Troop 331 First Year To First Class Program

Be a Merit Badge Counselor

As a scout parent or leader one of the ways we can encourage our scouts to grow and succeed in Scouting program is by offering and teaching merit badge classes. 

Before you can begin as a Merit Badge Counselor you are required by the Scouting America to complete an Adult Registration Form with the Background Check page filled out and the Merit Badge Counselor form. Both are linked below as a printable PDF form.  After you have completed,  printed & signed the documents,  give them to your Troop Scoutmaster or Committee Chair to send to Council. You may also take them directly to your local council for registration. There are no fees included with this and if you are already registered with a Troop, it will not change your position with the Troop. Also note you are not required to be a member of the BSA to be a merit Badge Counselor. Bes sure to fill out the Adult Registration form including references and the background check on the last page!

Troop 331 First Year to First Class Program. 

The First Class to first year program is a set of Merit Badges and Scout Rank Required activities to get all new scouts from the rank of Scout, which is what a youth is when they register, through the Tenderfoot and Second Class Rank and earn his First Class rank.  The Scouting recommends this path not only to keep scout engaged in scouting but to build confidence in their abilities to move forward with leadership in the troop and in the community. 

The Order of the Activities and Merit Badges are important in developing the First Class Scout . As you will read in the BSA Rank Requirements, the Rank of Scout has the most basic of requirements and may be worked on simultaneously with Tenderfoot, Second Class & First Class.

The First Class Rank Requirement does not include earning merit badges however working on and possibly earning  the Citizenship in the Community, Camping, Cooking, Physical Fitness and First Aid Merit Badges will fulfill many of the rank requirements needed to advance.

In addition to assisting with earning up to the first class rank, the Star Scout Rank requires 6 Merit badges with 4 of them being Eagle Required merit badges. All five merit badges noted above are eagle required. This will jumpstart any scout in earning their Star Scout rank!

Scout Rank

Welcome to Scouting! The First rank advancement to earn is the Scout Rank, this rank requires the scout to read his Scout book and become familiar with the Scout Oath, Law, Motto & Slogan along with the outdoor code. This rank is designed to help new scouts understand what is expected of them as a scout and what the program stands for. In the newer editions of the Boy Scout book the pages are referenced for each requirement for all ranks. The new scout ill also be required to take his Cyber Chip Course online for his grade level . the Cyber Chip must be taken every year. This rank can be met without any outdoor activities, and only requires attendance at one regular meeting. Click Here for the official requirements to achieve the Rank of Scout.

Tenderfoot

The Second Rank is the Tenderfoot. The tenderfoot Scout requirements will include at minimum one campout and demonstrating what they have ready and learned from the scout handbook. This Rank helps prepare the scout for leadership within the troop and the Outdoor events and adventures that are yet to come! Click Here for the official requirements to achieve the rank of Tenderfoot.

Second Class

The rank of Second Class digs deeper into the core of scouting. this rank introduces a scout to First Aid, Cooking, Citizenship and Patriotism and builds on the outdoor experience with aquatics, outdoor and personal safety and emphasizes physical fitness. It is this rank that the merit badges listed below can propel any scout through this rank to First Class.
Click Here for the official requirements to achieve the rank of Second Class.

First Class Scouts

A First Class Scout has all the basic tool and knowledge to take with him on his journey to the rank of Eagle. As a scout works on his first class rank he will develop more leadership skills in addition to his outdoor, first aid and community skills. This rank is when a Scout will most likely take on positions of responsibility within a troop. Click Here for the official requirements to achieve the rank of First Class.

Below are the suggested merit badges with links to both the merit badge requirements and workbook.