Scoutmaster

2010 Rank Requirement Changes

2010 Rank Requirement Changes

2010 Rank Requirement Changes

The centennial edition of the Boy Scout Handbook will soon be available, and with the new handbook come several rank requirement changes that will be in effect as of January 1, 2010.

I see some very positive incentives represented in these changes. EDGE model instruction is nothing new but I like encouraging it in younger Scouts so they develop some instructional skills. Four specific examples of living the Scout Oath spread over three Scoutmaster conferences (at least this is where I usually do this requirement) is a  great idea. Leave No Trace is an excellent and important addition. Introducing some fiscal skills is a good move as is an emphasis on flag etiquette. Webmaster as a leadership position is long overdue.

Tenderfoot
* A Scout must teach another person how to tie a square knot using the EDGE model (explain, demonstrate, guide, and enable). He must also be able to discuss four specific examples of how he lived the points of the Scout Law in his daily life.

Second Class
* A Scout must discuss the principles of Leave No Trace and explain the factors to consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.
* He must explain what respect is due the flag of the United States.
* He must again discuss four examples of how he lived four different points of the Scout Law in his daily life.
* He must earn an amount of money agreed upon by the Scout and his parents and save at least 50 percent of it.

First Class
* An additional requirement to the 10 separate troop/patrol activities states he must demonstrate the principles of Leave No Trace on these outings.
* He must discuss four more examples of how he lived the remaining four points of the Scout Law in his daily life.

Life
* A Scout must use the EDGE model to teach a younger Scout a specified skill.

Star, Life, and Eagle
* Troop Webmaster and Leave No Trace trainer are two new leadership positions.

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Merit Badge Metrics

What are the top ten merit badges of all tIme?
How many merit badges did Scouts earn last year?
What is the least popular merit badge?

This page at meritbadge.org has all the answers.

Courts of Honor - Some Thoughts

Courts of Honor are crucial elements of a good Troop program. Understanding the intention behind them and shaping the presentation to refelct these intentions is crucial to their success. Here are some posts from Scoutmaster on the subject;

Andy at "Ask Andy" writes in the post  More Eagle Scout Thoughts;

On "coronations"...

A Court of Honor recognizes advancements that Scouts have earned since the last court. Courts of Honor, in my opinion, need to remain this way.  I don't personally accept the notion of "EAGLE Courts of Honor," because while this rank is significant, so are Life, Star, and, Yes, Tenderfoot. Each one marks progress; each one deserves to be acknowledged. Besides, from a purely practical point-of-view, many fewer Scouts and parents attend "Eagle Courts" than do troop-wide Courts of Honor, and without these Scouts and parents, how can this rank be used to help promote the idea of advancement overall?  The plain fact is: It can't.

 From the post Courts of Honor;

Courts of honor are for scouts and must speak to them, not just their leaders or parents. The tone is one of honoring achievement formally. If scouts are laughing up their sleeves at the florid theatrics of an overblown ceremony it may be time to rethink your program. Likewise if the court of honor is just a slog through calling names and handing out badges it is missing something.

As in most things the answer lies in the Scouts themselves. Given some parameters and presented with the task of writing a court of honor what will they come up with?

My experience has been that Scout-aged boys appreciate tradition, brevity and meaning. Ceremonies outside of Scouting whether religious or secular usually follow an established ritual framework that allows some personalization. When we go to commencement exercises or weddings we expect some common elements to be part of the proceedings that reflect a shared concept of what the ceremony celebrates.

From the post Eagle Courts of Honor

" When I was a boy and got my Eagle (that would have been in the nineteen thirties) I went to a troop meeting, my scoutmaster handed be the badge and shook my hand.. " At this point Ken raised both hands as if in  benediction and concluded with; "... that was it."

From the post Ceremony;

Don't underestimate the important role of ceremony in scouting. Whether it is the presentation of awards, the raising or lowering of the flag, opening or closing a meeting ceremony is, indeed, "a book in which a great deal is written".

Ceremony says; stop, listen, participate: this is an important moment, something is being communicated, a story is being told.

Boards of Review

He has had his requirements signed off, he has had a Scoutmaster's conference and in uniform and armed with his handbook he's off to a Board of Review.

Three to six adults from the Troop Committee welcome him. They ask him to recite the Scout oath and law, check his handbook for the proper initials that indicate he has completed all the requirements and ask a few questions:
"What was your favorite requirement for this rank and why?"
"How is your patrol doing? What would you do to make it better?"

There are several more questions that concentrate on the Scout's experience in his Patrol and Troop and the effectiveness of the Troop program. They encourage the Scout to talk and listen carefully.

The board asks the Scout to step into the hallway for a moment and discusses their review. One of their questions revealed that on a recent camping trip the Scout's patrol "didn't do as much as they could have". The board decides that this should be relayed to the Scoutmaster. They all agree that the Scout has earned his next rank and call him back to congratulate him.

Fifteen minutes have passed since the review began.

Boards of Review are just that - a simple and focused review of how a Scout is progressing. It is often easier to say what Boards of Review are not than what they are:

... the board of review is not an interrogation, not a retesting of a Scout's competence. It is not an examination; rather, it attempts to see that the examinations that went into getting the Scout signed off were up to standard. It is a checkup to see that what should have been done actually was done. It is a friendly growth experience. All this should be accomplished in 15 minutes...

Boards of Review are not just for Scouts who are ready to advance:

Some reasons to have a board of review may include a Scout's lack of advancement, perceived trouble in the troop, or a certain event at the last campout or troop meeting. Ideally, a Scout should sit for a board of review every six months, whether he is advancing or not.

A Board of Review may reveal difficulties:

But be aware that a Scout who is poorly prepared for the board, one who clearly has not achieved what his book says that he has, is a product, as much of his own merits as of the merits of those who have brought him the board, to those who have signed off his accomplishments without actually having them properly achieved. Thus, a Scout may not be as responsible for his lack of preparation as might be thought. This does not grant carte blanche to the ill-prepared Scout, but it does give the board a way to understand what must be done and to assist the Scout in doing it.

Above all the Board must understand the spirit and intent of the proceedings:

The actual meeting should be a give and take, an informal conversation between the Scout and a group of adults who are interested in his welfare and are supportive of his efforts. In all cases, open-ended questions are good to prompt comments by the Scout. You should encourage the Scout to come to conclusions on his own, not simply tell him what you think.

An excellent way to keep your Troop's Boards of Review on track is to see that the members of the board have been properly trained on conducting the review. The BSA has an excellent resource; Board of Review Training (Here's a PDF version)
There are also many, many resources for boards available on the web, but be sure they are consistent with the BSA training.

Andy at Ask Andy has a great true/false quiz Board of Review IQ. After you have read the training materials mentioned above you should be able to ace the quiz.

 

Holding Scouts Hostage - the 13 year-old Eagle?

The delightfully plain-spoken author of Ask Andy answers a question about "delaying the earning of
Eagle till Scouts are older and more mature… If a Scout earns Eagle by age 13, what’s left? "

A bit of ancient history:  I made Eagle at 15; my brother at 14; both of us stayed active in our Troop and in Scouting right up to 18, and then became ASMs (I went on to become Scoutmaster of the same Troop I'd earned my Tenderfoot badge in!).  More recently, I've sat on Eagle boards for 17 years olds who drop out right after their Court of Honor, and 13 year olds who stay in and active for the next 4 or more years, and everything in between.  In other words, something other than merely earning Eagle is operating here, and I'll tell you from experience exactly what it is:  It's the myth that "Eagle is the 'end of the trail'."

Too many of us who should know better are out there telling Scouts (and their parents) that Eagle is "The Ultimate," that "Making Eagle is a Life Goal," that "This is the PINNACLE of Scouting."  Horsepucky.  Eagle is a rank, pure and simple.  Yes, it's the highest (we're not counting "Palms" here because Palms aren't ranks), but advancement is just one of eight methods of Scouting.

Now I'll go further... To artificially and arbitrarily hold a Scout back from his own advancement goals is a form of hostage-taking.  In doing this, in purposefully delaying a Scout by throwing up roadblocks, so that he "stays in the troop longer" is a complete and total miscarriage of the Scouting program itself, to say nothing of the advancement plan.

Want Scouts to stay active in your troop?  Simple: Give 'em a program that enriches their lives, turns 'em on, and is fun.  When it works, it works magic.  I've seen troops that "get it."  There's one, in particular, that I have in mind:  It's older Scouts drive to their troop meetings! Got that?  Drove!  THAT is what you call a troop program that's a MAGNET. That's what Scouting's supposed to be.

To anyone harboring the misguided notion of holding a Scout hostage by stalling his advancement in order to keep him in the troop, I have but one response: SHAME ON YOU!

If you haven't discovered Ask Andy take a moment and look over his 100 + columns that serve as one of the best FAQ's on Scouting. Got a Scouting problem? After a nearly a hundred years here isn't anything new out there - ask Andy.

Associated posts at Scoutmaster
Eagle Court of Honor
Eagle Projects

Revised Rank Requirements

Word is these requirements will be effective on January 1, 2008:

Tenderfoot Rank
Current requirement 9:
Explain why we use the buddy system in Scouting.

Revised requirement 9:
Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal safety on outings and in your neighborhood. Describe what a bully is and how you should respond to one.

Stop Bullying Now

Scouting and the Bully from Scouting Magazine

Second Class Rank
New requirement 8b:
Explain the three R’s of personal safety and protection.

"The "three R's" of Youth Protection convey a simple message that the BSA wants its youth members to learn:
Recognize situations that place him at risk of being molested, how child molesters operate, and that anyone could be a molester.
Resist unwanted and inappropriate attention. Resistance will stop most attempts at molestation.
Report attempted or actual molestation to a parent or other trusted adult. This prevents further abuse of himself and helps to protect other children. Let the Scout know he will not be blamed for what occurred."

First Class Rank
New requirement 12:
Describe the three things you should avoid doing related to use of the Internet. Describe a cyberbully and how you should respond to one.

Cyberbullying article at Wikipedia

Resources for Boards of Review from BSA

Now available - a  great resource from the BSA entitled:
Rank Advancement and the Board of Review Process: Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What is a board of review, and what is its primary purpose?
Answer: The troop committee conducts a board of review to periodically    review each Scout's progress, from Tenderfoot through Life ranks, to    encourage him, to learn whether he is enjoying his Scouting experience,    and to evaluate the unit's effectiveness in conducting the Scouting    program to benefit him. The review presents a good opportunity to monitor    the Scout's advancement and keep him on track. It also gives unit leaders    a chance to measure the effectiveness of their leadership. The troop    committee appoints three to six individuals to conduct the board of    review.

Well worth reading to refresh your understanding of some important elements of the advancement process.

Resources for Merit Badge Counselors - BSA

Check out these Resources for Merit Badge Counselors from the BSA. A guide to publications that will be useful to those wishing to become a merit badge counselor. Some are only available in printed formt from your local Council Service Center
Here are links to these resources that are available on line

A Guide for Merit Badge Counseling, No. 34532C This tri-fold flier gives a well-rounded explanation about the merit badge program and spells out the counselor's responsibilities.

Merit Badge Counselor Orientation, No. 34542 Merit badge counselors in training can use this two-page resource as a quick reference.

Merit Badge Counselor Information, No. 34405 Local councils use the information from this form to identify merit badge counselors, the merit badges they are willing to coach, and other pertinent information. This form also includes the merit badge counselor's agreement to follow the merit badge requirements, and other BSA policies. This form, available online in PDF format (click here), should be submitted to the BSA local council along with the Adult Application.

Adult Application (to Be a Scouting Volunteer), No. 28-501C To serve as a merit badge counselor, an individual must complete and return this adult registration form. The Adult Application is valid for one year only and must be renewed annually. To register as a merit badge counselor, mark the box labeled "Council/district position" in the upper right-hand block with "merit badge counselor." Fill in the "Position Code" with code "42," and fill in the "Position (Description)" with "merit badge counselor." This application also is available in Spanish (No. 28-502Q).

Application for Merit Badge, No. 34124A Better known as the "blue card," this blue wallet-sized card shows that the Scout has permission to start working on a particular merit badge, records his progress, and, when completed, provides a separate record for the Scout, the counselor, and the unit.

Scouts Earn all 122 Merit Badges

Every once in a while a Scout reaches the extraordinary achievement of earning all 121 merit badges. I can imagine few other ways to gain experience in a crazy quilt of interests like  American Business, Archeology,  Bird Study,  Cinematography, Dentistry,  Entrepreneurship, Farm Mechanics,  Genealogy, Geology, Journalism. Music, Nuclear Science, Pottery, Railroading, Surveying, Textile, and Whitewater. Here are three who have achieved this remarkable distinction recently:

Here's an interview with one Scout

Raymond Adrian DeLeon Jr. is an Eagle Scout, founder and president of Venture Crew 1209, and recently graduated high school senior. He also has earned all 121 merit badges in the Boy Scout program. On June 1, 2007 I talked with Adrian about his experience. Link to interview.

News story about Eagle Cameron Barber from Frisco, Texas:

"I felt that earning all 122 merit badges would be a unique opportunity to learn about career opportunities and hobbies and get a taste for the adventures they provide," he said.

Additionally, for every five merit badges over what is required for an Eagle, Boy Scouts can earn a palm. Cameron has 20 palms. Link to whole story

Eagle James Calderwood from Chevy Chase, Maryland

It's not easy making Eagle, the highest honor in Boy Scouts. You need at least 21 merit badges, some required. Only 2 percent of Scouts get that far. A remarkable achievement. So what adjective should be used for James Calderwood, who has attained 121? Scout's honor.

Least favorite badge: "Insect study was something I wasn't as fascinated by as much as the other ones," he said. "But there wasn't a badge that I dreaded getting. I mean, every single badge intrigued me."  Link to the full article

Listen to a radio interview with James at the NPR website.

Hoop Jumping

Scouts, unlike trained dogs, should not have to jump through hoops.

I have heard repeatedly, and unfortunately advocated for a time, some of these  hoops;

"Scouts should go over and above the rank requirements, they should really know their stuff."

"Eagle projects should take a minimum of X hours."

"Active membership or leadership means X number of meetings or camp outs"

"Troops should police the quality of merit badge instruction through boards of review for merit badge work"

Requirements towards ranks and merit badges are written carefully and the overall standard is a Scout's best effort- nothing more nothing less - no hoops allowed.

Community service, Eagle projects, leadership tenure; all the parameters are written down - no hoops allowed.