Scout advancement is a natural result of applying the patrol system. Requirements without the patrol experience are a lifeless checklist. Tenderfoot 2. Spend at least one night on a patrol or troop campout… 3. On the campout, assist in preparing and cooking one of your patrol’s meals. Tell why it is important for each patrol member […]
Understanding Advancement
Understanding Advancement is part of the All About Advancement section.
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How Long Does it Take to Be a First Class Scout?
Someone asked me how long, on average, does it take to be a First Class Scout? We know statistically Scouts who become First Class within the first year tend to stay in Scouting longer. I am pleased when Scouts advance because that’s one indicator that we are delivering on the promise, but it’s only one indicator. […]
Four Steps to Scout Advancement – A Scout is Reviewed
Fourth in a series of articles about the four steps to Scout Advancement. After a Scout has completed all of the requirements for any rank he is reviewed twice; once in a Scoutmaster conference and once at a Board of review. The Scoutmaster Conference Note that a Scout must participate or take part in a conference; it is not […]
Scout Advancement, Parents and Pressure
I received this question from a reader; I’m a assistant scoutmaster and was recently contacted by a dad of a scout that after one year is still at Scout rank. It seems that his dad is looking for shortcuts, as many other scouts have bypassed him and our recently added Webelos are already achieving their Scout rank. […]
3 Reasons Scouts Don’t Advance
Here are three reasons Scouts don’t advance, and some simple ways to recognize and resolve them. REASON ONE They don’t want to “do requirements”. WHAT’S HAPPENING When Scouts don’t advance it may be we’re preoccupied with a list of stuff Scouts need to do (the requirements). If we have an active program of camping Scouts meet requirements as […]
The Merit of Badges
One of the more ingenious ideas in Socuting is recognition through the advancement program. Humankind has always had some way of marking achievement through decorations of one kind or another; it seems to be a fundamental impulse. Cub Scouts have no pretense when it comes to badges. They pursue them arduously and uncompromisingly because they […]
The Pace of Scout Advancement
A reader asks about the pace of Scout advancement: “Our troop seems to think we should hold off the scouts until they are older (ie end of Junior Year) to do their Eagle Projects and try to control the pace of advancement in the troop because they want the scouts to be more “mature” and stick around to […]
Scoutmaster Podcast 9 – Scouting Resources
Scoutmaster Podcast 9 Three key Scouting resources every Scouter ought to have and read. In This Podcast Second chances Wobegon Scouts Three important resources A Scout is Brave Podcast Notes Scoutmaster Jerry’s Scoutmaster’s Minute blog and podcast So let it be written… Advancement Policies and Procedures Uniform and Insignia Guide Guide to Safe Scouting Podcast: Play in new […]
Is your Advancement Program Aimed at “True North”?
Is your Troop’s advancement program aimed at ‘true north’? Here’s some statements derived from Andy’s (at Ask Andy) answer to a Troop where the Scoutmaster is seriously off course: Every Scout can advance in rank according to each Scout’s preference for velocity, and no one will attempt to either slow him down or speed him […]
Scouting Standards
In the past I have been guilty of griping about Scouts who ‘don’t know their skills’ and troops that were ‘Eagle Factories’. This put me on a mission to fix whatever I saw as wrong, to tighten things up and be darn sure that my Scouts earned their way. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I […]
