rank ADVENTURES

COUNCIL FIRE


Resources

for this

Adventure

Learn About the Adventure

Current requirements can be seen HERE as well as found in your rank manual - along with great ideas for completion. We guide you through the completion of the requirements in bold below.

Complete Requirements 1 and 2 plus at least one other.

  1. With your den or pack, participate in a flag ceremony, and learn how to properly care for and fold the flag.

  2. Participate in a community service project with your pack, den, or family.

  3. With your parent or guardian's permission, talk to a military veteran, law enforcement officer, member of the fire department, or someone else approved by your Den Leader. Talk about his or her service to the community or country. After you have visited with the individual, write a short thank-you note.

  4. Learn about the changes in your community, and create a project to show your den how the community has changed.

  5. Select one issue in your community, and present to your den your ideas for a solution to the problem.

  6. Work with your den to develop a den duty chart, and perform these tasks for one month.

  7. Participate in an event such as a parade or assembly celebrating military veterans.

Office/ School Supplies

Misc. Supplies

#1 | Flag Ceremonies, Folding, and Care

Flag Ceremonies

Scouting BSA does not endorse one specific flag ceremony. Feel free to find a resource that is appropriate to your scouts and ask your Cubmaster if you can lead one for a pack meeting. This can be done virtually as well.

Care for the Flag of the USA

Never…

...dip the flag.

...display with the stars down (unless signaling an emergency).

...touch anything beneath it.

...carry it flat or horizontally.

...wear it as a part of a costume or decoration.

...fly a flag at night if it is not lit.

...fly a flag in bad weather.

Always…

...destroy a flag in a dignified and ceremonious fashion, preferably by burning of when it is in poor condition.

...fly the American flag above other flags...except the Texas flag - it can be flown at the same height.

...fold your flag before storing.

Folding the Flag of the USA

How to Fold an American Flag

Part: 1


Folding the Flag Lengthwise


  1. Lower the flag down the flagpole slowly, not letting it touch the ground. Loosen the line and pull the cords to bring the flag back toward the ground. Do this slowly and in a reverent manner, showing your respect toward the flag.[1] Gather the flag as it gets close to the ground. Slide the flag off the line, then secure the line in place on the pole.[2]

      • It's best to fold the flag near the pole to reduce the risk of dropping all or part of it.

2. Make sure no part of the flag touches the ground at any time. Letting the flag touch the ground is a sign of disrespect against the flag. As you fold the flag, keep it completely off the ground by either working with a partner or folding it on a clean, dry surface.[3]

  • For example, you might lay the flag out on your dinner table face up.

3. Lay the flag out on a table if you're working alone. The flag should be face up with the field of blue at the top. Make sure the flag is smooth and wrinkle-free.[4]

  • If you're working with a partner, hold the flag parallel to the ground at waist-height. Each partner will hold one corner of the flag.

4. Fold your flag so that the bottom stripes are over the field of stars. You will bring the bottom edge up, then align it with the top edge. The two edges will meet, while the bottom will now be a fold. Check that the flag is completely smooth, with no unevenness or wrinkles.[5]

  • If you're working with a partner, adjust your hands so that each partner is holding the layered corners in one hand and the middle fold in the other.

5. Bring the folded edge up to the top edge to create a second fold. The field of stars should be visible on both sides of the folded flag at this point. Check that both sides of the flag have the field of blue on the left and the stripes on the right.[6]

  • If you're working with a partner, each person will be holding 2 corners and a folded edge in one hand. In their other hand, they will hold the bottom folded edge.


Part 2: Making the Flag into a Triangle

  1. Create a triangle fold by bending the striped corner up to the top edge. The outside edge of the folded flag should be aligned with the top edge. The fold itself will look like a triangle. Check that the flag doesn't have any wrinkles.[7]

  • Each side of the triangle should be an equal length.

2. Fold the pointed corner over to form a second triangle. The edge of the first triangle will stay aligned with the edge of the folded flag. The flag should once again look like a rectangle.[8]

  • Make sure the fold is wrinkle-free.

3. Continue making triangle folds down the length of the flag. In total, you will make 13 folds, including the first 2. On the last fold, only the blue field will be visible.[9]

    • The 13 folds symbolize the original 13 colonies. Additionally, each fold [can be] assigned a special meaning...

    • Each triangle should be evenly sized.

4. Tuck the end of the flag into the open fold. The edge of the field of blue can be tucked into the open fold on the side of the triangle. Only the field of blue should be visible on either side of the flag.

  • The triangle shape is used to honor the 3-corner hat traditionally worn by the revolutionaries who fought for American independence.[10]

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki that is building the world's largest and highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Fold an American Flag. Content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons License.

#2 | Community Service

Find a person who has or is actively serving in the armed forces. Thank them for their service and present them with your previously folded pocket flag. Alternatively, present your flag to someone who actively serves to protect and help your community - such as a first responder.

Note to Parent/ Leader: If the completing #3 as a den, encourage scouts/ families to find a different person to gift with their pocket flag. They probably don’t need eight of them.

#3 | Service Interview

If you are able, arrange to speak with a veteran or first responder about their service to the community. If you cannot, watch this Police Officer Interview:

How to Write a Thoughtful Thank You Note

Use the recipe card below to craft a thank you note. Send it. Alternately, if your scout is not much of a writer or you just want to try something different:

    • Write down their words for them and let them sign and decorate the note.

    • Make and email a video.

    • Send a picture of the scout at the meeting with a short note.

#4 | Your Community

You can learn about changes in your community from many sources. Find a local museum or talk to a long time resident. If you are in or near Houston, check out these changes: