Newer Scouts: Trail to First Class
New Scouts working their way through Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class focus on learning all the basics of Scouting. Once they have reached First Class, they can’t be any more of a Scout, only a better Scout. There’s little emphasis on Merit Badges during this period. For most of them, they’ll earn their first Merit Badges at summer camp. Don’t let all the information about Merit Badges overwhelm you. Scouts will start diving into that as they approach First Class rank.
Merit Badges
First Class rank and up have Merit Badge requirements to help them reach the 21 Merit Badges they need to have for Eagle. Of the 21, 13 are Eagle-required. They can choose eight elective Merit Badges to work on.
IMPORTANT: Scouts ready to work on a Merit Badge must talk to their Patrol Adviser FIRST. Once they receive a blue card (tracks Merit Badge progress) from the PA, then they need to contact the T1000 Merit Badge Counselor for the MB before they start working on requirements. Start with the first MB counselor listed.
- Merit Badge Procedures
- Troop Merit Badge Library GOOGLE DRIVE LINK
- Merit Badge Requirements (external site)
- List of Merit Badge Counselors July 2024 [pdf].
Rank Requirements
Advancements and Awards
- Advancement Overview [ppt]
- One Grand Patrol Scoring [pdf]
- Polar Bear Patch [pdf]
- A Scout is Reverent [pdf]
Leadership
Every Scout earning rank above First Class must complete 6 months of a Leadership position listed on the Troop Organization page. The requirements and expectations for these positions are listed below.
- Leadership Position Expectations [pdf]
- Senior Patrol Leader Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Troop Guide Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Patrol Leader Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Bugler Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Chaplain’s Aide Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Den Chief Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Historian Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Instructor Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Outdoor Ethics Guide Description and Self Evaluation [pdf]
- Order of the Arrow Troop Representative Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Quartermaster Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Scribe Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Robert’s Rules of Order [pdf]
Training
In addition, there are several opportunities for Scouts to move beyond troop roles and expand their leadership knowledge.
- Scout Training Opportunities – Scouting.org
- Every Scout Is a Leader [pdf]
- Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Dealing with Disruption [doc]
- Evaluating Junior Leaders [pdf]
- Leave No Trace Trainer Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]
- Monthly Program Advisor Duties [pdf]
- Training Junior Leaders Using ILST [pdf]
- Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops Syllabus [pdf]
- National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) – Scouting.org
- National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) – Scouting.org
- Troop Leadership Training Booklet [pdf]
- Webmaster Description and Self-Evaluation [pdf]