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General
Part of the scouting program is developing the courage of a scout to ask people
for help and developing the personal responsibility and accountability of the
scout as he plans and completes the various requirements. Many opportunities
will be presented to the scout for training and completion of various
requirements. He must follow through and get the requirements signed-off.
Parents may work with their scout at home to prepare them for requirements, but
should allow the scout to make all arrangements for completion of requirements,
scout master conferences, boards of review, service projects and merit badges.
Parents are not able to sign-off any of the boy scout requirements.
Scout Requirements
When a scout is ready to complete the scout rank requirements, he should contact
the scoutmaster for a scoutmaster conference. During the scoutmaster conference,
the scoutmaster will review all of the requirements with the scout to verify
successful completion. Unlike cub scouts and Webelos, parents are not able to
sign-off any of the boy scout requirements.
Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class Requirements
Many of the rank requirements for tenderfoot, second class and first class are
presented in the regular troop meetings and at the monthly troop campouts.
Scouts should practice what they have learned and be able to demonstrate
understanding of the requirement before they attempt to have someone sign them
off on the requirement. It is the responsibility of the scout to complete
requirements and to get them signed-off. All requirements should be only
signed-off by boy scouts over first class rank*, troop leaders, or adult
leaders that have observed the scout doing the requirement. Individuals
that sign-off on a requirement must be competent in the requirement. (*
preferred)
Scoutmaster Conferences
Any boy who has completed all of the requirements for a rank, except the
Demonstrating Scout Spirit, the Scoutmaster conference, and the Board of Review
- the last three requirements for each rank, should call the scoutmaster for a
scoutmaster conference. Scoutmaster conferences can be held at regular meetings,
weekend campouts, or any other time, provided prior arrangements have been made
with the scoutmaster.
For a scoutmaster conference the scout must be dressed in full Class A uniform,
including (but not limited to) a troop neckerchief with slide, scout shirt with
appropriate badges of rank and green or dress pants.
Scouts will be asked to demonstrate some of the rank requirements for the
scoutmaster conference. Scouts going for Star, Life, or Eagle rank should talk
to the scoutmaster and the advancement chair prior to the scoutmaster conference
to discuss their participation and leadership requirements. Scouts may be asked
to study a requirement or work longer in a responsible leadership position, if
the scoutmaster is of the opinion that the requirement was not completed or
demonstrated successfully. In such cases the scout will be asked to come to the
scoutmaster when the scout is able to demonstrate successfully completion the
deficient requirement.
Boards of Review
Scoutmaster conferences usually take place at least one week before the scout’s
board of review. Typically there will be no boards of review the week before a
court of honor, so the scout should plan on getting his scoutmaster conference
and board of review completed for his rank advancement a few weeks prior to any
court of honor. Also, no scoutmaster conferences or boards of review will be
held at summer camp. All advancement required for participation in the
campership program must be completed prior to summer camp.
Boards of review can only be scheduled after having the scoutmaster conference
signed-off. The scout must call the advancement chairman to set up a board of
review. This should be done on the Friday or Saturday prior to the Tuesday night
meeting.
Merit Badges
The merit badge program is set up to allow the scout to not only complete the
required badges for the Eagle Scout rank, but also to learn about a subject that
may be of interest to him.
To earn a merit badge the scout must:
1. Read the book. If the scout only downloads the requirements from a website he
may miss out on information that the merit badge counselor will ask. Many merit
badge books are available in our troop library. If the troop library doesn’t
have the particular merit badge book, borrow one from the local public library
or purchase one from the Greater Cleveland Council scout shop.
2. Ask the scoutmaster or the advancement chair for a merit badge blue card.
Fill it out with personal information and the name of the merit badge. Have the
scoutmaster sign the filled out blue card.
3. Ask the advancement chair for a name and phone number of a merit badge
counselor.
4. Contact the counselor and complete the requirements. Always use the buddy
system when visiting with a counselor!
5. After the requirements are completed and the counselor signs the merit badge
as such, bring the completed card to the advancement chairman. He will record
the successful completion and present the merit badge to the scout either at a
meeting or a court of honor.
Service Projects
Service projects for Star and Life must be approved by the scoutmaster and be at
least six hours of service.
The Life project should be one that requires the scout to perform some planning
and leadership. This will help prepare the scout for his Eagle project.
Eagle service projects must be approved by the contact person or sponsor for the
project, the scoutmaster, the troop committee chairman and the district
advancement chairman. These approvals must be obtained prior to work starting on
the project.
Troop 225
Saint Bernadette's Church
2256 Clague Road
Westlake, Ohio 44145
Dover-Rockport District, Greater Cleveland Council, BSA
© Copyright Troop 225, All Rights Reserved
