Service Hours

Citizenship and Service Projects Required for Rank Advancement

A service project is a special “Good Turn” that puts Scout spirit into action. Scouts are encouraged to support their community in efforts intended to improve the life of others.

For purposes of rank advancement, service projects should be incremental to a Scout’s current activities and be intended to benefit the community outside of Scouting. Projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster. The following activities can be assumed to have been approved.

□ Participating in approved Eagle scout service projects

□ Participating in Troop 266 sponsored community service projects

Non Troop 266 sponsored service projects can also qualify, but must be approved by the Scoutmaster based on the following guidelines.

□ The primary beneficiary of the service project is the community or a not-for-profit group excluding the Scout’s current school, youth group or team/club.

□ The scout or his family does not gain a benefit such as meeting “service hours” requirements for school or other organization.

□ The service is not required for a school project or other requirement (e.g. “no double dipping”)

Examples of service projects that usually meet the requirements for rank advancement

□ Volunteering at a local hospital or homeless shelter

□ Participating in an approved Eagle scout project including other Troops

□ An organized community clean up effort

□ Organized recycling effort, food drive or clothing pickup

The following are a examples of beneficial service worthy of your efforts, but that usually does not meet the requirements for rank advancement

□ Supporting Cub Scout activities

□ Service projects as a member or candidate of the Order of the Arrow

□ Participation in personal religious, social or fraternal activities such as being an usher, “acolyte”, “alter server” or member of a choir.

□ Participating in a service project mainly intended to benefit an organization in which the scout is a member (e.g. cleaning the field used by your soccer team, fund raisers for your club, team or group etc).

□ Participation in Troop or Scouting fundraising activities.