Advancing in Rank

Has your Scout earned his next badge of rank yet?  We are half way through the program year which began when school started back in August.  Every week whether you are in Boy Scouts or Cub Scouts your Scout should be earning achievements towards his next rank.  Yes, I am talking about all ranks from the Bobcat Badge attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.  Every Cub Scout leader should have the Den and Pack Resources Book.  This book is a step by step resource to help the den leader plan the den meeting so every boy in his or her den earns their badge of rank by the blue and gold banquet in February. 

For Boy Scouts it is a little different but really the same exact process as Cub Scouts. Instead of achievements, you have merit badges.  What do you need to finish one of those Eagle required badges?   Don’t forget to start on those time consuming merit badges like Family Life, Personal Management and Personal Fitness. 

I firmly believe that EVERY Scout should earn a rank advancement every year all the way through earning the Eagle Scout rank.  In 2011, only 45% of the boys in Cub Scouts earned a badge of rank.  A badge of rank is defined in Cub Scouts as Bobcat, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos and Arrow of Light.  Boy Scouts ranks are Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle.  If a boy goes to summer camp at Camp De Soto, he will earn three merit badges and approximately 80% of the requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class.  It does get a little more difficult for the subsequent ranks but it still can be done. 

I challenge you (boys, parents and leaders) to look around your den, pack, patrol or troop and seek out those boys not advancing in rank for whatever reason.  Help them earn their next rank.  Boys love and crave immediate recognition (don’t we all).  Find out what you/they need to earn before the Blue and Gold Banquet or Court of Honor in February.

 The Main Thing

What is the Main Thing?  It is to serve more youth with a quality Scouting program.  That is quite a simple thing to say but what does a quality Scouting program look like in the eyes of a youth member or in the eyes of a youth that has not been in the program yet?  Is it going camping, fishing, hiking rappelling, or swimming?  How about a pinewood derby, space derby or rain gutter regatta?  I would venture a guess it is a little of all of those things and much more.  An active program where the youth meet an actually do activities at their den or troop meetings is what they really crave.  The best way to keep a boy active is to give him immediate recognition.  Make sure that at every meeting he is working towards an achievement.  Present those immediate recognition beads for Cub Scouts at each den meeting.  Provide each boy with a sense of accomplishment.  What do you think a quality Scouting program looks like?

 What is the biggest obstacles we face in achieving the Main Thing?  There is a variety of answers to this question and each parent and leader will have their own personal obstacle.  Some of the biggest obstacles are a lack of money to provide a quality Scouting program, training opportunities, and Scouting knowledge.  How can we overcome these obstacles?  Communication is the key to overcoming any obstacle in our way.  If you have an obstacle or if you know of someone that is having difficulty in Scouting, please help them out or
direct them to someone that can help them. The Main Thing is for us to serve more youth with a quality Scouting program and that opportunity begins with each of you.  Please keep this in mind as we help each of you kick off this Scouting year.  There are a lot of exciting things waiting for you just around the corner. Check out some of the articles like the Fall Camporee, the Cub Scout Fishing Derby or the National Jamboree.   Let’s all do our part in delivering a quality Scouting program to the Main Thing….our youth