Advancement

Rank advancement is a method that we use to focus and motivate the scouts in acquiring useful skills. We believe that the skills--not the badge--are what is important. Scouts advance on an individual basis as quickly or slowly as they want and are able. Instruction may be by anyone who has or can acquire the needed expertise—Scoutmaster (SM), Assistant Scoutmaster (ASM), parent, or (preferably) a more experienced scout. 

We design our program to make training and demonstration opportunities available to scouts who need them at a time appropriate to their advancement. Nearly every troop meeting or campout will include opportunities for new scouts to learn, to practice skills, and to discuss their advancement requirements.  Taking advantage of those opportunities remains the responsibility of the scout and his family. While we will try to be flexible, some activities, by their nature, are hard to schedule as “make up”  sessions. Some requirements can only be done on campouts, for example. If a scout misses a skill, he may have to wait a while until it is offered again.  

Advancement signoff is only done by certain individuals: A Patrol Leader, ASM, SM, or other registered adult leaders.  Scouts should not wait for a leader to offer to sign them off on requirements. If they feel they’re ready, they need to seek them out. 

Advancement goes hand-in-hand with attendance: scouts who come to troop meetings, service project days, and outings will advance quickly; those who do not attend regularly will not advance as quickly. Scouts who participate fully should be able to finish Tenderfoot at summer camp or prior. Also at camp, they will be able to make good progress on Second and First Class rank.  

A Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review are required for each rank, other than Scout Rank. The scout (not a parent) needs to schedule these in advance. Scoutmaster conferences are done during Troop activities. They can take 30 minutes or more. Boards of Review are usually done at the Troop meeting but should be scheduled in advance.