New Second Class Rank Requirements

This is third in a series of posts about the new rank requirements that take effect on January 1, 2016.

Scout | Tenderfoot | Second Class | First Class | Star | Life | Eagle

Exactly how the new requirements are phased in is explained in this PDF document – Notes on Transitioning to the New Requirements.
I found the new requirements in this PDF – 2016 Boy Scout requirements—parallel comparison.

Second Class Rank Requirements

Tenderfoot rank requirements are divided into subject areas as I suggested in the ‘how I would do it’ part of my review of Scout Rank requirements.

That being said a few structural problems still persist. More about those after we look over the changes. A few Second class requirements have been reshuffled to Tenderfoot, but I don’t see any really substantial changes or additions.

Here are my reflections on each requirement, followed by an explanation of how I would change them myself.

CAMPING and OUTDOOR ETHICS

1a. Since joining, participate in five separate troop/patrol activities, three of which include overnight camping. These five activities do not include troop or patrol meetings. On at least two of the three campouts, spend the night in a tent that you pitch or other structure that you help erect (such as a lean-to, snow cave, or tepee).

Adds a third activity including overnight camping out of a total of five activities. Previously: “Since joining, have participated in five separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), two of which included camping overnight.” Note that the new requirement includes the specification of a tent or other structure that they help erect.

1b. Explain the principles of Leave No Trace and tell how you practiced them on a campout or outing different from the Tenderfoot requirement 1c campout or outing.

An expansion of the existing requirement: “Discuss the principles of Leave No Trace.” combined with a requirement that was previously in first class “Demonstrate the principles of Leave No Trace on these outings.”

The wording that excludes the campout or outing in Tenderfoot 1c is confusing, it could be worded more clearly.

1c. On one of these campouts, select a location for your patrol site and recommend it to your patrol leader, senior patrol leader, or troop guide. Explain what factors you should consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.

How, exactly does one recommend the patrol site to your patrol leader. senior patrol leader. or troop guide? Why add this ambiguity? Previously: “On one of these campouts, select your patrol site and sleep in a tent that you pitched. Explain what factors you should consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.” Did the person who wrote this ever go camping with Scouts?

COOKING and TOOLS

2a. Explain when it is appropriate to use a fire for cooking or other purposes and when it would not be appropriate to do so.

Previously: “Explain when it is appropriate to use a cooking fire.”

2b. Use the tools listed in Tenderfoot requirement 3d to prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel for a cooking fire.

Previously: “Use the tools listed in requirement 3c to prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel for a cooking fire.” Separating the requirements from one another make for an awkward division, I think this is a bad idea.

2c. At an approved outdoor location and time, use the tinder, kindling, and fuel wood from Second Class requirement 2b to demonstrate how to build a fire. Unless prohibited by local fire restrictions, light the fire. After allowing the flames to burn safely for at least two minutes, safely extinguish the flames with minimal impact to the fire site.

Unchanged, just relocated in the list.

2d. Explain when it is appropriate to use a lightweight stove and when it is appropriate to use a propane stove. Set up a lightweight stove or propane stove. Light the stove, unless prohibited by local fire restrictions. Describe the safety procedures for using these types of stoves.

Unchanged, just relocated in the list.

2e. On one campout, plan and cook one hot breakfast or lunch, selecting foods from MyPlate or the current USDA nutritional model. Explain the importance of importance of good nutrition. Tell how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected.

Unchanged, just relocated in the list.

2f. Demonstrate tying the sheet bend knot. Describe a situation in which you would use this knot.

This is a new requirement.

2g. Demonstrate tying the bowline knot. Describe a situation in which you would use this knot.

This is transplanted from First Class. Why not actually demonstrate how the the knots are used? Simply describing the use means that the knot will probably never see actual use, it will be tied once and forgotten.

NAVIGATION and HIKING

3a. Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Use a map to point out and tell the meaning of five map symbols.

Slight strengthening of the previous requirement: “Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Explain what map symbols mean.”

3b. Using a compass and map together, take a five-mile hike (or 10 miles by bike) approved by your adult leader and your parent or guardian.²

Unchanged.

3c. Describe some hazards or injuries that you might encounter on your hike and what you can do to help prevent them.

This is a new requirement.

3d. Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass or an electronic device.

This is transplanted from First Class with the phrase prohibiting electronic devices added.

NATURE

4. Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of wild animals (such as birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, or mollusks) found in your local area or camping location. You may show evidence by tracks, signs, or photographs you have taken.

Rewording of the previous requirement. Rather than “found in your Community” the new requirement specifics “local area or camping location”. Also expands on the type of evidence that is acceptable.

FIRST AID AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

6a. Demonstrate first aid for the following:

Object in the eye
Bite of a warm-blooded animal
Puncture wounds from a splinter, nail, and fishhook
Serious burns (partial thickness, or second-degree)
Heat exhaustion
Shock
Heatstroke, dehydration, hypothermia, and hyperventilation

Slight wording change: “Bite of a suspected rabid animal” changed to “Bite of a warm-blooded animal”.

6b. Show what to do for “hurry” cases of stopped breathing, stroke, serious bleeding, and ingested poisoning.

Addition of “stroke” to the list, otherwise unchanged.

6c. Tell what you can do while on a campout or hike to prevent or reduce the occurrence of the injuries listed in Second Class requirements 6a and 6b.

This is a new requirement.

6d. Explain what to do in case of accidents that require emergency response in the home and backcountry. Explain what constitutes an emergency and what information you will need to provide to a responder.

This is a new requirement. No demonstration?

6e. Tell how you should respond if you come upon the scene of a vehicular accident.

This is a new requirement. No demonstration?

AQUATICS

5a. Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim.

Unchanged.

5b. Demonstrate your ability to pass the BSA beginner swimmer test: Jump feet-first into water over your head in depth, level off and swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming, then return to your starting place.

Unchanged except for the welcome notation that this is the “BSA beginner swimmer test”.

5c. Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects.

Unchanged.

5d. Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing rescue is possible. Explain why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with the victim.

Slight rewording, but otherwise unchanged.

FITNESS

7a. After completing Tenderfoot requirement 6c, be physically active at least 30 minutes each day for five days a week for four weeks. Keep track of your activities.

This is a new requirement.

7b. Share your challenges and successes in completing Second Class requirement 7a. Set a goal for continuing to include physical activity as part of your daily life and develop a plan for doing so.

This is a new requirement.

7c. Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the program with your family, and explain the dangers of substance addictions. Report to your Scoutmaster or other adult leader in your troop about which parts of the Scout Oath and Scout Law relate to what you learned.

Unchanged except for the addition of the last sentence about reporting what you learned. Another bit of schoolwork.

CITIZENSHIP

8a. Participate in a flag ceremony for your school, religious institution, chartered organization, community, or Scouting activity.

Unchanged except “troop activity” in the previous requirement is now “Scouting activity”

8b. Explain what respect is due the flag of the United States.

Previously: “Explain to your leader what respect is due the flag of the United States.”

8c. With your parents or guardian, decide on an amount of money that you would like to earn, based on the cost of a specific item you would like to purchase. Develop a written plan to earn the amount agreed upon and follow that plan; it is acceptable to make changes to your plan along the way. Discuss any changes made to your original plan and whether you met your goal.

Previously: “Earn an amount of money agreed upon by you and your parent, then save at least 50 percent of that money.” More schoolwork.

8d. At a minimum of three locations, compare the cost of the item for which you are saving to determine the best place to purchase it. After completing Second Class requirement 8c, decide if you will use the amount that you earned as originally intended, save all or part of it, or use it for another purpose.

This is a new requirement. More schoolwork.

8e. Participate in two hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Tell how your service to others relates to the Scout Oath.

Previously: “Participate in an approved (minimum of one hour) service project.” Increases service time from one hour to two, and includes tying this to the Scout oath.

PERSONAL SAFETY AWARENESS

9a. Explain the three R’s of personal safety and protection.

Unchanged. No mention of the Scout oath and law here? No demonstration or activity? Another bit of schoolwork.

9b. Describe what a bully is and what the appropriate response is to someone who is bullying you or another person.

Transplanted from previous tenderfoot requirement and slightly reworded. I think “describing a bully” should be replaced by “describe bullying” and the whole thing needs some tie-in to the Oath and law.

LEADERSHIP

No leadership component in the new Second class requirements. A missed opportunity, see how I would do it below.

SCOUT SPIRIT

10. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived four different points of the Scout Law (not to include those used for Tenderfoot requirement 9) in your everyday life. ______ _ ____

Addition of; “Tell how you have done your duty to God

11. While working toward the Second Class rank, and after completing Tenderfoot requirement 10, participate in a Scoutmaster conference.

I can’t figure out the logic of this change. Can anyone explain it to me?

12. Successfully complete your board of review for the Second Class rank.

Previously Complete your board of review.

NOTES:

For Varsity Scouts working on Boy Scout requirements, replace “troop” with “team” and “Scoutmaster” with “Varsity Scout Coach.”
The requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks may be worked on simultaneously; however, these ranks must be earned in sequence.
Alternative requirements for the Second Class rank are available for Scouts with physical or mental disabilities. ²If you use a wheelchair or crutches, or if it is difficult for you to get around, you may substitute “trip” for “hike” in requirement 3b and 3c.

How I would Do It!

See my notes explaining my rationale in the “How I would do it!” part of my review for Scout Rank

I’ve left numeric and letter designations off the requirements below, I know they are probably needed, but I never liked them, they look tiresome.

Second Class Rank Requirements

CAMPING

Since joining, participate in a total of five separate troop/patrol activities.

You can count the activity applied to the Tenderfoot requirement towards the total of five.
Three must include overnight camping.
You must have stay in a tent or shelter you set up in at least two of the three overnight camping activities.

Qualifies for	Troop/patrol activity (other than meetings)
TENDERFOOT	1	OVERNIGHT	TENT*
SECOND CLASS	2
SECOND CLASS	3
SECOND CLASS	4	OVERNIGHT	TENT*
SECOND CLASS	5	OVERNIGHT	TENT*
FIRST CLASS	6
FIRST CLASS	7
FIRST CLASS	8	OVERNIGHT	TENT*
FIRST CLASS	9	OVERNIGHT	TENT*
FIRST CLASS	10	OVERNIGHT	TENT*

*To qualify this activity you must spend the night in a tent that you pitch or other structure that you help set up (such as a lean-to, snow cave, or tepee).

OUTDOOR ETHICS

Explain the principles of Leave No Trace

Tell how you practiced Leave No Trace while participating in at least one of the activities you are using to qualify for Second Class. (The tenderfoot camping trip cannot be used for this requirement)

Explain what factors you should consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.

On an overnight campout help select a location for your patrol site.

OUTDOOR SKILLS

Explain how to check local fire restrictions and what they mean.

CAMP FIRES

Understand the safety considerations for building camp fires.

Explain when and where it is appropriate to build a camp fire.

Explain when and where it is not appropriate build a camp fire.

Explain how to safely extinguish a camp fire.

Demonstrate how to build a camp fire with minimal impact to the fire site by doing the following:

Before you begin explain the current fire restrictions for the location you are using to complete these requirements.

Choose a safe and appropriate place to build the fire.

Use a knife, saw, and hatchet or axe to prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel for a fire.

Light the fire, and keep it burning for at least fifteen minutes.

Safely extinguish the fire.

STOVES

Understand the safety considerations for using camp stoves.

Describe the features of a lightweight camping stove.

Describe the features of a propane camping stove.

Explain the difference between liquid fuel and canned fuel stoves.

Explain the safety procedures for using the types of stoves.

Demonstrate how to use a camping stove by doing the following:

Before you begin describe the current fire restrictions for the location you are using to complete these requirements.

Unpack and set up a lightweight stove or propane stove.

Light the stove.

Extinguish the stove safely and repack it.

COOKING

Demonstrate how to cook a hot breakfast or lunch for your patrol during a campout.

Explain the importance of importance of good nutrition.

Plan the meal you will prepare by selecting foods from MyPlate or the current USDA nutritional model.

Tell how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected.

Prepare the meal you planned for your patrol during a campout.

KNOTS AND ROPE

Show how to tie a sheet bend and demonstrate three different ways to use it properly.

Show how to tie a bowline and demonstrate three different ways to use it properly.

FIRST AID

Tell how you can prevent each of the following first aid situations and show how you would use the items in your first aid kit to render first aid for:

Object in the eye