Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures
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Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures 33088_Cover.indd 1 3/17/08 9:18:01 AM Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures 33088.indd 1 3/17/08 9:15:01 AM 33088_Cover.indd 2 3/17/08 9:18:03 AM 33088_Cover.indd 3 3/17/08 9:18:04 AM Purpose This book helps council and district advancement commit- tees understand and implement the advancement programs and procedures of the Boy Scouts of America. Regardl ess of the structure in a council or a district, advancement must be pro- moted, as detailed in this book, to achieve a successful program in the lives of youth members. Certain awards programs also are discussed in this book, since administering these awards is often the responsibility of council and district advancement committees. This edition of Advancementk k Committee Policies and Procedures supersedes all previous editions. The material in this book contains current policies, procedures, and other information relating to advancement. Previous editions and printings should be discarded. Pages with major changes as of March 2008 have been marked with UPDATE at the top of the page. 33088 ISBN 978-0-8395-3088-6 ©1989 Boy Scouts of America 2008 Printing 33088.indd 2 3/17/08 9:15:01 AM TABLE OF Contents What Is Advancement? ................................ 3 Responsibilities of the District Advancement and Recognition Advancement Principles ............................. 3 Committee .................................................9–15 Advancement in the Four Scouting Setting District Advancement Goals .................. 9 Program Phases ............................................. 4 Districts Help Units Establish Advancement Programs ................................. 10 Cub Scouting ................................................... 4 Districts Recruit and Train Merit Badge Boy Scouting .................................................... 4 Counselors and Publish Lists ........................... 12 Varsity Scouting ............................................... 4 The Merit Badge Counselor Venturing ......................................................... 4 and the Boy Scout ...................................... 12 Responsibilities of the Council Merit Badges for Eagle Palms ..................... 12 Advancement Committee .......................5–8 Recruiting Merit Badge Counselors ............. 12 Duties of the Committee .................................. 5 Qualifications of Counselors ....................... 13 Setting Council Goals ....................................... 5 Training Merit Badge Counselors ................ 13 1 Planning a Yearly Calendar and Maintaining a Current List of Com mittee Budget ........................................... 5 Merit Badge Counselors ............................. 13 Record Keeping ................................................ 6 Troop and Team Merit Badge Counselors .... 14 Recruiting and Training Advancement District Role in Advancement Com mittee Members ....................................... 6 to Eagle Scout ................................................ 14 Promoting Advancement .................................. 7 Providing Recognition to District Scouters ....... 15 Recommending Candidates for Providing Program Resources .......................... 15 National Awards .............................................. 7 Advancement Rules and Regulations ... 16 Advancement in Summer Camp ....................... 7 Approving Merit Badge Counselors and Advancement in the Unit ....................18–38 Publishing List of Counselors ............................ 7 Cub Scout Advancement ................................ 18 Acting as an Appeal Board for District Boards Boy Scout Advancement ................................ 23 of Review ......................................................... 8 Merit Badges ......................................... 26 Posthumous Awards ........................................ 8 Service Projects ...................................... 27 Presenting Special Council Awards ................... 8 Boards of Review ................................... 28 Appealing a Decision ............................. 33 cont’d ➻ 33088.indd 1 3/17/08 9:15:01 AM Courts of Honor ..................................... 33 Special Recognition ...............................46–55 What Is Ad Advancement in Summer Camp ............. 34 District and Council Awards ........................... 46 v Varsity Scout Advancement ............................ 35 District Award of Merit ............................... 46 a Venturing Advancement ................................. 36 Silver Beaver Award ................................... 47 n Advancement for Youth Members Lifesaving and Meritorious Action Awards ...... 48 With Special Needs ................................39–43 Lifesaving Awards ...................................... 49 c Membership ................................................. 40 Meritorious Action Awards ......................... 50 e Advancement for Cub Scouts Local Council Certificate of Merit ............... 50 With Disabilities ............................................. 40 Spirit of the Eagle Award ............................... 51 m Advancement for Boy Scouts Distinguished Eagle Scout Award ................... 52 With Disabilities ............................................. 40 William T. Hornaday Award ............................ 53 Advancement for Venturers National President’s Scoutmaster With Disabilities ............................................. 41 e Award of Merit .............................................. 54 Certification ............................................... 42 Venturing Advisor Award of Merit .................. 54 Alternate Requirements for Tenderfoot, Venturing Leadership Award .......................... 54 n Second Class, and First Class Ranks ............ 42 Council Achievement Awards ......................... 55 t Alternate Merit Badges for the ? Special Opportunity Programs ........................ 55 Eagle Scout Rank ....................................... 43 Religious Emblems ......................................... 55 2 Woods Services Award ................................... 43 Torch of Gold Certificate ................................ 43 Advancement Literature and Materials ..........................................56–57 Miscellaneous Topics .............................44–45 Extended Absence From Scouting ................... 44 Requirements .........................................58–60 Lone Scouting ................................................ 44 Index ..........................................................61–62 Advancement Procedure ............................ 45 Youth of Other Nationalities ........................... 45 Religious Principles ......................................... 45 33088.indd 2 3/17/08 9:15:02 AM UPDATE hat Is Ad W va Advancement is the process by which youth members of the Boy Scouts of America progress from n rank to rank in the Scouting program. Advancement is simply a means to an end, not an end in itself. c Everything done to advance and earn these ranks, from joining until leaving the program, should be e designed to help the young person have an exciting and meaningful experience. m Education and fun are functions of the Scouting movement, and they must be the basis of the advancement program. A fundamental principle of advancement in e Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing is the growth a young person achieves as n a result of his/her participation in unit program. t? Advancement Principles Council and district advancement committees join at the same time, not everyone will earn the 3 implement procedures that help achieve the follow- same awards at the same time. Let all members earn ing advancement principles. the awards at their own pace. Personal growth is the prime consid- A badge is recognition of what a young eration in the advancement program. person is able to do, not merely a reward Scouting skills—what a young person knows how for what he or she has done. The badge is to do—are important, but they are not the most proof of certain abilities, and is not just a reward for important aspect of advancement. Scouting’s con- the completion of a task. cern is the total growth of youth. This growth may Advancement encourages be measured by how youth live the Scouting ideals, Scouting ideals. and how they do their part in their daily lives. Scouting teaches a young person how to care Learning by doing. A Cub Scout, Boy Scout, for himself/herself and help others. Advancement or Venturer may read about fire building or good should reflect the desire to live the Cub Scout, Boy citizenship. He/she may hear it discussed, and watch Scout, or Venturing Oath in his/her daily life. others in action, but he/she has not learned first aid No council, district, unit, or individual has the until he/she has done it. authority to add to or subtract from advancement requirements. (For the policies concerning youth Each youth progresses at his or her own members with special needs, see pages 39–43.) Sug- rate. Advancement is not a competition among gestions for changes in requirements should be sent individual young people, but is an expression of their to the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Venturing commit- interest and participation in the program. Youth tee, Boy Scouts of America, 1325 West Walnut Hill must be encouraged to advance steadily and set Lane, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079. their own goals with guidance from their parents, guardians, or leaders. Just because