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The Boy Scout program is very different from Cub Scouts - mostly in the fact that it is Scout-Led. If scouts are coming from a well-run Webelos program where they were given responsibilities and decision-making opportunities, they will shift into a troop environment easily. If their Webelos leader did all the planning and operational work, then they will have a rougher time taking on responsibility for their scouting activities.
 
There are 7 ranks in Boy Scouting, culminating with the Eagle Scout rank. The first 4 ranks (Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, & 1st Class) are a time for a scout to learn skills for outdoors, self-sufficiency, and citizenship. The last 3 ranks (Star, Life, Eagle) are earned by completion of merit badges, service efforts, and leadership. As a scout advances in rank, he shifts from being a 'learner' to a 'leader' and is expected to teach new scouts.
 
Either the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, or higher ranking scout will sign off on scout advancements - depending on the troop policy. We allow Troop Guides to sign off for scouts in the patrol they are mentoring and Star, Life, or Eagle scouts to sign-off any Tenderfoot, 2nd, or 1st class requirements. We encourage younger scouts to go to higher ranking scouts for sign-off rather than to the same adult every time. This helps build relationships with the troop leadership and turns their handbook into an autograph book of other scouts' initials.
 
A common schedule for a scouting unit is:

• 1 Patrol meeting each month
• 2 Troop meetings each month
• 1 Troop campout each month

 
Here are some documents to:

• Plan Your Year
• Plan a Troop Meeting
• Track First Class Advancement

 
An active boy scout can reach First Class rank in 12 months and should reach First Class within 18 to 20 months. This program schedule offers an example of activities that will have scouts meet that time schedule. The advancement activities listed for Troop Meetings occur during the 'Patrol Time' in each meeting - if your troop does not have this time, then these activities would need to occur before or after the meeting or at a separate patrol meeting.
In Minnesota, due to weather, we try to get most outdoors demonstration skills (like water rescue) done in the summer months.
 
The troop meeting and patrol meeting activities are often a time for new scouts to just learn the skills. The Troop Guide or Instructor presenting the skills should use EDGE for teaching to ensure scouts learn well. Most probably, scouts will need to practice skills and demonstrate their proficiency at a later time rather than during the same session in which they were taught.
 
The Troop Guide should tell the scouts in his charge what pages of their Scout Handbooks to study well before a skills training session. If a scout does not read about the skill beforehand, he should not expect to be introduced to it, learn it, and demonstrate proficiency all in one session.
 
Your Troop Guides might use this Advancement Guide to schedule and execute training sessions for various advancement requirements.
 

 

 

 

Sample First Class Advancement Schedule

J: Joining requirement        T: Tenderfoot        S: Second class        F: First class
Month	Activities
March	Individually: Do J1,2,3, with a parent to join a troop. Meet with Scoutmaster to join and get a Scout Handbook. Practice J4-9 at home with a parent. Schedule a Scoutmaster conference for Joining. 1st Troop Meeting: Receive Scout badge if requirements are complete.   T1, 5 - safe hiking and camping gear Patrol Meeting: T7, 8, 9 Discuss Scout Oath, Law, motto, and slogan and begin memorizing them.   Discuss buddy system.   Create patrol name, yell, and flag design. 2nd Troop Meeting (Court of Honor): Watch First Class scouts advance.   T2, S3b - pitch tent, select campsite.   Discuss upcoming camping trip - packing list, uniform expectations, and duty roster. Create menu for trip. Troop CampOut: Do T1, 2, 3 - dress for campout, sleep in tent, prepare meal.
April	Individually: Schedule a Scoutmaster conference for Joining 1st Troop Meeting: Receive Scout badge, if requirements are complete.   Arrive Early. Do T10a before meeting - each scout records first attempt   T6, S4, S9b, F5 - flag etiquette, personal safety, citizenship Patrol Meeting: T11, T12, S7b - first aid.   Finish patrol flag and practice yell. 2nd Troop Meeting: Do T8 - bring patrol flag and give yell for troop.   Receive Scout badge, if requirements are complete.   Arrive Early. Do T10a before meeting - each scout records first attempt Troop CampOut: Do T1-3, S3c, e, f - Totin' Chip, Firem'n Chit
May	1st Troop Meeting: T3, S3g - cooking, prepare menu for campout.   Arrive Early. Do T10a or T10b before meeting - each scout records first or final attempt Patrol Meeting: T4b-c, T5, T11 Go on a short hike and practice rules of safe hiking. Review buddy system and use it on hike. Practice tying square knot, two half-hitches, and taut-line hitch on a break while hiking. Look for poisonous plants and talk about their treatment. Practice first aid for T12 - do not practice the Heimlich maneuver. 2nd Troop Meeting: Do S1a - map and compass   Arrive Early. Do T10a or T10b before meeting - each scout records first or final attempt Troop CampOut: Do T1-4, T6, S3g - packing, campsite, tent, knots, flag skills, cook a meal Service Project: Do S5 - 1 hour service
June	1st Troop Meeting: Do S8a, S9a - Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat.   Arrive Early. Do T10b before meeting - each scout records final attempt Patrol Meeting: Practice first aid. Do S7b - make a first aid kit. Go on a hike and do T12 - have senior scouts role-play injuries along the hike and sign off if new scouts show correct first aid. Individually: Schedule a Scoutmaster conference for Tenderfoot. Arrange Board of Review. 2nd Troop Meeting (Court of Honor): Do S4 - flag ceremony.   Receive Tenderfoot badge if all requirements are complete. Troop CampOut : Do S1, F1 - 5-mile hike, directions without compass.   S3g - plan and cook meal.
July	1st Troop Meeting: Do T10b before meeting - each scout records final attempt.   Patrol Meeting: Do F2 - orienteering course. Summer Camp: Do S8b-c, F9b-c - swimming and water rescue, swimmer test.   Complete left-over Tenderfoot requirements.   T11 - Find poisonous plants.   S3g - plan and cook meal.
August	1st Troop Meeting: Do S3, S7c - flag ceremony, first aid. Patrol Meeting: S7c - practice serious first aid.   Do S7a - make a first aid kit if missed earlier. 2nd Troop Meeting: Do S3, S7a - flag ceremony, hurry cases. Troop CampOut: Do S6, F6 - animal identification, plant identification. Do F1 - direction without compass. Do S3g - cook own meal. Individually: Schedule a Scoutmaster conference for Tenderfoot or Second Class. Arrange Board of Review.
September	1st Troop Meeting: Do F4a,c,d (1 scout per campout) - plan menu, list cooking gear, explain safe food handling. Individually: Do F4b (1 scout per campout) - food costs, amounts, and purchase for campout. Patrol Meeting: F7a-b - knots and lashings. 2nd Troop Meeting (Court of Honor): Receive Tenderfoot or Second Class badge. Troop CampOut: Do F1 - direction without compass.   Do F4 - (1 scout per campout) - use This worksheet. In patrols of 6 or more scouts, you could break into two groups so a different scout could serve as cook for each.
October	1st Troop Meeting: Do F4a,c,d (1 scout per campout) - plan menu, list cooking gear, explain safe food handling. Individually: Do F4b (1 scout per campout) - food costs, amounts, and purchase for campout. Patrol Meeting: Do F8a, F8c - bowline and victim transports. 2nd Troop Meeting: Review Tenderfoot and Second Class skills with more advanced helping slower ones. Troop CampOut: Do F7a,b - lashings, knots, camp gadget. Do F4e - (1 scout per campout) Individually: Schedule a Scoutmaster conference for Second Class. Arrange Board of Review.
November	1st Troop Meeting: Patrol Meeting: Do F8b - Bandages. 2nd Troop Meeting: Do T12b, S7a,c, F8b,c - have older scouts role-play injuries and then sign off if new scouts show correct first aid. Troop CampOut: Individually: Schedule a Scoutmaster conference. Arrange Board of Review.
December	1st Troop Meeting: Do F8d - CPR Patrol Meeting: Practice advanced first aid skills for F8. 2nd Troop Meeting (Court of Honor): Receive Second Class badge Troop CampOut: First Class cooking
January	1st Troop Meeting: Do S7, F8 - Stage an emergency situation for the new scouts to handle. Patrol Meeting: Requests by scouts for any requirement demonstrations. 2nd Troop Meeting: Do F8c,d - injury transport, heart attack. Or, stage an emergency situation for the new scouts to handle. Troop CampOut: First Class Cooking Individually: Schedule a Scoutmaster conference. Arrange Board of Review.
February	1st Troop Meeting: First Class Olympics - knot relays, first aid relays, compass use, fire building, animal/plant identification, ... Patrol Meeting: 2nd Troop Meeting: Troop CampOut: Individually: Schedule a Scoutmaster conference. Arrange Board of Review.
March	1st Troop Meeting: Patrol Meeting: 2nd Troop Meeting (Court of Honor): Receive First Class badge. Troop CampOut: