of the requirements, to determine the quality of his troop experience, and to encourage him to advance toward the next rank.  Each review should also include a discussion of ways in which the Scout sees himself living up to the Scout Oath and Law in his everyday life.  Boards for the ranks of Tenderfoot through Life should each last about 15 minutes. Every session should be set up to so that each member of the board can share a meaningful discussion with the Scout about important matters including his goals, personal growth, and Scout spirit.  The following guidelines will help provide an atmosphere of trust and support:

*  Make every effort to put the Scout at ease.

*  Smile and create a friendly, non-threatening mood.

*  Enliven the discussion by asking open-ended questions about the boy’s recent Scouting adventures.

*   Ask about his family and school activities.

*  Offer encouragement and praise.

At the end of the review, the Scout will leave the room while the board members discuss his qualifications.  Then they will call him back to tell him if he is qualified for his new rank, or to outline very clearly what more he must do in order to successfully complete the requirements.  The board can close the session by congratulating the Scout and encouraging him to continue his good efforts.  The Board of Review is organized by the Troop Advancement Chairman and is composed of from three to six members of the Troop Leadership Committee (all parents are members of the committee).  The Boards of Review are scheduled during the annual troop planning session.  The Scout's parents, the Scoutmaster and the Assistant Scoutmasters cannot serve as Board of Review members.   Dress uniform is required.

All paperwork, Merit Badges, Scoutmaster Conference, and Board of Review approvals must be completed and submitted to the Advancement Chairman 7 - 10 days BEFORE the Court of Honor at which that award is to be presented.  This will allow the Advancement Chairman time to purchase the appropriate badges and awards for the Court of Honor.

The rank of Eagle involves a much more involved verification process, including National evaluation of the Scout's qualifications. This information is given to the Scout when he achieves the rank of Life.  See the procedure for obtaining the rank of Eagle for details.

4.6                Troop Specific Awards/Honors


a.   Kevin Hanley Award:  The Kevin Hanley Award is an annual award given to the two Scouts (one a first year Scout, the other an experienced Scout) who have most exemplified the Spirit of Scouting during the most recent Scouting year.  This award is in memory of Kevin Hanley who as a first year Scout died of a rare childhood disease.  Kevin was an exemplary Scout who made a lasting impression on those who knew him during the very short time he was with the troop.  He personified the true meaning of Scout Spirit.

The award winners are selected by an adult committee chosen by theTroop Leadership Committee.  The committee members can only be composed of adults who are not the parent of an eligible Scout (parents of Scouts who have received the award can be members of the committee).  The Scout should be selected in time for the last scheduled Court of Honor for that scouting year.  It is possible for the committee to vote that no scout is deserving of the award for that year.  A Scout can only receive the Kevin Hanley award once.

b.  Honor Patrol:  The Honor Patrol award is presented annually to the patrol members of the patrol that best exemplifies the spirit of Scouting.  The Leadership Patrol in coordination with the adult leaders selects the honor patrol.  Criteria used to select the Honor Patrol include but are not limited to participation in troop meetings and outings, advancement, patrol specific initiatives/service projects and best patrol spirit.  The Honor Patrol should also be selected in time for the last Court of Honor.  Each patrol member will receive a Scout related item, usually a hiking stick.

c.  Scout of the Month:   At the end of each Scouting month the Patrol Leadership Council will select a Scout of the Month.  The selection is usually made at the first PLC meeting after the end of the month.  The Scout selected will receive a $20.00 credit to their escrow account.

d.  Bead Recognition Program:  This program is managed by the Scoutmaster and encourages each Scout to do good deeds and exemplify good Scout behaviors.  At the discretion of the Scoutmaster, Scouts will receive different colored beads for doing good deeds or behaving in a manner that shows Scout Spirit.  The Scoutmaster can ask Scouts to tell the troop about good deeds performed over the last week and if in the judgement of the Scoutmaster it was a good deed a bead will be awarded the Scout.  Beads will also be awarded to Scouts who perform well on outings, assist with service/community projects or do other activities that exemplify Scout Spirit.