New Tenderfoot Rank Requirements

This is second 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

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.

Tenderfoot Rank

The new requirements are arranged under subject headings, (that’s a step forward) but the headings change from one rank to the other, (that’s a step back.)

A few Second class requirements have been reshuffled to Tenderfoot, but I don’t see any really substantial changes here.

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

CAMPING and OUTDOOR ETHICS

1a. Present yourself to your leader, prepared for an overnight camping trip. Show the personal and camping gear you will use. Show the right way to pack and carry it.

Slight rewording of the old requirement; “Present yourself to your leader, properly dressed, before going on an overnight camping trip. Show the camping gear you will use. Show the right way to pack and carry it.”

I have to ask which leader the Scout is supposed to present himself to, and what “present” means. Why was “properly dressed” dropped here? “The right way” means there;s only one right way to pack and carry gear, I don’t think that’s true.

1b. Spend at least one night on a patrol or troop campout. Sleep in a tent you have helped pitch.

Unchanged, but as you will see in the other rank requirements the qualifying nights camping are described this way “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).” Does the tenderfoot requirement not allow for this?

1c. Explain the principles of the Outdoor Code and tell how you practiced them on a campout or outing.

This is a new requirement.

COOKING

2a. On the campout, assist in preparing one of the meals. Tell why it is important for each patrol member to share in meal preparation and cleanup.

Dropped the specification that this is done in the context of the patrol “On the campout, assist in preparing and cooking one of your patrol’s meals. Tell why it is important for each patrol member to share in meal preparation and cleanup.”

I have no idea what “the campout” means, this is confusing, it should read, “While on a Campout”. Why was “one of your patrol’s meals” dropped here?

2b. While on a campout, demonstrate the appropriate method of safely cleaning items used to prepare, serve, and eat a meal.

This is a new requirement. Calling for “the appropriate method” means there is only one way to do this, and why “safely” cleaning? Is there a rash of accidents in this activity?

2c. Explain the importance of eating together as a patrol.

Slight rewording of “Explain the importance of eating together.” Specifying that patrols eat together is a welcomed change, but the emphasis was removed in 2a, this is confusing.

TOOLS

3a. Demonstrate a practical use of the square knot.

3b. Demonstrate a practical use of two half hitches.

3c. Demonstrate a practical use of the taut-line hitch.

Change from “Demonstrate that you know how to tie the following knots and tell what their uses are: two half hitches and the taut-line hitch.” I don’t know why we’d have Scouts learn these knots as a part of Scout rank and not have them demonstrate one practical use (rather than three, for instance) until Tenderfoot, makes absolutely no sense to me.

3d. Demonstrate proper care, sharpening, and use of the knife, saw, and ax. Describe when each should be used.

Unchanged, but moved from Second Class.

FIRST AID and NATURE

This is an example of a heading that I think is kind of silly – First aid and Nature? You won’t see this heading used in the other ranks. Why not two separate headings that are used consistently in all ranks?

4a. Show first aid for the following:

Simple cuts and scrapes
Blisters on the hand and foot
Minor (thermal/heat) burns or scalds (superficial, or first-degree)
Bites or stings of insects and ticks
Venomous snakebite
Nosebleed
Frostbite and sunburn
Choking

Slight rewording of the existing requirement.

4b. Describe common poisonous or hazardous plants; identify any that grow in your local area or campsite location. Tell how to treat for exposure to them.

Rewording of “Identify local poisonous plants; tell how to treat for exposure to them.” What, precisely, are “hazardous” plants?

4c. Tell what you can do while on a campout or other outdoor activities to prevent or reduce the occurrence of injuries or exposure listed in Tenderfoot requirements 4a and 4b.

This is a new requirement. I think it is poorly written. Do I need to say how to prevent each of these things specifically? Why separate discussion of preventative measures when they could be discussed during 4.a and b?

4d. Assemble a personal first-aid kit to carry with you on future campouts and hikes. Tell how each item in the kit would be used.

This is transplanted from Second Class. Rewording and expansion of previous “Prepare a personal first-aid kit to take with you on a hike.” Again, I don’t think this is very well thought out, but I have a solution I explain in below.

HIKING

5a. Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal safety on outings and in your neighborhood. Use the buddy system while on a troop or patrol outing.

Amended the previous requirement “Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal safety on outings and in your neighborhood. ” This should be moved to the Scout Rank.

5b. Describe what to do if you become lost on a hike or campout.

Rewording of the previous requirement; “Explain what to do if you are lost.”

5c. Explain the rules of safe hiking, both on the highway and cross-country, during the day and at night.

Unchanged.

FITNESS

6a. Record your best in the following tests:

Push-ups ________ (Record the number done correctly in 60 seconds.)
Sit-ups or curl-ups ________ (Record the number done correctly in 60 seconds.)
Modified stretch and sit (Record the number done correctly in 60 seconds.)
1-mile walk/run _____________ (Record the time.)

6b. Develop and describe a plan for improvement in each of the activities listed in Tenderfoot requirement 6a. Keep track of your activity for at least 30 days.

6c. Show improvement (of any degree) in each activity listed in requirement 6a after practicing for 30 days.

Push-ups ________ (Record the number done correctly in 60 seconds.)
Sit-ups or curl-ups ________ (Record the number done correctly in 60 seconds.)
Modified stretch and sit (Record the number done correctly in 60 seconds.)
1-mile walk/run _____________ (Record the time.)

Modified stretch and sit replaces long jump in previous requirement and some specificity is introduced.

CITIZENSHIP

7a. Demonstrate how to display, raise, lower, and fold the U.S. flag.

Slight rewording of “Demonstrate how to display, raise, lower, and fold the American flag.”

7b. Participate in a total of one hour of service in one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Explain how your service to others relates to the Scout slogan and motto.

This is a new requirement.

LEADERSHIP

8. Describe the steps in Scouting’s Teaching EDGE method. Use the Teaching EDGE method to teach another person how to tie the square knot.

Slight rewording of the previous requirement; “Using the EDGE method, teach another person how to tie the square knot.” Why a square knot?

SCOUT SPIRIT

9. 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 in your everyday life.

__________ ____________ ____________ ____________

Some addition and rewording of the existing requirement; “Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. Discuss four specific examples of how you have lived the points of the Scout Law in your daily life.”

Awkwardly worded, and a whole lot stuffed into a single sentence.

10. While working toward the Tenderfoot rank, and after completing Scout rank requirement 7, participate in a Scoutmaster conference.

Rewording of the existing requirement; “Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.” Needlessly confusing.

11. Successfully complete your board of review for the Tenderfoot rank.

Clarification of the existing requirement; “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 the Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks may be worked on simultaneously; however, these ranks must be earned in sequence.
Alternative requirements for the Tenderfoot rank are available for Scouts with physical or mental disabilities.

How I would do it!

See my notes about this 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.

Tenderfoot Rank Requirements

CAMPING

Spend at least one night on a patrol or troop campout and sleep in a tent or shelter that you have helped set up.

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*

*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).

Participate in an inspection of your personal and camping gear by your patrol leader before going on an overnight camping trip.

OUTDOOR ETHICS

Explain the principles of the Outdoor Code.

Tell how you followed the Outdoor Code principles you explained on a campout or outing.

COOKING

Assist in preparing a meal for your patrol while camping.

Demonstrate how to safely clean the gear used to prepare, serve, and eat a meal.

Explain why it is important for all patrol members to share in meal preparation and cleanup.

Explain the importance of eating together as a patrol.

OUTDOOR SKILLS

EDGE TOOLS

Pocket Knives and Cooking Knives

Demonstrate how to care for and sharpen a pocket knife and a cooking knife.

Demonstrate the safe use of pocket knives and cooking knives.

Discuss when and where to use pocket knives and cooking knives.

Camping saws

Demonstrate how to care for a camping saw.

Demonstrate the safe use of camping saw.

Discuss when and where to use a camping saw.

Axes and Hatchets

Demonstrate how to care for and sharpen an axe or hatchet.

Demonstrate the safe use of axes and hatchets.

Discuss when and where to use an axe or hatchet.

FIRST AID

Assemble a personal first-aid kit.

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:

Simple cuts and scrapes