SCOUT
Boys may become a Boy Scout by joining a Troop or by advancing from their respective Cub Scout Packs. If they advance from a Cub Scout Troop, the boys participate in a crossover ceremony from Webelos to scout sometime in the spring. A boy scout must have completed the fifth grade and/or have reached his 12th birthday.
The requirements for becoming a scout are to:
- Complete a Boy Scout application
- Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
- Show the Scout Salute, Sign, and Handshake
- Tie a square knot
- Know what the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout Motto, Scout Slogan and Outdoor Code mean and follow them
- Identify the Scout Badge
- Complete the requirements in the handout "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse and Drug Abuse" with a parent or guardian.
TENDERFOOT
Once a boy receives his Scout badge, he will begin work towards the next rank--Tenderfoot. Thirteen requirements must be met to earn this rank. In scouting, each scout advances at his own pace. Summer camp at Wah-Tut-Ca in Northwood, NH provides most everything a boy needs to advance to this rank.
Some of the requirements a boy would have completed to earn the Tenderfoot rank are:
- Demonstrate to his scoutleader how to pack, carry and use the gear he will take on a campout.
- Go on an overnight camping trip with his patrol or troop and sleep in a site that he has prepared.
- Show how to whip and fuse the ends of a rope and tye two half hitches and a taultine hitch.
- Explain the rules of safe hiking--day / night--either on a highway or in the country and know what to do should he become lost.
- Show how to display, raise, lower and fold the American Flag.
- Know why the buddy system is used in scouting
- Know how to identify and treat for exposure to local poisonous plants
- Demonstrate the Heimlich maneuver and know when it is used
- Know the first air procedures for
- simple cuts/scratches
- blisters
- minor burns/scalds
- tick or insect bites/stings
- poisonous snakebites
- nosebleeds
SECOND CLASS
Eleven requirements must be met for a boy to become a Second Class Scout. Troops traditionally offer many activities that help a boy to complete most of the requirements. Each year, Troop 49 goes on a Saco River canoe trip. Scouts who have been with the Troop for at least a year are eligible to go on this trip and there's always a waiting list.
Some of the requirements a boy would have completed to earn the Second Class Rank are:
- Know what map symbols mean and know how to use a compass and orient a map
- Go on a five mile hike using a compass and a hand-drawn map
- Attend five Troop activities, two of which must have been camping
- Know how to sharpen and use an ax, saw and knife to prepare tinder, kindling and fuel for a campfire
- Light a cooking fire and help with meal preparation and cleanup
- Participate in a flag ceremony
- Perform a one hour service project
- Identify 10 wild animals in your area
- Show how to attend to emergency situations of stopped breathing, serious bleeding and internal poisoning
- Make a personal first aid kit to take along on a hike
- Show how to do first aid for:
- Something in the eye
- A suspected rabid animal bite
- Puncture wound
- Second-degree burn
- Heat exhaustion
- Shock
- Explain the precautions for and swim 50 yards
- Participate in a drug awareness program in your school or community
FIRST CLASS
Twelve requirements must be met before a boy is able to advance to First Class. At about this time, a boy must be quite serious about scouting in order to continue. Much is expected from him.
Some of the requirements a boy would have completed to earn this First Class rank are:
- Show how you would find your way during the day and night without using a compass
- With a compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least 1 mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.)
- Should have participated in ten separate troop/patrol activities other than troop meetings since joining scouts. Three of these activities must be camping overnight.
- Buy and prepare the ingredients, and then serve as the cook for your patrol.
- Discuss your Constitutional rights and obligations as a US Citizen during a visit with a selected individual that is approved by your leader
- Should be able to identify at least 10 kinds of native plants found in your community
- Show how to tie the timber and clove hitch and know their usefulness
- Show how to ty the rescue knot and it's usefulness
- Know how to tie bandages for injuries on the head, upper arm, collarbone and sprained ankle
- Show how to escape alone or with one other person from a smoke-filled room
- Know what the five most common signs of a heart attach are and explain how to do CPR
- Swim 100 yards using three types of strokes and float as motionless as possible for 1 minute
STAR
Six requirements must be met before a boy may advance to Star rank. The expectations are great and each requirement takes time and patience.
Some of the requirements a boy would have completed to earn the Star rank are:
- Be an active First Class Scout in your troop for at least 4 months
- Earn six merit badges of which four must be from the required grouping: Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Science, First Aid, Lifesaving, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Safety, Sports Swimming
- Serve in a leadership position such as senior patrol leader or assistant senior patrol leader, den chief, etc. for 6 months as a Star Scout
- Be a Star scout participant in a service project that totals six hours
LIFE
Six requirements must be met before a boy may advance to Life Scout. Only those who are serious about scouting will have advanced this far. Like Star, these requirements take time and patience to earn. A life scout is now working on his merit badges in addition to the these requirements.
Some of the requirements a boy would have completed to earn the Life rank are:
- Be an active Star scout for 6 months
- Earn five more merit badges to have a total of eleven badges, three of which must be from the required grouping listed in Star rank
- Participate as a Life Scout in a service project that totals 6 hours
- Serve in a leadership position such as senior patrol leader or assistant senior patrol leader, den chief, etc. for 6 months as a Life Scout
EAGLE
Six requirements must be met before a boy may advance to Eagle rank. Every requirement takes time and patience. Many boys can advance to Star or Life, but few make it to Eagle. This is a real test of determination and patience.
Some of the requirements a boy would have completed to earn the Eagle rank are:
- Be an active Life Scout in your troop for 6 months.
- Earn 10 more merit badges for a total of 21 badges.
- Serve in a leadership position for 6 months such as senior patrol leader or assistant senior patrol leader, den chief, etc. for 6 months as a Life Scout
- While a Life Scout, plan, create and be a leader to others in a Eagle service project that will benefit any religious institution, school or your community while you are a Life Scout