Rank Advancement & Merit Badges

Rank Advancement

Scouts will progress, at their own pace, through the ranks of scouting until they obtain the rank of Eagle Scout.

Boy Scouts of America has a very comprehensive page describing the goals and process of rank advancement.

All ranks and requirements are listed at the back of the Scout Book. Some things to keep in mind about rank advancement:

Scouts will approach rank advancement at their own pace. Not all scouts in a patrol will rank up at the same time.
Scouts are responsible for approaching adults to get rank requirements signed.
When all requirements for a rank are achieved and signed, scouts should ask the Scoutmaster to schedule a Scoutmaster conference
Following the Scoutmaster conference, scouts should approach three adults from the troop (any parent or adult leader) and ask them to serve on their Board of Review (BOR). After the BOR, scouts must submit their signed form to the Rank Advancement Chair.
Scouts may earn a new rank at any time, but will not be awarded their patch until the next Court of Honor.
While scouts move at their own pace, the troop encourages scouts to reach the rank of First Class by the end of 8th grade. Statistics show that those reaching First Class by this time are more likely to obtain the rank of Eagle Scout. However, this does not mean that a scout moving at a different pace cannot or will not reach Eagle. It all depends on the motivation and participation level of the scout. Motivation will naturally ebb and flow during the scouting experience and this is to be expected.
Scouts hoping to obtain Eagle rank must have completed all requirements, EXCEPT for their Eagle BOR, before they turn 18 years of age. One cannot "Eagle" after the age of 18.

Merit Badges and Awards

Scouts have the opportunity to learn many skills and have amazing experiences by earning merit badges and awards during the scouting experience.

Merit badges count towards rank advancement and completing the rank of Eagle Scout. Awards can also be earned for various achievements, but do not count towards Eagle rank.

Some additional things to keep in mind about merit badges:

Eagle rank requires scouts to earn 21 total merit badges during their scouting career. Fourteen (14) of these merit badges are required. The remaining seven merit badges may be selected by the scout.
Required merit badges are: (a) First Aid, (b) Citizenship in the Community, (c) Citizenship in the Nation, (d) Citizenship in Society, (e) Citizenship in the World, (f) Communication, (g) Cooking, (h) Personal Fitness, (i) Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (j) Environmental Science OR Sustainability, (k) Personal Management, (l) Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling, (m) Camping, and (n) Family Life.
Troop 6 offers most of the Eagle-required merit badge classes throughout the year. This allows scouts to earn many elective merit badges while at summer camp, which are more activity-based and less classroom-based.
Some merit badges have prerequisites, such as rank or age minimums.
Some merit badges have homework, which must be completed by the scout on their own and presented to the merit badge counselor.
While a scout may earn a merit badge during the scouting year, they will not receive the patch until the following Court of Honor.
The PLC helps the troop to plan what merit badges the troop will offer. This depends on scheduling and if we have a qualified merit badge counselor.
Adults are encouraged to complete the online merit badge counselor training and teach a merit badge class - please ask an adult leader for more information. We cannot offer merit badges to our scouts without you!

Service Projects

Scouts must earn service hours towards rank advancement and other activities. The scouts also enjoy and learn about the importance of helping the community around them. We have various service projects throughout the year:

To support Prince of Peace, our chartered organization
Eagle Scout Projects
Service projects at summer camp
Den Chiefs give service by helping Cub Scout dens
Veterans Day flag retirement
At various community events

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