The Scouting program provides many opportunities for you to learn skills and take part in terrific adventures. It also recognizes your achievements by awarding badges of rank. The first three are Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class. Next come Star and Life. The highest rank is that of Eagle Scout.

Each rank is more challenging than the one before it. Each prepares you to be a better camper, hiker, and Scout. As you complete the requirements for a rank on patrol and troop outings, you will find that you can use your new knowledge immediately. You will also have the background you need for achieving even more as you set out towards the next rank.

Four Step Advancment
A Boy Scout advances from Tenderfoot to Eagle by doing things with his patrol and his troop, with his leaders, and on his own. It's easy for him to advance, if the following four opportunities are provided for him.

1. The Boy Scout learns. A Scout learns by doing. As he learns, he grows in ability to do his part as a member of the patrol and the troop. As he develops knowledge and skill, he is asked to teach others; and in this way he begins to develop leadership.
2. The Boy Scout is tested. A Scout may be tested on rank requirements by his patrol leader, Scoutmaster, assistant Scoutmaster, a troop committee member, or a member of his troop. The Scoutmaster maintains a list of those qualified to give tests and to pass candidates. The Scout's merit badge counselor teaches and tests on the requirements for merit badges.
3. The Boy Scout is reviewed. After a Scout has completed all requirements for a rank, he has a board of review. For Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle Palms, the review is conducted by members of the troop committee. The Eagle Scout board of review is conducted in accordance with local council procedures.
4. The Boy Scout is recognized. When the board of review has certified a boy's advancement, he deserves to be recognized as soon as possible. This should be done at a ceremony at the next troop meeting. The certificate for his new rank may be presented later at a formal court of honor.

The Ranks of Scouting
Ranks form the core of the advancement program. In order to make the next rank, a Scout must learn and demonstrate progressively more difficult tasks.

The Scout Rank is designed to help the scout better understand scouting and the journey that lies ahead of him. His first few weeks in the program will introduce him to the scout uniform, our oath, law, and motto, and will also teach him the sqaure, or joining knot.

Basic Scouting skills ( camping, first aid, basic outdoor survival skills) are the focus of the first three ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class. Members of a new Scout patrol work together with the assistance of an Assistant Scoutmaster and older Scouts (Instructors and Troop Guides ) to learn these new skills and to fulfill the requirements. The scout will also begin using the patrol method, where he, and a group of other scouts will form a patrol that will do EVERYTHING together.

After a Scout reaches First Class rank, he should have the basic skills to camp and hike comfortably and safely. He is ready to work on the more advanced ranks of Star, Life and Eagle. He is then given increasing leadership responsibilities in the troop, helping him to develop his own leadership skills and giving him the opportunity to share his knowledge with other Scouts. Each of these ranks has a requirement to hold a troop leadership position and to participate actively in the troop. You are required to design and lead your own service project for the rank of Eagle. It may seem like a lot of work now, but the journey is well worth it.

Merit Badges
Scouts can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as they earn these merit badges. There are more than 100 merit badges.

Although any Boy Scout may earn almost any merit badge at any time he chooses, some of the badges are more developmentally appropriate for older scouts. Scouts are encouraged to discuss merit badge choices with a scout leader or parent/guardian.