Tips for advancement

The two real keys to a Scout's advancement are for the Scout to plan advancement and make use of opportunities.  These tips can help toward advancement:

Plan for advancement.  

Look in the Boy Scout handbook at what is needed for the next rank or two.  Keep in mind that some requirements, such as fitness for Tenderfoot rank, are not difficult but require time to complete.  

Attend troop activities.

Go on campouts with a plan to finish specific requirements (cook for the patrol, identify poisonous plants, etc.). Participate in as many troop meetings, service projects and campouts as possible. Many of our Scouts who attend meetings and campouts regularly find that fulfilling most of the requirements up to first class happens easily, provided they remember to have the activity signed off in their book. Note that participation in troop events is required for some ranks, so join the troop for service projects and Courts of Honor. 

Bring the Scout handbook to all campouts and troop meetings.  

Have a leader check off, initial and date the requirements as they are completed. (Do not expect leaders to remember what you did at a camp last month.) Please note that adult leaders who were not present at the time the requirement was complete may not be able to sign off on the requirements unless a senior Scout or the adult leading the activity has initialed the Scout’s book. 

Work on more than one rank at a time.   

On a campout, the Scout might identify poisonous plants for Tenderfoot and learn how to use a compass for Second Class. 

Attend summer camp.

Besides having a lot of fun, Scouts can earn merit badges and work on rank advancements. Summer camp is a great place for Scouts to work on Eagle-required merit badges such as swimming, cooking, communications, and elective merit badges such as orienteering, shotgun, and wilderness survival.