Boy Scout Handbook Basics
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 |
 |
 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
Tenderfoot |
Second Class |
First Class |
Star |
Life |
|
Eagle |
The Boy Scout Handbook is your son’s plan for achieving the rank of Eagle. It has several purposes:
1) It details the advancement requirements for each of the scout ranks.
2) It serves as a reference for information your son needs to achieve his rank advancements.
3) It serves as a record of your son’s rank advancements.
Let’s cover each of the above purposes in more detail
1) Detailed advancement requirements for each scout rank
The journey to Eagle starts with your son earning “Scout” (not
officially a rank), and then Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star,
Life, and ultimately, Eagle. Each rank is described in its own
chapter of the Boy Scout Handbook. Near the beginning of each
rank chapter, there is a detailed list of all the skills and accomplishments
that your son must demonstrate in order to achieve that particular rank. Here
are some hints you may find useful:
- Be aware of the requirements for the rank your son is working on, and
also the requirements for the next several ranks. This allows you
both to plan ahead: which specific outings he needs to go on, what
to volunteer for, etc.
- Achievement can be earned for any rank, not just the one you are currently
working on. A good example of this is the lock-in outing (we spend
the entire night at a recreation center and work on sign-offs, merit badges,
mile swim, etc). New scouts should always plan on attending at least
the “swimming” part of the “Lock-in” event, even
if they do not stay the night. Numerous first and Second Class rank
advancements can be earned in one night during the swimming portion of
the evening. Even if your scout is only at the “Scout” level.
- Be careful to read the words that describe each requirement. All
of these words were chosen very carefully, and are strictly adhered to
in order to ensure consistent application in all troops worldwide. If
you or your son have any questions about what the words mean, ask one
of the higher ranking Scouts or Assistant Scoutmasters (ASM) for clarifications.
- Make sure your son writes his name and phone number in prominent places on his Boy Scout Handbook. Along the “white edge” is usually a good place.
2) Reference material for rank advancements
Now look more carefully at one of the tables listing the rank advancements
for a particular rank (remember, these are always found near the beginning
of a rank chapter). In the older Scout books, each advancement description
contains the page numbers in the handbook where your son can go to learn
the required material for that rank advancement. In newer handbook,
the actual rank chapter is divided into sections, each of which has the rank
advancement “number” as the section heading. Almost ALL
the information your son needs to achieve Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class,
and First Class ranks is contained in the Boy Scout
Handbook. Once
your son has achieved First Class, he has learned the basic skills of scouting. This
is a significant achievement in a boy’s scouting career. Here
are some hints you may find useful:
- Encourage your son to ask lots of questions. Some of the descriptions in the Boy Scout Handbook, such as description of determining directions in the day or night, could probably use a few more words. The higher-ranking Scouts (First Class or above with Scoutmaster approval) or an ASM will be happy to provide all the help your son needs. That’s why we are all here.
3) Record of your Scout’s achievements
Once your son feels he is competent in a particular skill, all he has to
do is find a higher-ranking Scout or an ASM and demonstrate the skill or
achievement. Once he has done that, the higher ranking Scout or ASM
will ask the Scout for his Boy Scout Handbook, and will turn to the
tables near the back of the book. Here, the “rank advancement
tables” are repeated, but this time each rank advancement description
also has space for the higher-ranking Scout or ASM to sign his initials and
date the entry show they have observed and approved of the Scout’s
level of competency. So your son’s Boy Scout
Handbook also
serves as a permanent record of his achievements. Here are some more
hints:
- Make regular photocopies of the sign-off tables, and store these photocopies
in a safe place. I know it’s almost impossible to believe,
but your son might lose this book. It would be a shame if he lost
his record of achievements.
- Make sure you give the photocopies to the scoutmaster on a regular
basis. That way your son’s rank advancements can be recorded in
the Troopmaster software.
(But don’t throw the photocopies away! Scoutmasters, and even
whole districts, have sometimes been known to lose records. It
has happened right here in the Arapahoe district.)
- Be sure to notice that for Second and First Class ranks, one rank advancement requirement is that your son must go on 5 Scout outings for each rank. Well, embedded in the Second and First class rank chapters, you will find a convenient place for your son to record each outing he goes on, the date, etc. Once he has completed these lists, all he has to do is show them to a First Class or higher ranking Scout, or ASM, for sign-off of that requirement.
The Boy Scout Handbook does not contain information required for
earning merit badges. Merit badges are an important element of your
child’s journey through scouting, and earning merit badges is required
to achieve the ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle. Earning merit badges
is also where much of the fun in scouting can be found. Information
about earning merit badges is contained in numerous other references described
elsewhere in this handbook.
Please note: If your son has questions please have him
ask his Patrol
Leader (PL) or Senior Patrol Leader (SPL).
