Thunderbird

7 minutes ago, Hawkwin said:

After rereading the rules, it is apparently possible and within the rules if the scout crossed over shortly after turning 10 and earning AOL. I assumed (and perhaps it was an older rule) that a scout had to be 10 1/2 with AOL to cross over.

 

I think that some people are misinterpreting the rule.  If you have a Webelos Scout who is in the 5th grade but young for his or her grade level, then the Scout is likely meeting the AOL rank tenure requirement based on grade - not birthday:

"1. Be active in your Webelos den for at least six months since completing the fourth grade OR
for at least six months since becoming 10 years old."

Assuming that the Webelos Scout is 9 years old when completing the 4th grade, he or she might not turn 10 years old until August (or even September), but could meet the "since completing the fourth grade" part of the requirement as early as November, which would put their age somewhere between 10 and 10.5.

1 hour ago, Thunderbird said:

What I think they are saying is that Webelos Scouts currently in the 4th grade have to complete all of the Webelos rank requirements before they can work on any of the AOL required adventures.

I guess I waited too long to edit this, but it should say:

...before they can work on any of the AOL required adventures -- while they are still in the 4th grade.

The new program name is "Scouts BSA", but the Scouts themselves are just called "Scouts":

Scouts BSA Program Resources: FAQ  (page 10)

Also the Guide to Advancement:

https://www.scouting.org/resources/guide-to-advancement/mechanics-of-advancement/scouts-bsa/

Tenderfoot rank does not currently have a tenure requirement; however, it does have a fitness tracking requirement for 30+ days (requirement 6b.).

(Added in 2016) Second Class rank has a personal fitness tracking requirement for 4 weeks (requirement 7a), and it cannot start until after all of the Tenderfoot fitness requirements are completed.

(Added in 2016) First Class rank has a personal fitness tracking requirement for 4 weeks (requirement 8a), and it cannot start until after Second Class requirement 7a is completed.

https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/

Tenderfoot - 30+ days fitness tracking
Second Class - 4 weeks fitness tracking
First Class - 4 weeks fitness tracking
Star - 4 months active tenure as First Class Scout
Life - 6 months active tenure as Star Scout
Eagle - 6 months active tenure as Life Scout
The minimum time to Eagle Scout is now about 19 months due to the Second Class and First Class fitness tracking requirements that were added in 2016.

If a Webelos Scout earns the Arrow of Light rank and joins a troop on their 10th birthday (or close to it), then it is mathematically possible to earn the Eagle Scout rank prior to the 12th birthday.

There is some new guidance from National for Webelos and AOL ranks.  It appears to only apply to packs who transition based on grade (not birthday):

Cub Scout Program: The Advancement Trail

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Fourth Grade - Webelos Requirements
Fourth graders work toward the Webelos rank. The Webelos rank is earned by completing six adventures as described below.  Scouts who are in Cub Scouts in fourth grade must complete the Webelos rank before working towards their Arrow of Light (emphasis added).

What I think they are saying is that Webelos Scouts currently in the 4th grade have to complete all of the Webelos rank requirements before they can work on any of the AOL required adventures.

However, because the Scouting adventure requirement says "c. Develop a patrol name and emblem (if your den does not already have one), as well as a patrol flag and yell. Explain how a patrol name, emblem, flag, and yell create patrol spirit", that implies to me that they can vote on a den name and emblem (patch) at any time while they are Webelos Scouts -- they do not have to wait until they are working on the Scouting Adventure.

I recommend velcro for things like rank and den/patrol patches that are likely to change.

I agree with @ParkMan.  This situation is similar to the merit badge counselor (MBC) situation where the MBC counts as 1 registered adult and the parent of the Scout counts as the second adult.

From the Guide to Safe Scouting: Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs

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Adult Supervision

Q:  The Barriers to Abuse say that there must be two registered adults present for all Scouting activities and meetings.  Does that include merit badge counseling? Fund-raising events?

A. Yes. However, the parent or legal guardian of the Scout may serve as the second adult. This parent or legal guardian does not have to be a registered leader.

 

(And by "the parent or legal guardian", I think they mean a parent / guardian of every Scout who is present -- I don't think one parent would work for multiple Scouts from different families.)

These are some great ideas!  Thanks, everybody!

Good stuff!  Thanks again!

20 hours ago, HashTagScouts said:

It's tough, you want to have options for scouts to work on while at camp, but generally I think aside from aquatics, no Eagle required badges should be offered.  Why would any unit expect a scout to have to work on Camping MB at a summer camp??? Can't say a whole lot about their unit if their scouts feel that is a need IMO. 

I think First Aid can be another good one to do at camp.  I agree on most of the Eagle-required badges - many of them are not really suited for camp, anyway.  For Environmental Science, one option could be to have the requirements that require report writing be done prior to camp as pre-requisites (in order to complete the badge at camp).  That might be about the only way to make it work when camps have limited equipment (computers, printers, internet access, etc.).

What are some good ways to encourage Scouts to expand their cooking repertoire without "taking over"?  My son's troop tends to have a single menu plan that they repeat over and over again...

Swimming can be earned in a day or a week at summer camp (if the Scout knows how to swim), plus, there is some overlap with the rank requirements.  Also, many people consider learning how to swim to be an important life skill.

I know Scouts who enjoy hiking, but they don't enjoy writing, so they don't want to do a written hike plan or write a reflection after every hike.  They also don't like doing the hikes in a particular order.  There are important reasons for requiring a hike plan and doing the hikes in order of increasing distance (conditioning), but I can see why the Scouts might not want to do a bunch of writing in order to earn the hiking merit badge.

The 50 mile bike ride is a bit daunting.  Cycling also requires some equipment, which not everybody has.  Cycling is the most expensive of the Swimming / Hiking / Cycling group.

Hiking and Cycling are much more difficult than Swimming for younger / smaller Scouts.

40 minutes ago, mashmaster said:

So, if I understand that statement, any Sea Scout can earn a merit badge as long as they have First Class rank.  They do not need to be part of a Scouts, BSA troop.

Yes, a qualified Venturer or Sea Scouts is one who achieved First Class rank as a Scout or Lone Scout, or Varsity Scout (prior to January 1, 2018).  They have the option to continue earning Scouts BSA awards, ranks, and merit badges until their 18th birthday (assuming no time extension) while registered solely with a crew or ship.  They can be dual registered with a troop if they want to be, but it is not required.

9 minutes ago, David CO said:

Can a unit politely decline?  I guess that would depend on your understanding of the relationship between the unit and the CO. The CO owns the unit. It's their unit.

An individual certainly has the right to politely decline. The CO then has the right to politely tell that individual that their service to the unit is no longer needed.

The unit is a different matter. I would say a unit does not have the right to decline.

Based on the original post, it sounds like they can politely decline.  But if they do decline, they will no longer get the $1,000 to help with recharter fees that they have gotten used to.

The big difference between Bobcat rank and Scout rank is that the standard for Cub Scouts is "Do Your Best" -- if Cub Scouts need some help with the Scout Oath and Law, they can have it.  All of the Bobcat rank requirements (except for possibly the parent exercises "How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide") can easily be done at the first meeting.

However, the standard for older Scouts is that they meet the requirements as written.  In addition, all requirements for the Scout rank must be completed as a member of a troop.  Scout rank used to be a joining badge (prior to 2016), and the requirements were easier (for example: (old) Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath or Promise, Scout Law, motto, and slogan, and the Outdoor Code vs. (new) Repeat from memory the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, Scout slogan, and Outdoor Code.  In your own words, explain their meaning).

Did the girls really meet all of the requirements as written during the three-hour meeting?  Did they do the older Scouts BSA version of the parent exercises "How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide"?  Did they have unexpired Cyber Chips for the 5th grade and demonstrate their knowledge to the Scoutmaster (or Scoutmaster's designee)?  If they are in the 6th grade (or older), did they "Write and sign a personalized contract with [their] parent or guardian that outlines rules for using the computer and mobile devices..." (Cyber Chip requirement #2 for grades 6-8 and 9-12)?  Did they choose a patrol name, emblem, flag, and yell?

I am sure that there are situations where the girls have been working towards February 1st for a while, and the troop leaders got everything organized in such a way that it is possible for all 7 girls in the troop to earn Scout rank on the first day (see @Treflienne's description earlier in this thread).  Based on @Ranman328's updated description of the meeting, it sounds like they basically ("Army of Darkness" movie reference) did the requirements, but perhaps not completely as written.

It does sound like the Unit Commissioner could help mentor and explain how these girls would benefit by treating Scouting as a journey -- not just a race to Eagle.  It's difficult, though, because all of this falls under the Scoutmaster's responsibilities.

These are really great ideas.  Thank you for sharing!

For 5th grade Scouts who recently bridged from a Cub Scout pack, if they hold an unexpired Cyber Chip card for the 5th grade, then all they need to do is demonstrate their knowledge to the Scoutmaster or other designated leader after joining the troop to fulfill this Scout rank requirement.  If, however, the Scout has not grasped these concepts, they may be reviewed (based on Cyber Chip requirements for the Scout's current grade) to ensure understanding.

BSA Advancement News March-April 2016: Cyber Chip and the Scout Rank (page 4)

So what does your troop do with requirement #2 for older Scouts (grades 6+)?  That's the requirement where our Scouts typically get stuck, because the personalized contract is supposed to be done with a parent or guardian.

Some kind of alien code or symbols to solve.  (Possible tie in with the Signs, Signals, and Codes merit badge?)

"How to Serve Man"  👽

The Guide to Advancement defines the term "qualified" Venturer or Sea Scout:

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4.2.0.1 Scouting Ranks and Advancement Age Requirements
All Scouts BSA awards, merit badges, badges of rank, and Eagle Palms are only for registered Scouts, including Lone Scouts, and also for qualified Venturers or Sea Scouts who are not yet 18 years old. Venturers and Sea Scouts qualify by achieving First Class rank as a Scout or Lone Scout, or Varsity Scout (prior to January 1, 2018). The only exceptions for those older than age 18 are related to Scouts registered beyond the age of eligibility (“Registering Qualified Members Beyond Age of Eligibility,” 10.1.0.0) and those who have been granted time extensions to complete the Eagle Scout rank (“Time Extensions,” 9.0.4.0).

Anybody can complete the requirements [including me, and I am too old  LOL!  😛  ], but to officially earn the merit badge, rank, or Scouts BSA awards, one must be a registered Scout or Lone Scout [in the Scouts BSA program], or a qualified Venturer or Sea Scout.  Please note that the Sea Scout requirements do not say "earn the X merit badge", they say "complete the requirements" or "pass the requirements" for the X merit badge.

Councils in my area are not offering boys-only weeks.  It's co-ed or nothing.  No information so far on how (or if) campsites will be shared.

@qwazse  I think you are misunderstanding my point.  I don't mean that the recognition has to be exactly the same in every way.  Of course if you have 30 brand new Bobcats in October but only 1 Bobcat in January, then the time taken for the ceremony will be different even if the ceremonies are otherwise the same.  All I meant was that if you make a big fuss over the Cubs who join in October, then you should make a big fuss over the ones who join later, too.  They are all deserving of recognition regardless of when they join.

Whatever Bobcat ceremony you decide to use (painted Bobcat or something else), you should try to give them all the same amount of time and attention.  I do think it's important to try to give them an equivalent ceremony / recognition even if they join later than the big group in October.

@The Latin Scot  There are different versions of it, but here is an example of what a face paint Bobcat rank ceremony might be like:

http://www.scoutorama.com/ceremony/ceremony_display.cfm?cer_id=10

Previous packs I have been with would do them monthly at the pack meeting (or perhaps at an activity / event, depending on timing), if there were any new Cub Scouts who had earned Bobcat.  The idea is to make a big fuss over these new members and get them excited about joining your pack and making them feel welcome.  It also serves to encourage the new Scouts to earn their rank.

Are you presenting adventure belt loops and pins at pack meetings?  Is that eating up too much of your time?  The belt loops and pins are intended to be immediate recognition devices and can be presented by Den Leaders at den meetings / activities.  Perhaps this would free up some time at your pack meetings for Bobcat or other rank ceremonies?

@qwazse  They changed this a few years ago.  Now it's free to transfer an unexpired membership. 🙂  I think it actually cost councils more money to process the $1 payment.

If the troop uses Scoutbook, the Eagle Application report is the same exact form as the Eagle rank application form -- it's just pre-filled with information such as merit badge dates, etc.  It's also editable, so the Scout can change stuff, such as leadership positions, etc.

The link posted by @HashTagScouts looks pretty close to what @ACEMAN040 is looking for in a spreadsheet.  I would just caution you to compare the requirements very carefully to the current official Eagle Scout rank requirements.  A cursory look at the spreadsheet, and I do not see all of the PORs listed.  Not sure what else might need to be updated.

Current requirements are listed at the following link:

https://www.scouting.org/programs/boy-scouts/advancement-and-awards/

Does your troop use Scoutbook?  There are some helpful reports there that you can use:

There is an Individual Advancement Record (IAR) report, which is available from the Troop or Patrol pages.

Also at Scoutbook, you can download a pre-filled (but editable) Eagle Application that can help Scouts get started.

Your troop can give you access to Report Builder, which allows you to create custom reports.  One that would be helpful for you would be a progress toward Eagle report or a merit badge report where you select all of the Eagle-required merit badges.

I also have an Excel spreadsheet that you could use for an individual Scout, although I'm not sure how to upload it to the forum.