Parent Q&A

Advancement requirements are outlined in the Boy Scout Handbook. Any questions that a scout has should be addressed by the scout to his patrol leader, assistant patrol leader, a member of the PLC, or the Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster.

A Scout is expected to bring this Handbook to all scouting events. Most times adult leaders who have knowledge of a scout’s activities will sign off in the Scout Handbook. Scouts ranked as First Class or higher can also sign off on advancement requirements for lower ranking scouts.

The best way to earn badges is to attend summer and winter Wallwood Scout Camp. Troop 118 also designates one meeting night per month as “Merit Badge Night” as a way for scouts to begin working on badges with adults who serve as badge counselors. Scouts typically earn badges as a group, but a scout may work on an individual badge if there is an adult leader who agrees to serve as a counselor for completing that badge. Prior approval from the Scoutmaster must be obtained if a scout participates in a non-scouting event that he wants to use for meeting badge requirements.

The national Boy Scout office needs documentation of badges as a scout progresses to Eagle, so a scout must be sure to create a record of completion for the local council. Badges earned at Wallwood are usually reported to the troop via the local council office. For badges completed at Merit Badge Night or at the scout’s own pace, the scout may print a merit badge pamphlet from the meritbadge.org website in order to track completed requirements. It is up to the scout to keep a record of requirements completed. When a badge counselor signs off that a badge is completed, the scout should email the advancement coordinator so that the badge can be included in the awards at the next Court of Honor.

When a scout believes that he has met the requirements for advancement, he must schedule a Scoutmaster Conference with the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster. For the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, and Second Class, this may be done at troop meetings or when the scoutmaster is available at Scouting events. For rankings of First Class and up, Scoutmaster Conferences must be scheduled on Troop Committee nights, by sending an email to the Scoutmaster or Troop Committee Chair.

After a scout completes the Scoutmaster Conference, a Board of Review must be conducted. The scout must email the adult leader serving as advancement coordinator for an official Board of Review form. The scout may confirm who is serving in this position by asking an adult leader or older scout.

A Board of Review is conducted by three adult leaders once the Scoutmaster Conference is competed. A Board of Review form is required to complete this step (see #5). For the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, and Second Class, a Board of Review may be done at troop meetings or when the three adult leaders are available at Scouting events. For rankings of First Class and higher, the Board of Review is scheduled on Troop Committee nights, by sending an email to the Scoutmaster or Troop Committee Chair, who will arrange for adult leaders to be present.

A Court of Honor is the ceremony for awarding badges, rank advancements, and inducting new scout leadership. Troop 118 hosts three Courts of Honor during the year: Summer, Winter, and Spring. The Winter and Spring Courts of Honor are typically a family potluck dinner, as well.