Advancement

Tips and Resources
Many places on the internet provide supplemental information for advancement and promotion of Scout skills. Some of these links and files can help a Scout dig a little deeper into some things than are officially provided by BSA. Feel free to forward suggestions/files/links that can help others!

MeritBadge.Org - Of course the Mother of all Scouting advancement and merit badge sources, we're not going to be redundant with what they offer. Go there and look around, you'll find most everything you need.

USscouts.Org - Another very useful link.

Knots:
How to Tie Basic Knots videos from Boys' Life.
Animated Knots by Grog. A website that shows animations of how to tie just about all needed knots.

Sharpening:
How to Sharpen a Knife or Ax videos from Boys' Life.

Personal First Aid Kit:
Building a First Aid Kit: What items should you bring along?

Flag Etiquette:
Flag Etiquette: Proper care and display instructions for our country's flag.

Rank

New Boy Scout rank requirements effective January 1, 2010:
A new 12th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook (34622) was issued in the summer of 2009. That book contains new requirements for each rank, which did not officially take effect until January 1, 2010. If a Scout started work toward a rank before January 1, 2010 using the requirements that were current before January 1, 2010, he may complete THAT RANK ONLY using the old requirements. Any progress toward a rank that is begun after January 1, 2010, must use the requirements as they are presented in the Boy Scout Handbook (34622) or in the 2010 Boy Scout Requirements book (34765). The fact that a Scout can work on the requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class simultaneously does NOT mean that he is "working toward all three ranks". He can NOT use the old requirements for all three. Similarly, if a Scout has multiple merit badges, he is NOT "working toward Star, Life, and Eagle". He may only use the old requirements for the NEXT rank he completes.

Joining Requirement (Scout) Revised the age requirement:
Be a boy who is 11 years old, or one who has completed the fifth grade or earned the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old, but is not yet 18 years old.

Tenderfoot Rank A new requirement 4c was added and the wording of requirement 13 was revised. The revisions are as follows::
4.c. Using the EDGE method teach another person how to tie the square knot.
13. Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. Discuss four specific examples of how you have lived the points of the Scout Law in your daily life.

Second Class Rank New requirements 2 and 10 were added (and old requirements 2-11 renumbered as 3-9 and 11-13), and the wording of requirements 3b, 3c, 3d, 3f, 3g, 4, 9a, and 11 (old 2b, 2c, 2d, 3, 8a, and 9) were revised. The revised requirements are as follows:
2. Discuss the principles of "Leave No Trace"
3.b. On one of these campouts, select your patrol site and sleep in a tent that you pitched. Explain what factors you should consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.
3c. Demonstrate proper care, sharpening, and use of the knife, saw, and ax, and describe when they should be used.
3d. Use the tools listed in requirement 3c to prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel for a cooking fire.
3f. In an approved place and at an approved time, demonstrate how to build a fire and set up a lightweight stove. Note: Lighting the fire is not required.
3g. On one campout, plan and cook one hot breakfast or lunch, selecting foods from the food pyramid. Explain the importance of good nutrition. Tell how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected.
4. Participate in a flag ceremony for your school, religious institution, chartered organization, community, or troop activity. Explain to your leader what respect is due the flag of the United States.
5. Participate in an approved (minimum of one hour) service project.
9. Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the program with your family, and explain the dangers of substance addictions.
10. Earn an amount of money agreed upon by you and your parent, then save at least 50 percent of that money.
11. Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. Discuss four specific examples (different from those used for Tenderfoot requirement 13) of how you have lived the points of the Scout Law in your daily life.

First Class Rank Old requirements 10, 11, and 12 were renumbered as 12, 10 and 11 respectively. Requirements 7a and 7b were combined, and 7c was renumbered as 7b. The wording of requirements 2, 3, 4a, and 12 (old 10) were revised. The revised requirements are as follows:
2. Using a map and compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.)
3. Since joining, have participated in ten separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), three of which included camping overnight. Demonstrate the principles of Leave No Trace on these outings.
4a. Help plan a patrol menu for one campout that includes at least one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner and that requires cooking at least two of the meals. Tell how the menu includes the foods from the food pyramid and meets nutritional needs.
7a. Discuss when you should and should not use lashings. Then demonstrate tying the timber hitch and clove hitch and their use in square, shear, and diagonal lashings by joining two or more poles or staves together.
7b. Use lashing to make a useful camp gadget.
12. Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. Discuss four specific examples (different from those used for Tenderfoot requirement 13 and Second Class requirement 11) of how you have lived the points of the Scout Law in your daily life.

Star Rank The lists of positions of responsibility for requirement 5 were revised by adding some positions. The new Boy Scout troop positions are as follows:
- Venture patrol leader
- Troop Webmaster
- Leave No Trace trainer

Life Rank A new requirement 6 was added and old requirements 6 and 7 were renumbered as 7 and 8. In addition, the lists of positions of responsibility for requirement 5 were revised by adding some positions (see the list above). The revisions are as follows:
6. While a Star Scout, use the EDGE method to teach a younger Scout the skills from ONE of the following six choices, so that he is prepared to pass those requirements to his unit leader's satisfaction.
a. Second Class - 7a and 7c (first aid)
b. Second Class - 1a (outdoor skills)
c. Second Class - 3c, 3d, 3e, and 3f (cooking/camping)
d. First Class - 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d (first aid)
e. First Class - 1, 7a, and 7c (outdoor skills)
f. First Class - 4a, 4b, and 4d (cooking/camping)

Eagle Rank The wording of requirements 1, 2, and 5 were revised slightly and the lists of positions of responsibility for requirement 4 were revised by adding some positions. The revised lists are as follows:
1. Be active in your troop, team, crew, or ship for a period of at least 6 months after you have achieved the rank of Life Scout.
2. Demonstrate that you live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life. List the names of individuals who know you personally and would be willing to provide a recommendation on your behalf, including parents/guardians, religious, educational, and employer references.
4. While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility: (Additional Boy Scout troop positions listed below)
- Venture patrol leader
- Troop Webmaster
- Leave No Trace trainer
5. While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project should benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting.) The project plan must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and troop committee and the council or district before you start. You must use the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, No. 512-927, in meeting this requirement.

Merit Badges

Wilderness Survival Merit Badge:
Taking Shelter: building a shelter from materials available.

There are three Merit Badges that the Scoutmaster is counselor for: Camping, Cooking and Hiking. While you are able to take Camping at Summer Camp, you can also take it during the rest of the year by meeting with the Scoutmaster. The following are some things that will help you in your preparations regardless where you take it.

Camping Merit Badge:
Tents
Backpacks

Eagle Scout references:

EagleBook.com

EagleScout.org caution - not all information contained may apply to Buckeye Council or Troop 935 policies and procedures! Check for clarification before doing anything!

Eagle Project Ideas

  VFW Scout of the Year Scholarship, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, open to all Eagle Scouts.
  The Eagle Scout Award Certificate, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, open to all Eagle Scouts.
  Arthur M. & Berdena King Eagle Scout Scholarship, National Society, Sons of the American Revolution, open to all Eagle Scouts.
  Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship, The American Legion, must be a son/grandson of a Legionnaire or Auxillary member.
  NESA Scholarships, National Eagle Scout Association, open to all Eagle Scouts. Plenty of additional information and materials available here. Membership of all Eagles is greatly encouraged.
  EOCS Eagle Scholarships, Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting, for active member of an Eastern Orthodox Church and must have received the Alpha Omega Religious Scout Award.
  Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarship, National Catholic Committee on Scouting, for active member of an Catholic Church and must have received the Ad Altare Dei or Pope Pius XII Religious Award.

There are many more organizations and colleges that offer Eagle Scout Scholarships. An internet search will return many of them, always ask a college for any Eagle Scholarships and their criteria. Please forward us any specific groups that offer them.

APO, Alpha Phi Omega is a national, co-ed service fraternity that has set the standard for college campus-based volunteerism since 1925. APO has active chapters on over 350 campuses, and we strive to help each individual member develop leadership skills, experience friendship on many levels and provide service to others.