Advancement and Recognition
Metro Lakes District Advancement Chairman
Anthony Garcia
612 670-6365
 

New First Class Rank Requirement


Effective January 1, 2006, an additional requirement will be added to the requirements for First Class rank in Boy Scouting. The new requirement tests the candidate's persuasive communication skills and can help to make Scouting available to more boys.

"Tell someone who is eligible to join Boy Scouts, or an inactive Boy Scout, about your troop's activities. Invite him to a troop outing, activity, service project, or meeting. Tell him how to join, or encourage the inactive Boy Scout to become active."

Scouts beginning their First Class requirements work after this date must complete the new requirement. Scouts working on First Class requirements prior to this date will have until June 30, 2006, to complete First Class rank without completing the new requirement.

The Boy Scout Handbook and 2006 Boy Scout Requirements book will be updated with this new detail. Scouts can find support for completing this requirement on the Boy Scouts of America website, www.thescoutzone.org .


Eagle Scout Changes


The following information was previously printed in the Northern Star Council "Navigator", Volume 1, Number 1, August 2005.

Eagle Scout Awards

The Northern Star Council would like to congratulate all new Eagle Scouts and announce that NO FEE now accompanies receiving an Eagle Scout presentation kit (medal, badge, pins). Unit leaders coming to the East or West council service centers may pick up the Eagle Scout award and pay no fee.

Paperwork Process Changes

An advancement integration team has met with members from former Indianhead and Viking Councils to begin looking at best practices to put in place for the new council. The committee has decided that Eagle Scout paperwork being submitted to the council service center for review and verification prior to the district board of review shall include:

  • Eagle Scout Rank Application

  • Confidential Reference Letters

  • Requirement Number 6 Goals/Ambition/Leadership

  • AND Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook.

This is a change for the West volunteers. The council would like to have copies of all the above paperwork to keep on file. Completed service project workbooks should not be in 3-ring binders or sheet protectors. Original service project paperwork will be returned to the Scout after his district board of review.

Confidential Reference Letters

The Scoutmaster or designee (unit advancement chair, Eagle coach, etc . . .) requests letters of reference from the individual the Eagle candidate lists on his rank application prior to submitting the paperwork to the council service center. 


As the new council develops the best practices for consistency with the paperwork process, the information will be shared at monthly roundtables, through the Navigator, and the council website. Fall Eagle Expos or Eagle Previews will also have updates.



Path to Eagle Scout Rank

The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook  is available from the Boy Scouts of America Web site. The Northern Star Council Advancement Committee issued a policy ( 92.9 KB) that details the council's criteria and restrictions that must be adhered to for the Eagle Scout Service Project.


Advancement Requirement Changes


The Boy Scouts of America made the following advancement requirement changes effective January 1, 2005:

Minor rank requirement updates for:

  • Star and Eagle (added list of positions of responsibility for Venturers)

New requirements for:

  • Scuba BSA

Revised merit badge requirements for:

  • Astronomy

  • Canoeing

  • Chemistry

  • Citizenship in the Community

  • Citizenship in the Nation

  • Electricity

  • Electronics

  • Family Life

  • Fire Safety

  • Fish and Wildlife Management

  • Nuclear Science (formerly Atomic Energy)

  • Plumbing

  • Scholarship

  • Small-Boat Sailing

  • Space Exploration

  • Surveying

Minor merit badge requirement updates for:

  • Archery (3b,3c 5f(1) (Option B))

  • Camping (9a)

  • Cooking (5d)

  • Cycling (1,3c,6a,6b,7)

  • Emergency Preparedness (6b)

  • First Aid (3d,4a,4b)

  • Medicine (1)

  • Metalwork (5)

  • Railroading (8a(7))

  • Soil and Water Conservation (5a,7e,7f)

  • Theater (1,2,3c,4,4c,5)


Merit Badge and Advancement Requirements on the Web



The most authoritative, up-to-date resource for merit badge and advancement requirements and information is the Merit Badge Resource Center - www.MeritBadge.com

 

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