Scouting Develops Leaders
STRONG VALUES
Scouting America's goals for teaching youth leadership skills include preparing them to make sound ethical and moral choices. Developing character, citizenship, leadership and personal fitness are considered the four core "Aims of Scouting". In developing character, Scouting strives to instill the values outlined in the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
HANDS-ON LEADERSHIP
To accomplish the objectives above, scouting provides students with hands-on leadership experience through a scout-led and patrol-based program. This means our scouts lead the Troop meetings, plan the Troop's activities, and organize and lead each other during activities by learning and using a proven patrol system and Troop Leadership structure.
Scouts are encouraged to take on leadership roles like Quartermaster, Patrol Leader or Senior Patrol Leader, and learn decision-making and teamwork through real experience leading and following others.
RANK ADVANCEMENT
Scouts are also supported to advance through the ranks in Scouting based on their own personal interests and goals. While not every scout will be interested in or able to pursue and achieve the highest rank in Scouting (Eagle Scout), Troops 39 and 139 each have a long history of actively supporting the success of Scouts who wish to pursue this tremendous accomplishment.
SCOUT-LED, ADULT-SUPPORTED GROWTH
Scouts are always supervised and supported by an experienced and trained team of adult leaders.
The Patrol Method &
Troop Leadership Roles
The Patrol Method organizes scouts in small groups of 6-8. Groups are a mix of younger scouts who can learn from older scouts and scouts with more experience who help lead newer scouts in the patrol.
The Troops also elect and select a slate of student leaders who direct the activities of each troop.
These positions include:
Rank Advancement and
Eagle Scout Rank
Rank advancement is the process by which scouts progress from rank to rank. For scouts of all ages, grades, and experience-levels, advancement encourages ongoing involvement, meaningful achievement, and regular recognition for continuous improvement and increasing readiness for more complex experiences and responsibilities.
Scouts plan their own advancement and progress at their own pace as they meet each challenge.
All scouts enter the troop at the Scout Rank and have to demonstrate a number of proficiencies to advance to each higher rank: Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle.
Eagle is the highest of the six ranks in Scouting. It requires completing all previous ranks, earning at least 21 merit badges (including a dozen required badges), serving at least six months in a Scouting leadership position and completing an Eagle Scout project that creates and leaves a meaningful and lasting impact for a religious organization, school or community. As a last step, the scout must sit before and be passed by a special, council-wide Eagle Board of Review.
You can learn more about Eagle project requirements and see recent examples HERE.
Additional information on ranks, advancement, and requirements in scouting can be found HERE.