Advancement & Awards — Thunder Wolf District

Guide to Advancement

The Guide to Advancement is the official source for administering advancement in helps Scouters understand and implement the advancement programs and procedures of the Boy Scouts of America: Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing, and Sea Scouts. Policies and procedures outlined in the Guide to Safe Scouting apply to all BSA activities, including those related to advancement and Eagle Scout service projects.

Additional information and best practices appear in
other official BSA resources such as BSA Advancement News, the national Advancement Team’s Twitter feed, and the advancement educational presentations released by the national advancement committee. The latest advancement resources can be found on the BSA advancement resources page.

Internet advancement allows units to enter youth advancements, awards, and merit badges.

Boy Scout Boards of Review

After a Boy Scout has completed the requirements for any rank, he appears before a board of review. Its purpose is to determine the quality of his experience and decide whether he has fulfilled the requirements for the rank.

Eagle Scout Boards of Review: At least one district or council representative must serve as a member of an Eagle Scout board of review. The unit advancement chair requests an Eagle Scout board of review.

Request an Eagle Scout Board of Review

Eagle Scout Service Project

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 Boy Scouting. A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your unit leader and unit committee, and the council or district before you start.

A Life Scout, after obtaining approval from the organization benefiting from the effort, the unit leader and unit committee, requests a meeting for district approval.

Request an Eagle Scout Project Approval Meeting

Eagle Scout Project Resources

Merit Badge Resources

Personal Management Merit Badge Resources

Personal Management Presentation
Major Expense Worksheet
Time Planner Worksheet (need to print 14 copies)
Budgeting Worksheets

Advancement Changes

Eagle Palms Changes

Eagle Palms are bronze, gold and silver awards presented to young men who earn five, 10, 15 or more merit badges beyond the 21 required to become an Eagle Scout. The BSA has announced significant changes to the way Scouts earn Eagle Palms. The modifications take effect August 1, 2017. The changes bring Eagle Palm requirements in line with the needs of older Scouts. The National Boy Scouting Subcommittee has eliminated unnecessary obstacles, such as the Eagle Palm board of review, and expanded the definition of active participation. But the biggest change affects young men who haven’t yet earned Eagle. Beginning Aug. 1, all earned Palms may be awarded instantly to new Eagle Scouts at their Eagle court of honor. This abolishes the wait of months or years for these young men to receive all Palms available to them.

Learn More

Second Class Camping Requirements Changing

The number of overnight campouts required for a young man to earn the Second Class and First Class ranks will be reduced under new requirements that take effect August 1, 2017. But the total number of camping nights a Boy Scout will experience in the program as he progresses toward the rank of Eagle Scout will not change. In 2016, alongside the release of the 13^th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook, the BSA increased the number of campouts required for Second Class to three since joining from two. It increased the number of campouts required for First Class to six since joining from three. The August 1, 2017, revisions return the number of overnight campouts to pre-2016 levels but preserve the amount of time spent outdoors. The change, the BSA says, maintains a focus on life-changing outdoors experiences while recognizing that not all outdoor activities need to include overnight camping. Hikes, service projects and outdoor-heavy merit badges like Geocaching and Orienteering add to the adventure of being a first-year Scout. The changes leave untouched the Eagle-required Camping merit badge, which calls for at least 20 nights of camping. Because all camping nights since becoming a Scout can be used for this requirement — even those that count toward Second Class and First Class — the effect is that the total number of camping nights required to become an Eagle Scout is unchanged.

Learn More

2017 Guide to Advancement Released

The Guide to Advancement was recently updated. Read about the significant changes on pages 7-9. The Guide to Advancement is the official source for administering advancement in helps Scouters understand and implement the advancement programs and procedures of the Boy Scouts of America: Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing, and Sea Scouts. Policies and procedures outlined in the Guide to Safe Scouting apply to all BSA activities, including those related to advancement and Eagle Scout service projects.

2017 Guide to Advancement

Resources

Advancement Educational Programs has several presentations that will enhance the Scouting advancement program.
BSA Advancement Resources
BSA Advancement News
Calendar of New Merit Badges
Guide to Advancement helps Scouters understand and implement the advancement programs and procedures of the Boy Scouts of America.
Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraising Application must be used by Scouts to obtain approval for Eagle Scout project fundraising or securing donations of materials for their Eagle projects.
Life to Eagle Scout resources
Program Updates on Scouting.org has the most recent Scouting program information.
Service Project Guidelines contains age guidelines for tool use and work at elevations or excavations.
Service Project Planning Guidelines can be utilized for all Scouting service projects including Eagle Scout service projects.