Recognition Program

Troop 324 offers an outdoors recognition program. Troop 324 also provides special patches for BSA approved activities. (Scout Fair, Salty Rat, Peak Hikes, High Adventure Treks, Camporees etc.).

Advancement

Boy Scout advancement is very challenging and requires much individual effort and initiative. It also emphasizes leadership and service as much as badges and skills. Achieving First Class takes more effort than earning the Webelos Arrow of Light. To become an Eagle Scout is the crowning achievement of Scouting. The rank of Eagle Scout is earned by fewer than 3% of all Scouts.

The first ranks, Tenderfoot, Scout, Second Class, and First Class, emphasize basic skills. The higher ranks, Star, Life, and Eagle emphasize leadership and service. Advancement in Troop 324 operates in full accord with the requirements contained in the current editions of the appropriate BSA literature. Parents can not sign off any advancement; senior scouts sign off on requirements for Tenderfoot, Scout, Second and First Class.

What can you do to help your son take full advantage of the Boy Scout Advancement method? Make sure your son attends regular meetings, overnights and summer camp! Offer encouragement and support. Know what you son needs for his next rank. Be active in scouting with him, and strongly encourage him to attend as many scout activities as possible, because only active scouts advance.

Advancement requirements are in the Handbook. In a nut shell, to advance, a scout must be active, learn scout skills, earn merit badges, practice leadership, perform service projects, and he must do his best to live by the Scout Law and Promise.

A scout must meet the standard for at least the minimum period of active service required for each rank.

Merit Badges

There are about 120 merit badges. Twelve specified merit badges, plus 9 elective badges, are required by the time a Scout achieves Eagle. Requirements for Eagle require merit badges are in the Boy Scout Handbook. A scout of any rank may earn any merit badge. The merit badge system is designed to propel the scout beyond the home, to learn to communicate with strangers, and to learn about a subject from a local expert. Therefore, the Council recommends that no more than 5 merit badges be earned by the scout from the counselors with his troop. Scouts desiring to earn a merit badge must first secure the name of an approved Merit Badge Counselor from the Scoutmaster. The Troop Committee is responsible for maintaining a current list of Merit Badge Counselors.

Leadership

An important advancement element for the higher ranks is providing leadership in the troop. A scout must hold an approved troop office and execute it in an acceptable manner for at least the minimum period of active service required for Star, Life and Eagle. For Star or Life, a Scout may also carry out specific leadership projects approved by the Scoutmaster. Above First Class, only the Scoutmaster or Asst Scoutmaster can sign off advancement requirements.

Service Projects

For any rank advancement, a scout must perform some service in the community. This is a useful service to church, school, community, or scouting, performed under the direction of the troop leaders or with the Scoutmaster’s prior approval. It is important to future citizens to develop the habit of service to the greater community. An Eagle Scout candidate must be the leader in charge during his service project, and the Eagle project must benefit the community outside of Scouting.

Scoutmaster Conference

After completing all the requirements for a rank, a scout meets with the Scoutmaster or another adult designated by the Scoutmaster in a Scoutmaster Conference. After which, he has a Board of Review with 3 registered adults.

Board of Review

The Troop Committee conducts reviews for all ranks from Tenderfoot through Eagle, under the direction of the Troop Advancement Chairperson. In addition, the BSA requires that a representative of the district or Council Advancement Chairperson be present at an Eagle review, or at Council option, the Eagle review may be conducted at a district or Council level.

A Board of Review is composed of members or the troop committee. Membership in the Troop Committee is open to any registered adult within Troop 324. The Board of Review gives a scout a chance to bring up any questions or problems he may have, and a chance for adult leaders to talk to him about such important matters as goals, Scout Spirit, and personal growth. It is also a chance to congratulate him on his progress and urge him to keep going.

Another benefit of the Board is the opportunity it gives the scout to meet and talk face to face with adults he doesn’t know very well. To an 11-year old, those adults may seem 10 feet tall. He will walk away from the experience with new confidence - in himself and in the adults that are there to make sure he has a good experience in scouting.

The purpose of the Board of Review is not an examination. Rather, it is to determine the Scout’s attitude and acceptance of scouting ideals, to ensure the requirements have been met for advancement, to discuss the scout’s experiences in the troop, and to encourage him to keep working toward advancement. A wisely ran Board of Review can itself reinforce this good experience and add even more to a scout’s ability to communicate with adults. At the end of his review, the scout leaves the room while the Board discusses his qualifications. He is then called back ant told that he has qualified, or what additional action he must take to qualify.