What is Advancement?
Advancement in Scouting
Advancement is the process by which a Scout progresses from one rank to the next. Adult leaders promote and encourage ongoing involvement and commitment. Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them. Each Scout plans his or her own advancement and progresses at his or her own pace as he or she meets each challenge. Scouts are recognized and rewarded for achievements, which helps them gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.
Experiential Learning
Everything done to advance—to earn ranks and other awards and recognition—is designed to educate or expand horizons. Scouts learn and develop during exciting and meaningful activities where education happens. Scouts are not rushed through requirements to obtain a badge. Advancement is the natural outcome at Troop 49, with numerous opportunities to work toward ranks.
A rank or award is not the end of the learning process. In Scouting, after a requirement has been earned, the Scout is placed in practical situations that build retention through repeated use of skills. Troop 49 takes advantage of these opportunities and uses them to improve retention through practical application.
Personal Growth
The Scouting skills that a young person learns are important but not as important as the personal growth achieved through participating in a unit program. Scouts Age learn about themselves and gain confidence as the face age-appropriate, surmountable hurdles. When a Scout learns how to tie a knot, plan a menu, swim, or administer first aid, he or she is learning a skill that may someday be important, but what he or she is really developing is confidence. Each Scout comes to realize that he or she can learn and do other similar things.
Success is achieved when Scouts accomplish the aims of Scouting: character development, citizenship training, leadership, and mental and physical fitness.
Our Scouts accept responsibility, demonstrate self-reliance, and care for themselves and others. They learn to weave Scouting ideals into their lives. Their parents and adult leaders can see that our Scouts will be positive contributors to our American society.
Mentorship
Advancement is not a competition. It is a joint effort involving the Scout, the adult leaders, other volunteers (Merit Badge Counselors), and the Scout's family. Though much is done individually at his or her own pace, Scouts often work together in groups to focus on advancement at a Troop meeting or camp out. Our adult and youth leaders lend assistance as needed and encourage Scouts to help each other according to their abilities.
Young people want to belong to groups. Troop 49 provides a place where the sense of belonging is an outcome of practicing skills, exploring interests, learning values, forming friendships, and enjoying adventure. Associations within families and with a variety of adults are also critical, especially for providing support and recognition and to develop mutual respect.
Changing the Advancement Program
No council, committee, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to, or subtract from, advancement requirements. There are limited exceptions relating only to members with special needs.
Advancement with Troop 49
Rank Requirements
Rank requirements are in the back of the Scouts BSA Handbook. Each requirement refers to pages in the Handbook for the information or skill. As requirements are completed, the Troop Guide (older Scout) or Adult Leader will sign off on the requirement in the Scout's Handbook. It is important to keep track of the Handbook as this is the only record for the scout to prove he or she has completed these requirements (which are needed for the Eagle application). We recommend that parents take pictures or make copies of these important pages once the requirements are complete.
New Scouts
Troop 49 provides opportunities for Scouts to progress through the requirements for the early ranks leading up to First Class Rank through the New Scout Transition Program. These ranks do not require merit badges, so each Scout works at his or her own pace to focus on general scout skills for rank advancement. Scouts can work with the New Scout Leadership at Thursday Scout Meetings or monthly Rank Advancement meetings to learn these skills.
Many High Adventure trips and leadership camps require a rank of First Class. This rank is an important milestone for the Scouts.
Scoutmaster Conference
When a Scout has completed all the requirements for a rank, he or she will notify the Scoutmaster and request a Scoutmaster Conference. This is a meeting with the Scoutmaster to review the progress the Scout has made on the rank achievements. The Scoutmaster Conference is a great opportunity for the Scout to ask question. The Scoutmaster also gest to know the Scout and his or her aspirations for rank advancement, Merit Badges, and other activities outside Scouting.
Board of Review
For all ranks except Scout (the first advancement), following the Scoutmaster Conference, the Scout will schedule an additional meeting (called a Board of Review) with 3 adults (not the Scoutmaster or a relative, with at least two adult leaders in uniform and up to one other adult). At this meeting, the adult leaders also review the Scout's completion of his or her rank requirements, ask the scout questions about things he or she has done or is looking forward to do, and ask him or her to perform some tasks that he or she learned for that rank, such as tying a knot.
Experienced Scouts
The ranks after First Class Rank (Star, Life, and Eagle) have a greater emphasis on leadership, Merit Badges, and service.
Recognition
The scout will receive recognition for any rank advancement and a patch for his or her uniform during a troop meeting or the next Troop Court of Honor.
Scouting America’s Aims & Methods
Scout Oath
The Aims & Methods of Scouting
Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Scout Law
The Aims & Methods of Scouting
Scout Oath
The mission of Troop 49 is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
The Aims & Methods of Scouting
The Aims & Methods of Scouting
The Aims & Methods of Scouting
The Scouting program has specific objectives, commonly referred to as the “Aims of Scouting.” They are character development, leadership development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. Leadership development is also one of Scouting's eight methods contributing to both good character and good citizenship.
Ideals
Outdoor Programs
The Aims & Methods of Scouting
The ideals of Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, the Scout motto, and the Scout slogan. Each Scout measures himself or herself against these ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and, as each Scout reaches for those goals, he or she has some control over what and who he or she becomes.
Patrols
Outdoor Programs
Outdoor Programs
The patrol method gives Scouts an experience in group living and participating in citizenship. It places responsibility on young shoulders and teaches Scouts how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to interact in small groups where they can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through their elected representatives.
Outdoor Programs
Outdoor Programs
Outdoor Programs
Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoor setting where Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another. It is here that the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with purpose. Being close to nature helps Scouts gain an appreciation for God’s handiwork and humankind’s place i
Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoor setting where Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another. It is here that the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with purpose. Being close to nature helps Scouts gain an appreciation for God’s handiwork and humankind’s place in it. The outdoors is the laboratory for Scouts to learn ecology and practice conservation of nature’s resources. Learn more about our commitment to Outdoor Ethics.
Advancement
Association with Adults
Association with Adults
Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. Each Scout plans his or her advancement and progresses at his or her own pace to meet each challenge. The Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him or her gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system
Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. Each Scout plans his or her advancement and progresses at his or her own pace to meet each challenge. The Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him or her gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.
Association with Adults
Association with Adults
Association with Adults
Scouts learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders are positive role models for the youth in Troop 49. The Scoutmaster is willing to listen to the Scouts, encourage them, and take a sincere interest in them can make a profound difference in their lives.
Personal Growth
Association with Adults
Leadership Development
As Scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. Using the Good Turn concept, our young people grow as they participate in community service projects and do help others. No device is more successful in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily Good Turn. The religious emblems prog
As Scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. Using the Good Turn concept, our young people grow as they participate in community service projects and do help others. No device is more successful in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily Good Turn. The religious emblems program also is a large part of the personal growth method. Frequent personal conferences with the Scoutmaster helps each Scout to determine his or her growth toward Scouting’s aims.
Leadership Development
Leadership Development
Leadership Development
The Scouting program encourages Scouts to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership and becoming a servant leader helps a Scout accept the leadership role of others and guides them towards participating citizenship and character development.
Uniform
Leadership Development
Uniform
The uniform makes the Scouts and Troop 49 visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout’s commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth who be
The uniform makes the Scouts and Troop 49 visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout’s commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals. The uniform is practical attire for Scout activities and provides a way for each Scout to wear the badges that show what he or she has accomplished.
Advancement Resources for youth
