My Boy Scout page

What is a Boy Scout?

A lot of people think they know what a Boy Scout is, but they have the wrong picture. Most people seem to think that Boy Scouts is just for little kids. What's worse, some think that all they do is help little old ladies across the street! Now, tell me, have you ever seen this happen? No, I don't think so. You know why? It's because we're out in the woods, camping and having a good time! Sure we do a good turn everyday, but that's not all we do!

Some of the things I have done in scouting include: Camping, hiking, biking, rowing, canoeing, tieing knots, splices, and lashings, swimming, staff at camps for 4 years, archery, cooking, service, Indian lore, orienteering, model building, metal work, and as a Boy Scout I earned 44 merit badges.

A Boy Scout can be anywhere from 11 to 18 years old. Some people confuse Boy Scouts with Cub Scouts, thinking they're the same thing. Well, Cub Scouts starts in the second grade until the fifth grade. Tiger Cubs are in the first grade.

The ranks in Boy Scouts are as follows: Boy Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle. Here are some of the requirements for each rank.

Boy Scout

Tie a square knot.

Demonstrate the Scout salute, sign, and handclasp.

Understand and agree to live by:

The Scout Oath
The Scout Law
The Scout Motto

Be Prepared
The Scout Slogan

Do a Good Turn Daily
The Outdoor Code

Tenderfoot

Spend at least one night on a patrol or troop campout. Sleep in a tent you have helped pitch on a ground bed you have prepared.

Demonstrate how to whip and fuse the ends of a rope.

Record your best in the following tests:

Pushups
Pullups
Situps
Standing long jump
Run/walk 500 yards

Know basic first aid for cuts, blisters, bites, and nosebleeds.

Second Class

Know how a compass works.

Demonstrate proper care, sharpening, and use of knife, saw, and ax.

Participate in a one hour service project.

Know first aid for a bite of a suspected rabid animal, puncture wounds, and serious burns.

Demonstrate your ablility to swim 50 yards.

First Class

Serve as patrol cook on a campout.

Use lashings to make a useful camp gadget.

Show how to transport an injured person out of a smoke filled room.

Demonstrate your ablility to swim 100 yards.

Star

Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 4 months as a First Class Scout.

Earn six merit badges, including any four from the required list for Eagle.

While a First Class Scout, take part in service projects totally at least 6 hours of work.

While a First Class Scout, serve actively 4 months in one or more of the following positions: patrol leader, senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, bugler, chaplain aide, instructor, junior assistant Scoutmaster, troop guide, Venture crew chief, or Varsity team captain.

Life

Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 6 months as a Star Scout.

Earn five more merit badges (totally 11 in all), including any three more from the required list for Eagle.

While a Star Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work.

While a Star Scout, serve actively 4 months in one or more of the following positions: patrol leader, senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, den chief, scribe, librarian, historian, quartermaster, bugler, chaplain aide, instructor, junior assistant Scoutmaster, troop guide, Venture crew chief, or Varsity team captain.

Eagle

NOTE: If you have a permanent physical or mental disability you may become an Eagle Scout by qualifying for as many required merit badges as you can and qualifying for alternate merit badges for the rest. If you seek to become an Eagle under this procedure, you must submit a special application to your council service center. Your application must be approved by your council committee for advancement before you can work on alternative merit badges.

Be active in your troop and patol for at least 6 months as a Life Scout.

Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than you already have) including the following: (a) First Aid, (b)Citizenship in the Community, (c) Citizenship in the Nation, (d) Citizenship in the World, (e) Communications, (f) Safety, (g) Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, (h) Environmental Science, (i) Personal Management, (j) Personal Fitness OR Swimming OR Sports, (k) Camping, and (j) Family Life.

While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 months in one or more of the following positions: senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, den chief, scribe, librarian, quartermaster, chaplain aide, instructor, junior assistant Scoutmaster, troop guide.

While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. The project idea must be approved by your Scoutmaster and troop committee and approved by the council or district before you start. You must use the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook in meeting this requirement.