Seven ranks, from a scout's first meeting to Eagle. The early ones can be worked simultaneously; the later ones cannot be rushed.
Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class are focused on outdoor skills, first aid, fitness, citizenship, and swimming. They can be worked on at the same time, so a scout may finish Tenderfoot and Second Class requirements in the same season. Most requirements are met at summer camp and on monthly campouts.
The joining rank. Learn the Scout Oath and Law, the motto and slogan, basic knots, and the pocketknife safety rules. Complete a Safeguarding Youth exercise with a parent. Most scouts earn this within a few weeks.
First overnight campout, pitch a tent, cook, basic first aid, a fitness benchmark measured and improved over 30 days, and the Scout Oath and Law in practice.
More camping nights, cooking, navigation with map and compass, swimming, nature identification, service hours, and more advanced first aid.
The rank that means a scout can take care of themselves and others in the outdoors: full camping and cooking competence, orienteering, lashings, swimming or rescue skills, and teaching a skill to a younger scout. Many consider First Class the real milestone of the program.
Star, Life, and Eagle are merit badge, leadership, and service focused. Each requires time active in the troop, service hours, a leadership position, and merit badges, so they cannot be earned quickly no matter how motivated the scout.
A set number of merit badges, several of them Eagle-required, plus service hours and a stretch of months serving in a troop leadership position after First Class.
More merit badges, more service hours, and a longer term in a leadership position after Star. Life is the last rank before the Trail to Eagle begins in earnest.
The full set of merit badges including every Eagle-required one, a further term in a leadership position after Life, a scout-planned and scout-led service project benefiting the community, and a board of review. Must be completed before the scout's 18th birthday.
All Eagle requirements except the board of review must be completed before a scout turns 18. Scouts who start the Trail to Eagle work in their junior year of high school, rather than their senior year, have a much easier time. Talk to Brad Johnson, our Trail to Eagle designee, early. Life to Eagle →
Requirements are signed off as they are completed, in the handbook and in Scoutbook. When all requirements for a rank are done, the scout has a scoutmaster conference, then a board of review with committee members. The rank is presented at the next Court of Honor. Troop 101 holds Courts of Honor in August, December, and May.
Scouts who keep earning merit badges after Eagle can receive Eagle Palms, awarded for each additional set of merit badges beyond those required for the rank.
Merit badge counts, service hours, and tenure requirements are set nationally and are revised from time to time. The authoritative source is the Guide to Advancement and your scout's current handbook. Ask Tamar or Brad if anything is unclear.
