Scout Ranks:
The first badge you can earn is Scout. As you complete each requirement, you need to have an adult leader sign your book. Other scouts can help you learn and practice skills, but only an adult leader can actually sign you off. Once you have all the requirements complete, you can sign up for a Scoutmaster conference.
Scoutmaster conferences (SMC) are scheduled once a month. At the SMC, the Scoutmaster, or an assistant he appoints, will talk over what you have done. If he feels you have successfully completed the rank you will move on to the Board of Review (BoR).
The Board of Review (BoR) is made up of 3 or 4 parents from the troop. They will also talk with you, maybe ask you some questions about what you did to earn the rank and they will probably also ask you about your overall Boy Scout experience. They are all friendly people who want you to do well so there is no reason to be nervous.
If the Board of Review concludes you have earned the rank they will let Ms. Gannaway know and she will add the information to the troop database and get your rank badge so you can be presented with it at an upcoming meeting. We are proud of your accomplishment and want you to be able to proudly wear your new rank as soon as possible.
Three times a year we have a Court of Honor (CoH) where we formally recognize all your achievements in front of parents, leaders, and scouts. At that time you will receive your rank advancement card and your mom will receive a special pin that will be added to a mother’s ribbon that she will be presented with when you earn Scout. She should wear this to every Court of Honor. After the ceremony, you need to put the rank cards in a very safe place. They are your official record that you have earned a rank – if you ever move you will need them as proof of your accomplishment. Also, they are needed when you go up for an Eagle Board of Review. A loose leaf notebook with plastic trading card sleeves works very well for safe storage.
Merit Badges:
When you are ready to start work on a merit badge you need to get a blue card from Scoutmaster Moriarty. The card must be signed and dated by him BEFORE you start the badge. This is important because some badges require that you do activities over the course of weeks or months. Merit badges must be done under the direction of a merit badge counselor. Unlike Cub Scouts, your parents cannot sign off either for rank advancements or merit badges. You should check with Mrs. New, the Merit Badge Counselor, for a list of parents in our troop that are qualified merit badge counselors. You need to fill out your information on the front (our district is White Oak and council is NCAC). On the back of that section, the counselor’s information needs to be filled in. The middle portion is the Applicants record. Both front and back needs to be completed by the counselor and it needs to be signed by our Scoutmaster. The third portion is called the Counselor’s record and should be left with the counselor you worked with after you have completed the badge. When all requirements are met, and everything has been filled in and signed, you bring the card to Scoutmaster Moriarty for his signature, then to Ms. Gannaway. She records it in the database and you will receive your badge and card at the next Court of Honor. Merit badges can then proudly be displayed on a merit badge sash which you should wear to every Court of Honor. As with the rank cards, it is very important you keep the merit badge card that comes with your badge. Ms. Gannaway will keep both sections of the blue card for safekeeping.
Eagle merit badges are not only required to become an Eagle Scout, but some are also necessary for earning the Star and Life ranks. Therefore it is a good idea to pace yourself and spread them out over your scouting career. Ones you earn while at a lower rank are automatically applied to a higher rank as needed. For instance, if you earn Citizenship in the Community this year, it will go on your record toward one of the ones that are required for Star.
YOUR SCOUT BOOK:
Bring it to EVERY meeting! You never know when you will master some skill that can be signed off!
Write your name with a marker on the bottom or top edge so it’s easy to find – they all look alike with the covers on.
Keep partially complete blue merit badge cards tucked in that handy side flap in the back of your book.
Each time you go on a camping trip or participate in a troop service project be sure to record it on the pages near the back of your book
To earn 2nd class and 1st class you need to have completed a certain number of activities with the troop outside of the weekly meetings and patrol meetings. Keep a record of these activities, too. That way when the scoutmaster asks what five (or ten) activities you have done you KNOW! If you are an active scout you will be surprised at how easy it is to do.
HAVE FUN AND WELCOME TO THE TROOP!