Scouts BSA is a very old organization with lots of history and traditions. One of the most fun parts of scouting can be earning badges, whether it is rank advancement or merit badges there is plenty of knowledge to gain.

This section will detail how you can earn different badges and information about advancement and other awards.

How You Earn Awards and Advance

In Scouts BSA, you can earn recognition for learning new skills, showing leadership, studying hobbies, and just showing people what a great person you are. This process is called advancement which is a big part of scouting and so much fun!

Ranks

I’m sure that you’ve heard of an eagle scout, which is the highest honor that a scout can possibly earn in their youth. It is earned after several years of hard work, commitment, and willingness to learn new outdoor skills as well as leadership skills. What you might not have known is that there are 6 other ranks that you have to earn before you can become an Eagle Scout.

The 7 ranks are:

• Scout
• Tenderfoot
• Second Class 
• First Class
• Star
• Life 
• Eagle

When a girl first joins our troop, they focus on learning the Scout Oath and Law, basic knots and first aid, and a few other easy things to earn Scout. After that, a scout will focus on skills such as swimming, working with ropes, cooking, orienteering, wildlife identification, developing and executing fitness plans, and living the scout oath and law in their everyday lives for Tenderfoot and Second Class. If a scout puts effort into learning these skills and takes the initiative on getting them signed off on then they can earn the ranks up to First Class relatively quickly. These first 4 ranks are oriented toward learning and practicing skills that will help you develop confidence and fitness, introducing you to civic responsibilities, and preparing you for exciting successes in Scouting. 

After you earn First Class, the rank requirements focus more on leadership in the troop, earning merit badges, being active in the troop, and completing service projects for Star and Life. It usually takes 2 or 3 more years to earn these Ranks. To earn the rank of Eagle, the scout must also lead her troop in completing a big project that benefits her community or an organization other than Scouting.

“Sign-Offs”

To get your rank requirements “signed off on”, you first need to learn the material and commit it to memory, then you go and talk to a Scoutmaster or Senior Scout about the requirement and either show them the skill or proof that you have completed the requirement. After this, the Scoutmaster will put their initials in your Scout Book to show that you have satisfied the requirement. After a scout has had a requirement signed off on, they will never be re-tested on the material. However, advancement requirements do build off of each other so you should make sure that you fully understand everything.

Board of Reviews

The final requirement for any rank is a Board of Review (BOR). This is where you go and speak to a panel of parents of other scouts or members of the Troop Committee and they ask you questions. You won’t be re-tested on the material needed for the rank. The official BSA website defines its purpose as “to determine the quality of the Scout’s experience and decide whether the requirements for the rank have been fulfilled.” The board then decides if you have earned the rank. By approving the Scout’s advancement, they also encourage the continuation of that Scout’s advancement towards the next rank.

These are held on the 4th Tuesday of every month from 7-8 pm. You just need to email the Advancement Chair Jami Schell who will then mark you down for the next BOR.

Merit Badges

Merit badges are perhaps some of the most fun badges to earn. There are a total of 137 merit badges ranging from personal fitness to fingerprinting and even dog care. There is a badge to suit everyone’s interests.

To earn the Eagle Scout rank, you must earn at least 21 badges, 13 of which are already set and are referred to as the Eagle-required badges, you can choose what badges you want to earn for the other 8. It is important to note that you can earn as many badges as you want.

You can begin earning Merit Badges as soon as you join Scouts, and it is particularly fun and convenient to earn Merit Badges when the Troop goes to the week of residential summer camp at Goshen Scout Reservation.

The first step to earning Merit Badges outside of summer camp is deciding what badge you want to earn. You will then contact a merit badge counselor for that merit badge and start working on the requirements. Merit Badge Counselors are people in the Troop and community who are experts on their hobbies, professions, or skills and the Scoutmaster Staff can introduce your parents and you to them. After you’ve completed all of the requirements for the merit badge, you will be presented with your badge at the next Court of Honor. 

Court of Honor

At the end of every semester of Scouting, we have a Court of Honor. The Court of Honor is an event that celebrates the advancements scouts have accomplished and all the Merit Badges everyone has earned.