Boy Scout Program Changes

December 2015 Roundtable

Agenda

● What is and isn’t changing● Transition● Scout Rank● Duty to God Requirements● New Fitness Requirements● Additional Camping Requirements● Increased Service Hours

Not Changing

● Current ranks and approach

○ T-2-1 earned concurrently

○ Star to Eagle Scout earned sequentially

● Use of merit badge program

Changing

● “Scout” will become a rank

● Additions:

○ Service at all ranks (conservation-related at Life)○ Healthy eating/habits requirements○ Some reordering in Tenderfoot to First Class○ Physical fitness at each rank, Tenderfoot to First Class○ Outdoor ethics — Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly○ Weather safety, risk assessment and mitigation○ Duty to God incorporated in requirement to show Scout Spirit.

Boy Scout Transition

Details on Transition

● Boys joining after 1/1/16 must use new requirements.● Boys who joined before 1/1/16:

○ Those working on T-2-1 MAY continue working on their requirements for their current rank but MUST convert to the new requirements once they reach First Class.

○ Those who have completed First Class MAY continue working on the requiremtns for their current rank but MUST use the requirements for all subsequent ranks.

● Starting 1/1/17 the new requirements MUST be used for all rank advancements.

More About “Scout” Rank● The requirements for the Scout rank are

intentionally tougher than the ones for the Scout badge.

○ Don’t expect completion of the new requirements for the Scout rank to happen overnight,

particularly for boys who were not members of a Cub Scout pack.

○ Depending on the maturity of an individual boy, it may take a few weeks for him to memorize

the Scout Oath and Scout Law, as well as to learn some basic Scout skills.

○ Well-prepared Scouts — especially those who have recently earned the Arrow of Light —

should be able to complete the Scout rank during the first few weeks after joining.

○ http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/2016BoyScoutrequirementsFAQs.pdf

New “Scout” Requirements

All requirements for the Scout rank must be completed as a

member of a troop.

1a. Repeat from memory the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout

slogan. In your own words, explain their meaning.

1b. Explain what Scout spirit is. Describe some ways you have shown Scout spirit

by practicing the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan.

1c. Demonstrate the Boy Scout sign, salute, and handshake. Explain when they

should be used.

Scout Requirements (cont.)1d. Describe the First Class Scout badge and tell what each part stands for.

Explain the significance of the First Class Scout badge.

1e. Repeat from memory the Outdoor Code. In your own words, explain what the

Outdoor Code means to you.

1f. Repeat from memory the Pledge of Allegiance. In your own words, explain its

meaning.

Scout Requirements (cont.)2. After attending at least one Boy Scout troop meeting, do the following:

● 2a. Describe how the Scouts in the troop provide its leadership.

● 2b. Describe the four steps of Boy Scout advancement.

● 2c. Describe the Boy Scout ranks and how they are earned.

● 2d. Describe what merit badges are and how they are earned.

3a. Explain the patrol method. Describe the types of patrols that are used in your

troop.

3b. Become familiar with your patrol name, emblem, flag, and yell. Explain how

these items create patrol spirit.

Scout Requirements (cont.)4a. Show how to tie a square knot, two half-hitches, and a taut-line hitch. Explain

how each knot is used.

4b. Show the proper care of a rope by learning how to whip and fuse the ends of

different kinds of rope.

5. Demonstrate your knowledge of pocketknife safety.

6. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to

Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide and earn the Cyber

Chip Award for your grade.

Duty To God

● Beginning in January, Boy Scouts will tell about their ‘duty to God’ at each rank○ The new requirements do ask Scouts to reflect on their own belief. They

don’t ask the Scout leader to have a two-way conversation about religion,

to proselytize or to evaluate whether the Scout’s duty to God meets the

Scout leader’s personal standard.

○ Faith is a complicated subject, but it’s an essential part of Scouting.

○ www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/2016BoyScoutrequirementsFAQs.pdf

Duty to God FAQ’sQ. A new element of Scout spirit (“Tell how you have done your duty to God …”),

is alongside the elements of “living the Scout Oath and Scout Law” in the new

requirements. Does this mean troop leaders need to examine and evaluate a

Scout’s duty to God, and then determine whether it is sufficient by some standard?

Q. Does including “duty to God” as a part of Scout spirit put too much emphasis on

religion? Does it create a requirement of belonging to a religion?

Duty To God FAQ’s (cont.)Q. A troop leader’s beliefs about God may be different from those of the Scout.

With the requirement “tell how you have done your duty to God,” a troop leader

might believe that the Scout should do more or do something differently to show

duty to God. Can a boy be withheld from advancing for that reason?

Q. Can the Scout tell about his duty to God during the Scoutmaster conference?

Q. Should a board of review ask the Scout about this Duty to God requirement?

Q. What if, during a Scoutmaster conference or board of review, a Scout says that

he does not believe in God?

New Emphasis on Physical Fitness

“… to keep myself physically strong … ”

● Why the new focus on physical activity?

● According to the CDC, the percentage of adolescents age 12-19 who were

obese increased from 5 percent in 1980 to nearly 21 percent in 2012.

● This will NOT be a difficult transition

New Tenderfoot Requirements6a. Record your best in the following tests:

● # Pushups, sit-ups in 60 seconds

● Distance stretched for back-saver sit-and-reach

● Time for 1-mile walk/run

6b. Develop and describe a plan for improvement in each of the activities listed in

Tenderfoot requirement 6a. Keep track of your activity for at least 30 days.

6c. Show improvement (of any degree) in each activity listed in Tenderfoot

requirement 6a after practicing for 30 days.

NEW Second Class Fitness Requirement7a. After completing Tenderfoot requirement 6c, be physically active at least 30

minutes each day for five days a week for four weeks. Keep track of your

activities.

7b. Share your challenges and successes in completing Second Class

requirement 7a. Set a goal for continuing to include physical activity as part of your

daily life and develop a plan for doing so.

New First Class Fitness Requirement8a. After completing Second Class requirement 7a, be physically active at least 30

minutes each day for five days a week for four weeks. Keep track of your

activities.

8b. Share your challenges and successes in completing First Class requirement

8a. Set a goal for continuing to include physical activity as part of your daily life.

More Camping for First Class

In a nod to the BSA’s century-old emphasis on preparing young people to spend time outdoors, the number of campouts required for First Class in Boy Scouting will double beginning in 2016.

● Ensures that First Class Scouts will have enough camping experience to develop outdoor skills.

● Number of troop or patrol activities remains the same ● Campouts: (1) for Tenderfoot, (+2) for Second Class, (+3) for First Class.

Camping Questions

Q. What counts as camping?

Q. What about Star, Life and Eagle?

Increased Service Hours

“to help other people at all times,”

● Include service hours at Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle.

● Scouts must complete one hour of service for Tenderfoot, two hours for Second Class and three hours for First Class. The total hours for Star and Life remain the same — six hours each. At least three of the six hours for Life must be conservation-related; this reflects an increased emphasis on environmental stewardship.

● The Eagle Scout project, which has no minimum or maximum number of service hours, remains unchanged.

Tenderfoot Service Hours

Tenderfoot, requirement 7b: One hour of service ● Increased from zero

● Participate in a total of one hour of service in one or more service projects

approved by your Scoutmaster. Explain how your service to others relates to

the Scout slogan and Scout motto.

Second Class Service Hours

Second Class,requirement 8e: Two hours of service ● Increased from one

● Participate in two hours of service through one or more service projects

approved by your Scoutmaster. Tell how your service to others relates to the

Scout Oath.

First Class Service Hours

First Class, requirement 9d: Three hours of service● Increased from zero

● Participate in three hours of service through one or more service projects

approved by your Scoutmaster. The project(s) must not be the same service

project(s) used for Tenderfoot requirement 7b and Second Class requirement

8e. Explain how your service to others relates to the Scout Law.

Star Service Hours

Star, requirement 4: Six hours of service ● Same as before

● While a First Class Scout, participate in six hours of service through one or

more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster.

Life Service Hours

Life, requirement 4: Six hours of service, at least three of

which are conservation-related ● Changed from six hours, period

● While a Star Scout, participate in six hours of service through one or more

service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. At least three hours of this

service must be conservation-related.

Eagle Scout Service Hours

Eagle Scout: The Eagle Scout service project ● Same as before

● 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 must benefit an organization other than the Boy Scouts of America.)

Questions?