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Sources for this training include:

• Guide to Advancement 2011

• Cub Scout Leader Book

• Supplemental training at www.scouting.org

• Discussions with National Advancement Team members

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Learning objectives:

1. The role of advancement as one of the eight methods.

2. Utilizing advancement in delivering a quality program.

3. Reporting advancement using the Internet Advancement Portal

4. Advancement for Members with Special Needs

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In 2011 there were significant revisions to BSA advancement policies in a number of areas and a new Guide

of Advancement was issued. Changes included:

1. Council, district, and unit advancement committee responsibilities

2. Cub Scouting material updated

3. “Active” and “position of responsibility” requirements now approached from unit’s established

reasonable expectations

4. Added Venturing and Sea Scouts coverage

5. Merit badge section reorganized and expanded

6. Board of review practices clarified, including wearing the uniform

7. Rank appeals limited to board of review rejections. New process added:

8. Eagle Scout rank application process clarified and updated

9. Eagle Scout service project requirement changed, detailed and clarified

10. New process for requesting time extensions for earning Eagle Scout rank

11. Advancement for special needs youth clarified

12. In applying for alternative requirements a qualifying disability need not be permanent.

13. No longer includes section on awards and recognition. This will be integrated into a new publication,

the Guide to Awards & Recognition.

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It is important to understand what the Boy Scouts of America is all about. The Mission and Vision

Statements reflect the ultimate reason why the BSA exists and why we, as leaders, serve.

Ask if there is anyone who does not understand the mission and vision and have a small discussion on why

these are important.

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To those of you who have experienced BSA training or navigated our literature, you know that

advancement is one of eight methods used in delivering our programs. You may also, then, have an

understanding of how we use the methods to move young people toward three basic aims: character

development, citizenship training, and metal and physical fitness. It is these aims that represent our desired

outcomes. This is important, because from time to time, we as leaders find ourselves focused so heavily on

the methods that we forget they are merely tools used to achieve the aims.

This is not to say, however, that the methods are unimportant. They represent the very fiber of Scouting.

Put together, they are the program, and we know that the more of them we use in a quality way, the more

likely we are to accomplish the aims. For this reason the BSA measures performance in a few of the

methods to see how we’re doing; for example, the number of registered adult leaders and the percentage

of them who attend BSA training, and also the number of units with a strong outdoor program. The rate of of them who attend BSA training, and also the number of units with a strong outdoor program. The rate of

advancement, however, is one of the strongest indicators of our performance. The higher it is, the more

Scouts there are who remain in the program.

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Advancement is one of the methods used to achieve Scouting’s aims – character development, citizen

training, and personal fitness.

Advancement is the process by which a boy progresses from badge to badge, learning new skills as he goes.

The Cub Scout advancement program is designed to encourage the natural interests of a boy. Each of the

ranks and awards in Cub Scouting (Bobcat, Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, Arrow of Light) has its own

requirements.

Advancement gives boys a means to measure their progress. They learn skills based on a standard Cub

Scouting provides. Credit is given to the Tiger Cub or Cub Scout for each requirement when the adult

partner (Tiger Cubs), den leader, and/or Webelos activity badge counselor is satisfied that he’s done his partner (Tiger Cubs), den leader, and/or Webelos activity badge counselor is satisfied that he’s done his

best.

Advancement provides a satisfying means of recognizing boys for their progress. Boys have a ladder to

climb, with recognition at each step. Presenting awards to boys in meaningful ceremonies to recognize

their accomplishments is a principle of advancement.

Advancement is not a competition among boys. Each Cub Scout is encouraged to advance steadily and

purposefully, setting his own goals with guidance from his family and leaders. Measurement for satisfying

requirements is “do your best,” and that level can be different for each boy.

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The success of the advancement program depends entirely on how Cub Scout leaders and parents apply it.

Careful research has gone into developing the advancement program, but den and pack leaders and

families make advancement really work in the dens, in the home, and most importantly, in the lives of the

boys.

The Den & Pack Meeting Resource Guide, No. 34409, explains the mechanics for doing so while helping to

maximize advancement. It has four parts: Overview of Cub Scouting and Using the Den & Pack Meeting

Resource Guide; Den Meeting Plans; Pack Meeting Plans; and Resources, Forms, and Applications.

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The pack committee collects den advancement reports, compiles and maintains them in pack records,

reports advancement to the council, purchases awards and ensures their presentation, and helps plan and

facilitate various ceremonies.

Akela (Ah-KAY-la) is a title of respect used in Cub Scouting—any good leader is Akela, which is also the

leader and guide for Cub Scouts on the advancement trail.

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A boy’s approach to advancement progress will depend on two factors:

•His own motivation for learning new skills, the encouragement and help he gets from his family, and his

need for recognition.

•The den leader’s preparation for and presentation of advancement activities in the den meetings.

The den meeting plans outlined in the Den and Pack Meeting Resource Guide are structured so that a den

that begins meetings at the start of the school year and meets as a den twice a month will advance its boys

around the time of the blue and gold banquet, assuming the boy attends all meetings. If a boy cannot

attend all meetings, the den leader should help that boy and his family make up the missed activities.

And, we cannot emphasize this enough:And, we cannot emphasize this enough:

When a boy has done this—his very best—then regardless of the requirements for any rank or award, it is

enough; accomplishment is noted. This is why den leaders, assistants, and parents or guardians are

involved in approvals. Generally they know if effort put forth is really the Cub Scout's best.

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The Den Leader provides “front line” exposure for advancement for the boys in their den. This is why it is

important for them to make sure that parents understand how the advancement plan changes at each

grade level. It is also important that they maintain accurate records of the boys’ progress and promptly

provide the pack advancement chair/processor with the Tiger Cub Den Advancement Report or Den

Advancement Report so boys can be recognized at the next pack meeting.

For boys who are not advancing, it is important that this is recognized early as it could indicate a weakness

in the den or pack program.

Reinforcement for and recognition of advancement could be in the form of advancement charts, den

doodles, and immediate recognition items.doodles, and immediate recognition items.

The vast majority of boys love being recognized in public and impressive advancement ceremonies go a

long way in creating memories of a life-time. For the Arrow of Light Award, involve the Scoutmaster and

the troop’s youth leaders.

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The Cubmaster, as the pack’s primary leader, plays a significant role in the life of a Cub Scout. They are the

focal point in the pack and everything that the Cubmaster does is aimed at helping the individual boys in

their pack.

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The Pack Committee’s primary responsibility is to support the Cubmaster and den leaders in delivering the

Cub Scout program to the boys. By handling administrative and support tasks, the pack committee allows

the Cubmaster, den leaders, and their assistants to focus on working directly with the Cub Scouts.

Although packs can and do operate with the minimum required three committee members, experience has

shown that a larger committee generally ensures a stronger, more stable pack and is better able to perform

all the required functions to ensure a successful pack program. It is also a way of involving more pack

families in meaningful service to the pack.

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Regardless of what age a Cub Scout is in, he must earn the Bobcat rank before earning any other rank. The Bobcat requirements focus on the fundamentals of Cub Scouting that every Cub Scout must know. The Bobcat requirements may be found found in every Cub Scout Handbook.

First grade (or 6 years old) Cub Scouts work toward the Tiger Cub badge. Although participation with an adult partner is required for all Tiger Cub awards, recognition items are for boys only.

Second grade (or 7 years old) Cub Scouts work toward the Wolf badge and third grade (or 8 years old) Cub Scouts work toward Bear badge.

To earn the badge, the boy must complete 12 achievements involving age appropriate physical and mental skills as described in their Cub Scout Handbook.described in their Cub Scout Handbook.

After completing the badge, he will continue to meet with the den, working on electives where he may earn Arrow Points, the first being gold and subsequent ones, silver. He may continue to earn Arrow Points until he completes his grade (or his next birthday).

A boy may begin working on the Webelos badge as soon as he joins a Webelos Scout den. The badge requires him to earn three activity badges (covered in the next slide), and complete several other requirements as listed in the Webelos Scout Handbook. Note that there are two types of Webelos badges, one for the diamond ranks which is work in place of the Tiger Cub badge on a blue uniform shirt or one in the oval shape which is worn on the khaki uniform shirt.

Cub Scouting’s highest rank is the Arrow of Light. It is the only Cub Scout rank badge authorized to be worn on the Boy Scout uniform when the boy graduates into a Boy Scout troop.

A note on summer at the time of this writing. The national Advancement Team states that a boy should start work on the next rank as soon as school lets out for the summer in June. In the unlikely event the boy has not completed his rank by the end of school, for example if he joins Cub Scouts in mid-year or later, he may work to complete his current rank until the new school year starts. This was mentioned in the May 2012 edition of Advancement News and will be noted in the 2013 Guide to Advancement.

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No boy wants to wait several months to be recognized for his hard work. The immediate recognition items lets him receive recognition each time he completes achievements towards rank.

The Tiger Cub Immediate Recognition Emblem is a tiger paw with four lanyards, which the boy wears on his right pocket. He receives the emblem at a pack meeting as soon as he has learned the Cub Scout motto, sign, and salute.

After that, each time the boy completes an achievement, he receives a bead:

• An orange bead for the first lanyard for each required den activity he completes

• A white bead for the second lanyard for each required family activity he completes

• A black bead for the third lanyard for each required Go See It part he completes

Beads should be presented promptly with a simple ceremony in the den. For example, at the den meeting followinga Go See It, the den leader should present black beads to all the boys who participated.

A boy earns one bead for each of the 15 achievement parts, regardless of how many times he may repeat that particular part. Once he’s completed all 15 requirements, he’s ready for the Tiger Cub badge.

At the next pack meeting, he should receive the Tiger Cub badge from his adult partner. This is an important milestone, so the ceremony should be suitably impressive. The Tiger Cub badge is sewn on the left pocket of the uniform shirt in the bottom position.

While earning the Tiger Cub badge, the boy can complete up to 50 electives and each time he completes 10 electives, he can earn a Tiger Track bead. There is no limit on the number of Tiger Track beads he can earn, but he cannot receive Tiger Track beads until he has earned the Tiger Cub badge.

Much like the Tiger Cub Immediate Recognition Emblem, the Progress Toward Ranks emblem rewards Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts as they advance towards their ranks. The emblem features a lanyard that’s divided in two – one side represents the Wolf rank, and the other the Bear rank.

When a Cub Scout completes three of twelve achievements, he receives an immediate recognition emblem with a bead attached to it – one yellow for Wolf or one red for Bear. This presentation may be made at a den meeting. He earns an additional bead each time he completes three more achievements. When he has earned four beads, he will be eligible to receive the Wolf or Bear badge in a pack ceremony.

Webelos Scouts do not wear either the Tiger Cub nor Wolf/Bear immediate recognition emblems.

Webelos Activity Badges are the building blocks of the Webelos Scout advancement program. They cover hobby and career fields ranging from science to sports, as well as core Scouting skills like first aid and camping. Boys must earn three activity badges to earn the Webelos badge and five more for the Arrow of Light Award. Many boys may go on to earn all 20 over the course of the 18 month Webelos Scouting program.

Compass points represent progress after the Webelos badge is awarded. The emblem is presented to each boy who has earned seven activity badges – four in addition to those required for the Webelos badge. A metal compass point, to be pinned on the emblem, is awarded for each additional four activity badges that the boy earns. To earn the emblem and all three compass points, the boy has to earn 19 of the 20 activity pins.

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In addition to badges for rank and recognition for elective, boys may earn other awards as individuals, as

part of their den, or for participation in their pack. These include:

• Cub Scouting’s Leave No Trace Awareness Award

• Cub Scout World Conservation Award

• Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award

• BSA Family Award

• Conservation Good Turn Award

• Journey to Excellence Award

• National Den Award• National Den Award

• National Summertime Activity Award

• Religious Emblems

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Most of the major religious bodies in the United States have programs to recognize Cub Scouts who

demonstrate faith, observe their creeds or principles, and give service. Some also present religious

emblems to adult Scouters for exceptional service to youth through the religious organization and Scouting.

The religious emblems are not Scouting awards; however, they may be worn on the Scout uniform. More

information may be found in Duty to God, No. 5-879 or on the Scouting web site for more information.

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That advancement has one of the highest correlations with member retention could be reason enough for

the BSA policy stated in topic 4.0.0.2 of the Guide to Advancement, that “All Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity

Scout, and Sea Scout ranks, and all Venturing awards must be reported to local councils...” That Journey to

Excellence scores rely on accurate advancement reporting could also be sufficient reason for this policy. But

even more important, if advancement is not reported, there is no central record of what our youth

members have achieved.

Although your pack, for example, may have wonderfully accurate records, we can predict that at some

point your records will become lost or destroyed. When that happens, it’s an easy matter to retrieve them

from the BSA system—if advancement has been reported. In Boy Scouting all we need to do is ask

ourselves how many Scouts have had to go back and dig up records because the troop didn’t go to the

trouble to submit reports.trouble to submit reports.

So it’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when advancement must be reported. The same topic, 4.0.0.2, in

the Guide to Advancement states the minimum reporting requirement: “To reflect an accurate count in the

Journey to Excellence performance recognition program, it is also important that all advancement for a

calendar year be recorded during that year.” Those of you, however, who have ever experienced the crash

of your hard drive surely have learned to back up your data more than once a year. For the same reason, all

Scouting units should report advancement monthly, or as it happens throughout the year.

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Suggested Frequency of Reporting

• From the Guide to Advancement (Section 4.0.0.2), “Units should report advancement monthly, but at

least quarterly. This assures member records are complete. Missing reports are a serious issue, for

example, when it comes to membership transfers or reinstatements.”

• Immediate recognition is a must to encourage advancement within the unit.

• Before the end of the charter year to facilitate Internet Rechartering

• Before Journey to Excellence reporting (charter year, check with your council)

More often for larger units with lots of advancement.• More often for larger units with lots of advancement.

Internet Advancement

A national task force has been formed to provide training in using the BSA Internet Advancement portal.

This training will become available sometime in 2013.

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