Scout Booklet

Boy Scout Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan and the Outdoor Code
Boy Scout Oath or Promise
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.
Note that the Boy Scout Oath has traditionally been considered to have three promises. Those three promises are delineated by the semicolons in the Oath, which divide it into three clauses. The three promises of the Scout Oath are, therefore:
**Duty to God and country,
**Duty to other people, and
**Duty to self
DUTY TO GOD AND COUNTRY: Your FAMILY and religious leaders teach you to know and serve God. By following these teachings, you do your duty to God.
Men and women of the past worked to make America great, and many gave their lives for their country. By being a good family member and a good citizen, by working for your country's good and obeying its laws, you do your duty to your country. Obeying the Scout Law means living by its 12 points.
DUTY TO OTHER PEOPLE: Many people need help. A cheery smile and a helping hand make life easier for others. By doing a Good Turn daily and helping when you're needed, you prove yourself a Scout and do your part to make this a better world.
DUTY TO SELF: Keeping yourself physically strong means taking care of your body. Eat the right foods and build your strength. Staying mentally awake means learn all you can, be curious, and ask questions. Being morally straight means to live your life with honesty, to be clean in your speech and actions, and to be a person of strong character.
Boy Scout Law
A Scout is:
*Trustworthy,
*Loyal,
*Helpful,
*Friendly,
*Courteous,
*Kind,
*Obedient,
*Cheerful,
*Thrifty,
*Brave,
*Clean,
*and Reverent.
Boy Scout Motto
Be Prepared!
Boy Scout Slogan
Do a Good Turn Daily!
The Outdoor Code
As an American, I will do my best to -
*Be clean in my outdoor manners
*Be careful with fire
*Be considerate in the outdoors, and
*Be conservation minded. *
Advancement Guidelines
We believe that a Scout should receive recognition for his achievements.
Advancement sets a pattern of setting positive goals and reaching them throughout life. Even though it*s not one of the primary aims of Scouting, advancement is a natural byproduct when your Scouting experience is acquainting you with the BSA ideals, the patrol method, the outdoors, association with adults, personal growth, leadership development, and the Scout uniform. It*s easy to advance by following these four basic steps:
Learning ,Testing ,Review ,Recognition
RANK ADVANCEMENT
The requirements for the ranks of Tenderfoot through First Class prepare you to take full advantage of all that Scouting has to offer. Star, Life, and Eagle requirements focus on service to others and developing leadership skills.
Requirements for each rank are outlined in the Boy Scout Handbook. You can work on advancement requirements with your parents or other family members, with other Scouts and with adult Scout leaders. This can be done on your own, in patrol and troop meetings, and during other troop functions such as campouts. A good rule of thumb is to try to complete one or two rank requirements at each troop meeting.
Scout skills cannot be mastered by performing them just once. You will have many opportunities to practice each skill, and you will be thoroughly tested on each requirement before it is "signed off". In addition, expect to practice each skill repeatedly, even after it has been signed off. As you progress, you will also have opportunities to teach these skills to less experienced Scouts, which will further reinforce your knowledge and skill.
As you complete each requirement, you will be tested and signed off in the BACK section of your handbook (pp. 438 - 449) by the Scoutmaster or by someone he designates. This person may be an Assistant Scoutmaster, a Troop Committee Member, or another, more experienced, Scout. (In Boy Scouts troop leaders, rather than parents, sign off advancement requirements. In order to avoid the appearance of impropriety, in most troops, troop leaders will not normally sign off rank requirements for their own sons. Infrequent exceptions may be made in the case of a leader who is teaching skills to several Scouts at once at a patrol or troop meeting or other Scouting function, but every effort should be made to have another leader sign off the instructing leader*s sons if possible.)
It*s up to you to take advantage of the advancement opportunities available to you, and to take initiative to ask for someone to test you when you are ready. You are responsible for keeping your own personal advancement record in your handbook. You should also record your service hours, campouts, troop activities, and leadership positions in your handbook.
You must earn the ranks in order, but you may complete any requirement for Tenderfoot through First Class at any time. (For example, you may complete a First Class requirement before finishing your Tenderfoot requirements, but you must earn Tenderfoot rank before you are awarded Second Class and First Class ranks.)
You will be meeting regularly with the Scoutmaster to discuss your activity in the troop and your understanding and practice of the ideals of Scouting. This Scoutmaster conference is also used to discuss your goals and accomplishments and is required for each rank advancement.
You do not have to wait until you have completed the requirements for a rank in order to ask for a Scoutmaster conference. You may talk with the Scoutmaster at any time that is convenient to both of you. However, for a Scoutmaster conference to count toward rank advancement it must take place after all other requirements are complete and before the Board of Review. At this required conference the Scoutmaster will also help you determine whether or not you are ready to go before the Board of Review.
After this Scoutmaster conference, you should arrange for your Board of Review following the procedures your troop has established. Boards of Review for all ranks except Eagle Scout, are normally held once a month, and are composed of three to six registered members of the troop committee. (Eagle Scout Boards of Review are arranged through your Council or District Advancement Committee and can have other members.) The Board of Review may not include the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, or your family members.
The purpose of the Board of Review is not to retest you but rather to ensure that you have completed all of the requirements, to determine the quality of your troop experience, and to encourage you to advance toward the next rank. (Sometimes you will meet a Board of Review even when you are not ready for the next rank, in order to check your progress and to see how things are going for you in the troop and in your patrol. The troop Advancement Chairman may schedule you for such a Board of Review when (s)he feels that an extended period has passed since your last Board of Review.)
You need to have your Boy Scout Handbook and should be in your field uniform when you appear before a Board of Review. At the beginning of the review, the president of the board will bring you into the room, introduce you to the board, and invite you to be seated. During the review the board will discuss your development along your trail to Eagle, ask you questions about skills that were required for your particular rank, and evaluate you in terms of troop activities and readiness for the next rank. It is also a time for you to ask any questions you might have and to give feedback to the troop committee about activities and your Scouting experience in your troop and in your patrol. At the end of the review you will be asked to leave the room while the board discusses your qualifications. The board will then call you back into the room and inform you either that you have been approved for the next rank or what additional actions you must take to qualify.
After passing the Board of Review, you will be recognized in front of the troop as soon as possible. You will receive your new rank patch shortly after, usually at the next troop meeting. You will be formally recognized for your rank advancements and merit badges in front of family and friends during a ceremony at a Court of Honor. At this time you will be presented with your wallet-sized certificate card and, if your troop presents them, a rank pin ("mother*s pin"). Most troops schedule four Courts of Honor each year. Your parents, other family members, and friends are invited and encouraged to attend all Courts of Honor.
After reaching the rank of Life Scout, you will meet with one of the adult leaders in the troop. At this meeting you will receive your Life to Eagle packet and discuss ideas and suggestions for your Eagle Service Project. This project must conform to special guidelines that have been outlined by the Boy Scouts of America. Your Scoutmaster, troop Advancement Chairman, and a representative of your District Advancement Committee, as well as the benefiting organization, must approve your project before you begin carrying it out.
MERIT BADGES
Earning merit badges allows you to explore many fields, helps you round out your skills, and introduces you to subjects that will perhaps become lifelong interests or a rewarding career.
There are more than 100 merit badges for you to choose from. You may earn any merit badge at any time, with Scoutmaster approval. Don*t wait for someone to tell you when and which merit badge to work on. You don*t need to reach a certain rank in order to be eligible. However, you should concentrate on achieving the rank of First Class before devoting a lot time to working on merit badges.
Don*t overwhelm yourself by trying to complete too many badges at one time. We recommend that you actively work on no more than two at one time until you reach the rank of First Class, and no more than five at one time thereafter.
You can find information about merit badge requirements in the appropriate merit badge pamphlets and in the current year*s Boy Scout Requirements book. Some of these should be available in your troop library or at your public library. All of them are available from your Scout Shop or Council Trading Post, or a store which sells Scouting supplies in your area. If you are finished using merit badge pamphlets that you own, many troops encourage you to donate them to the troop library.
Here are the steps to earning a merit badge:
Get a blue merit badge card from the Advancement Chairman, or Scoutmaster, fill in your name, address, and the name of the badge, and ask the Scoutmaster to sign it. Then get the name and phone number of a qualified counselor from the Advancement Chairman or scoutmaster.
Call the counselor and set up an appointment. This can be at any place that is suitable to both of you. Along with a buddy (another Scout, a family member, or a friend), meet with the counselor. The counselor will explain the requirements for the merit badge and help you get started.
Work on the badge requirements until you complete them, meeting with the counselor (along with your buddy) whenever necessary. You must complete the stated requirements and satisfy the standards of each merit badge. The merit badge counselor may encourage you to do more than the requirements state but he or she may not require it. YOU (not the counselor, Scoutmaster, or Advancement Chairman) keep the merit badge card until you have completed the requirements and the counselor has signed the card. If you lose this card, you will have to start the badge over unless the counselor is willing and able to vouch for what you already completed.
If you change counselors for any reason, it is up to the new counselor whether or not he or she will accept the work you did with the previous counselor. Normally the new counselor will ask you a few questions, and if the counselor is satisfied that you actually did the work that was signed off, he or she will accept it.
After you complete the merit badge and the counselor signs your merit badge card, he or she will keep the counselor*s section and return the rest of the card to you. Bring the rest of the card to the Advancement Chairman, who will keep the troop section and return the Scout section to you.
You will receive your merit badge shortly after you turn in the blue card (usually the next troop meeting). Your wallet-sized certificate card will be presented to you at the next Court of Honor.

Boy Scout Joining Requirements
Meet age requirements: Be a boy who has completed the fifth grade, or is 11 years old, or has earned the Arrow of Light Award, but is under 18 years old.
Complete a Boy Scout application and health history signed by your parent or guardian.
Find a Scout Troop near your home. (To find a troop, contact your local Boy Scout Council. The Council name, address and phone number can be found on BSA's Council Locator Page.)
Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance.
Demonstrate the Scout sign, salute, and handshake.
Demonstrate tying the square knot (a joining knot).
Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath or Promise, Law, Motto, and Slogan, and the Outdoor Code.
Describe the Scout badge.
Complete the Pamphlet Exercises: With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide".
Participate in a Scoutmaster conference. Turn in your Boy Scout application and health history form signed by your parent or guardian, then participate in a Scoutmaster conference.

Rank Requirements
NOTE: These requirements may be worked on simultaneously with those for the Tenderfoot and First Class ranks; however these ranks must be earned in sequence.
a. Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Explain what map symbols mean.
b. Using a compass and a map together, take a 5-mile hike (or 10 miles by bike) approved by your adult leader and your parent or guardian.*
a. Since joining, have participated in five separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), two of which included camping overnight.
b. On one of these campouts, select your patrol site and sleep in a tent that you pitched.
c. On one campout, demonstrate proper care, sharpening, and use of the knife, saw, and ax, and describe when they should be used.
d. Use the tools listed in requirement 2c to prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel for a cooking fire.
e. Discuss when it is appropriate to use a cooking fire and a lightweight stove. Discuss the safety procedures for using both..
f. Demonstrate how to light a fire and a lightweight stove.
g. On one campout, plan and cook over an open fire one hot breakfast or lunch for yourself, selecting foods from the four basic food groups. Explain the importance of good nutrition. Tell how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected.
Participate in a flag ceremony for your school, religious institution, chartered organization, community, or troop activity.
Participate in an approved (minimum of one hour) service project.
Identify or show evidence of at least ten kinds of wild animals (birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, mollusks) found in your community.
a. Show what to do for "hurry" cases of stopped breathing, serious bleeding, and internal poisoning.
b. Prepare a personal first aid kit to take with you on a hike.
c. Demonstrate first aid for the following:
**Object in the eye
**Bite of a suspected rabid animal
**Puncture wounds from a splinter, nail, and fishhook
**Serious burns (second degree)
**Heat exhaustion
**Shock
**Heatstroke, dehydration, hypothermia, and hyperventilation
a. Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim.
b. Demonstrate your ability to jump feetfirst into water over your head in depth, level off and swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming, then return to your starting place. **
c. Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects.** Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing rescue is possible, and explain why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with the victim.
Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the program with your family.
Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
Complete your board of review.

Rank Requirements
NOTE: These requirements, and those for Tenderfoot and Second Class may be worked on simultaneously; however these ranks must be earned in sequence.
Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass.
Using a compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.)
Since joining, have participated in ten separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), three of which included camping overnight.
a. Help plan a patrol menu for one campout -- including one breakfast, lunch, and dinner - that requires cooking. Tell how the menu includes the four basic food groups and meets nutritional needs.
b. Using the menu planned in requirement 4a, make a list showing the cost and food amounts needed to feed three or more boys and secure the ingredients.
c. Tell which pans, utensils, and other gear will be needed to cook and serve these meals.
d. Explain the procedures to follow in the safe handling and storage of fresh meats, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, and other perishable food products. Tell how to properly dispose of camp garbage, cans, plastic containers, and other rubbish.
e. On one campout, serve as your patrol's cook. Supervise your assistant(s) in using a stove or building a cooking fire. Prepare the breakfast, lunch, and dinner planned in requirement 4a. Lead your patrol in saying grace at the meals and supervise cleanup.
Visit and discuss with a selected individual approved by your leader (elected official, judge, attorney, civil servant, principal, teacher) your Constitutional rights and obligations as a U.S. citizen.
Identify or show evidence of at least ten kinds of native plants found in your community.
a. Discuss when you should and should not use lashings
b. Demonstrate tying the timber hitch and clove hitch and their use in square, shear, and diagonal lashings by joining two or more poles or staves together.
c. Use lashing to make a useful camp gadget.
a. Demonstrate tying the bowline knot and describe several ways it can be used.
b. Demonstrate bandages for a sprained ankle. and for injuries on the head, the upper arm, and the collarbone.
c. Show how to transport by yourself, and with one other person, a person:
**from a smoke-filled room
**with a sprained ankle, for at least 25 yards.
d. Tell the five most common signs of a heart attack. Explain the steps (procedures) in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
a. Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe trip afloat.
b. Successfully complete the BSA swimmer test.*
c. Demonstrate survival skills by leaping into deep water wearing clothes (shoes, socks, swim trunks, long pants, belt, and long-sleeved shirt). Remove shoes and socks, inflate the shirt, and show that you can float using the shirt for support. Remove and inflate the pants for support. Swim 50 feet using the inflated pants for support, then show how to reinflate the pants while using them for support.*
d. With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and rescuer. (The practice victim should be approximately 30 feet from shore in deep water.)
Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
Complete your board of review.

Rank Requirements
Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 4 months as a First Class Scout.
Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
Earn 6 merit badges, including 4 from the required list for Eagle.*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
While a First Class Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster.
While a First Class Scout, serve actively 4 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop): ***
Boy Scout troop.
**Patrol leader,
**assistant senior patrol leader,
**senior patrol leader,
**troop guide,
**OA troop representative,
**den chief,
**scribe,
**librarian,
**historian,
**quartermaster,
**bugler,
**junior assistant Scoutmaster,
**chaplain aide, or
**instructor. *Varsity Scout team.
**Captain,
**cocaptain,
**program manager,
**squad leader,
**team secretary,
**OA team representative,
**librarian,
**historian,
**quartermaster,
**chaplain aide,
**instructor, or
**den chief. *
Take part in a Scoutmaster conference
Complete your board of review.
* A Scout may choose any of the 15 required merit badges in the 12 categories to fulfill requirement 3. Click here for a complete list of required badges for Eagle.

Life
Rank Requirements
Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 6 months as a Star Scout.
Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
Earn 5 more merit badges (so that you have 11 in all), including any 3 more from the required list for Eagle.
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
While a Star Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster.
While a Star Scout, serve actively 6 months in one or more of the positions of responsibility listed in requirement 5 for Star Scout (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop).
Take part in a Scoutmaster conference
Complete your board of review.
* A Scout may choose any of the 15 required merit badges in the 12 categories to fulfill requirement 3. Click here for a complete list of required badges for Eagle.
NOTE: The footnote to Requirement 3 means that, for example, a Scout can use both Lifesaving AND Emergency Preparedness and/or Swimming, Hiking AND Cycling toward the requirement of 3 more (7 total) from the required list for Eagle when working toward Life Scout.) Also note that the asterisks are specifically placed on the lines marked "(required for Eagle)" signifying that the note applies to these badges.
If a Scout used Safety and/or Sports Merit Badge as one or two of the four merit badges from the required list for Eagle for advancement to Star Scout before April 1, 1999, he must earn additional merit badges from the current required list for Eagle, so that he has at least seven from the current list in order to advance to Life Scout.
Please note that Requirement 7 - (Complete your Board of Review) MAY be done AFTER the Scout' has reached age 18. All other requirements must be completed BEFORE the Scout's 18th Birthday
Eagle

Rank Requirements
Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 6 months as a Life Scout.
Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than you already have), including the following:
First Aid
Citizenship in the Community
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the World
Communications
Personal Fitness
Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving
Environmental Science
Personal Management
Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling
Camping, and
Family Life *
While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility:
Boy Scout troop.
**Patrol leader,
**assistant senior patrol leader,
**senior patrol leader,
**troop guide,
**OA troop representative,
**den chief,
**scribe,
**librarian,
**historian,
**quartermaster,
**junior assistant Scoutmaster,
**chaplain aide, or
**instructor. *Varsity Scout team.
**Captain,
**cocaptain,
**program manager,
**squad leader,
**team secretary,
**OA team representative,
**librarian,
**quartermaster,
**chaplain aide,
**instructor, or
**den chief. *
While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project should benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting.) The project idea must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and troop committee and the council or district before you start. You must use the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, BSA publication No. 18-927A, in meeting this requirement.
Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
Successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.
* You must choose only one merit badge listed in items (g) and (j). If you have earned more than one of the badges listed in items (g) and (j), choose one and list the remaining badges to make your total of 21.
Note: All requirements must be completed before a candidate's 18th birthday. The eagle Scout board of review can be held after the candidate's 18th birthday. For more information, see Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures, publication No. 33088B. Also see the note below.
If you have a permanent physical or mental disability, you may become an Eagle Scout by qualifying for as many required merit badges as you can and qualifying for alternative merit badges for the rest. If you seek to become an eagle Scout under this procedure, you must submit a special application to your local council service center. Your application must be approved by your council advancement committee before you can work on alternative merit badges.

Eagle Palm
Rank Requirements
After becoming an Eagle Scout, you may earn Palms by completing the following requirements:
Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 3 months after becoming an Eagle Scout or after the award of your last Palm.
Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
Make a satisfactory effort to develop and demonstrate leadership ability.
Earn five additional merit badges beyond those required for Eagle or last Palm.*.
Take Part in a Scoutmaster conference.
Complete your board of review.
You may wear only the proper combination of Palms for the number of merit badges you earned beyond the rank of Eagle. The Bronze Palm represents 5 merit badges, the Gold Palm 10, and the Silver Palm 15.
*Merit Badges earned any time since becoming a Boy Scout may be used to meet this requirement.
NOTE: Scouts who earn three Palms may continue to earn additional Palms in the same order - bronze, gold, and silver. All requirements for Eagle Palms must be completed before a candidate's 18th birthday.
Please note that Requirement 6 - (Complete your board of review) MAY be done AFTER the Scout has reached age 18.
The requirements above are those for boys enrolled in the Boy Scout Division as members of Boy Scout Troops (including Venture Patrols within Troops) or Varsity Scout Teams.
The following Table shows how many and which Palms should be worn for various numbers of Merit Badges beyond the 21 required for Eagle Scout, and how long it takes to earn these palms ( assuming exactly 3 months between each Board of Review)