New Scout FAQ

Is Boy Scouts Different from Cub Scouts?

Yes! The jump from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts is very high. Although Cub Scouts was a very basic introduction to Boy Scouts, there are many differences. Here are some of them:

Cub Scouts

• Parents plan and organize outings/activities
• Cubs rank with other people within in their age or academic class
• Outings and activities are easy to moderate for young cubs
• Leaders run the meetings
• Cubs do not have to lead a project in Weblos II
• Uniforms are mainly the navy blue polo

Boy Scouts 

• Boys plan and organize outings/activities
• Boys rank individually and do not work in an age-based group to advance together
• Outings are more advanced and high adventure
• Boys run the meetings
• At the rank of Life, boys must lead a project to help the community
• Uniforms are a tan polo, like the Weblos one

Lead a Project?

As you continue to rank, you will learn many life skills, such as citizenship and leadership. One requirement in the rank of Life is to lead a project in order to help the community in some way. You still have a lot of time to plan this, so don’t stress a lot about it for now.

How do Rank Advancements Work?

In your book (available for purchase at the Scout store over in Council) is a list of requirements to complete in order to move to the next rank. Some of these may include camping, knot tying, using a compass, and knowing first aid. Once you have completed all of the requirements for a specific rank (signed off by your patrol leader), then you may ask for a Scoutmaster Conference. After completing this, you will go through a Board of Review (for all ranks after Scout). Then, you will have advanced in rank and can work towards the next one. 

What’s a Scoutmaster Conference?

A Scoutmaster Conference is a meeting between a Scout and the Scoutmaster to make sure the Scout is actually ready to rank up. The Scoutmaster may ask several questions about what you did to earn these requirements or how you use Scouting in your life. Some Scoutmasters may be easy on you, but a lot will give you some hard questions in order to ensure you are ready to move on.

What’s a Board of Review?

A Board of Review allows you to rank upwards. There will be several leaders from the troop asking you questions about Scouting. They may either ask you about Scouting skills, values, or history about Scouting. The Board will see if you are worthy of the rank, and will see if Scouting has gone through you.

In both the Scoutmaster Conference and the Board of Review, a Scout must wear his full uniform, which includes:

• Scout Class A shirt
• Scout pants
• Scout socks
• Scout hat
• Troop neckerchief/slide
• Merit badge satch (if they own one) 

 Is there Leadership in the Troop?

Absolutely. Each troop has a specific boy-led leadership in order to run the troop. Each position ensures this mini society continues to operate correctly.

• The SPL (Senior Patrol Leader) is the head of the boy part of the troop, and communicates with the Scoutmaster to make the troop prosper
• ASPL (Assistant Senior Patrol Leader): is the head of all of the other leadership positions except for the patrol leaders. He makes sure they are doing their job correctly.
• Patrol Leader: each troop has patrols in order to organize the troop a little better. Each patrol leader is the head of the boys in a specific patrol, tells the SPL any ideas the younger scouts may have, and leads each “breakout” to help with advancements, scouts skills, or other. He signs off all Scouts in requirements except for himself. He gets it signed off by another patrol leader or the SPL
• Troop Guide: helps the younger scouts advance and know the scout skills
• Scribe: takes roll and handles Scout expenses. He takes roll in advancements, and even meeting attendance to see if any Scouts are slacking and not contributing to the Spirit of Scouting

Of course, there are many more leadership positions you can have in the troop, but saying all of them and explaining them would probably make me run out of storage on this computer.

Am I all Alone? Does no one help me?

No! Just because you do a lot of the work does not mean you are all in this alone. I will not quote High School Musical for this section, but the scouts are all in this together. Each scout helps other scouts to rank up by helping them with the Scout skills, camping trips, and leadership positions. Adults also help the scouts. Even though the troop is help by the Scouts, they still need adult help and experience to run the troop fluently. The adults help run finances, are counselors for merit badges, help the scouts get to an outing that’s planned, and don’t let the scouts kill themselves. Scouting is supposed to be fun, not another stress-related activity that acts like school. 

What are Merit Badges?

Merit Badges are patches that help you learn different life skills, let you learn something new, and can even help you choose a college career by knowing something from each merit badge. There are 21 merit badges required to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, but only 13 are required for Eagle (with several exceptions on which to earn). The rest of them are ones of your choice where you can experience a new field of activities. These range from Art, to Sports, to American Heritage and Space Exploration. 

Which Merit Badges are required for Eagle Scout?

• Camping
• Citizenship in the Community
• Citizenship in the Nation
• Citizenship in the Society
• Citizenship in the World
• Communications
• Cooking
• Cycling, Hiking, or Swimming
• Environmental or Sustainability
• Family Life
• First Aid
• Lifesaving or Emergency Preparedness
• Personal Fitness
• Personal Management

How do I earn a Merit Badge?

First, you must go to the Scoutmaster and ask for a blue card. This is the documentation record for earning the merit badge. Then, you must find a counselor for this merit badge, and ask if you can start this merit badge. 

Second, once you have received approval for starting the merit badge, you can start completing the requirements for that merit badge (available in print or online). Unlike rank advancement requirements, you may complete all merit badge requirements without the “sign-off” of your patrol leader or counselor.

Third, once all requirements have been completed, you may discuss over the requirements with your counselor. He will see if you have complete knowledge of the subject and to see if you have mastered it. Once this is complete, he will sign off your blue card. Then, you will hand over your blue card to the Advancement Coordinator for record of the merit badge. A section of the blue card will also be given to your counselor for record.

You MUST keep your blue card throughout the process in order for council to know you have actually gotten the merit badge and didn’t use some 3D printer or something.

The Scout’s portion of the blue card will be given back to the Scout simultaneously with the actual patch on the Court of Honor, a ceremony that gives awards and badges to the Scouts.  

Is Boy Scouts Fun?

Absolutely!!! Unlike politicians we know how to have fun. Even though a part of Scouting includes some work and time, it has a lot more to offer! Scouting has many fun activities, such as camping, backpacking, cycling, going to the pool, and learning how to make a fire. Merit badges expand these activities to a greater extent. You can learn how to program, study animals, practice sculpturing, play sports, understand business, go fishing, amd even prevent crime.

In Scouting, you can meet new friends, share jokes about the latest memes or world events, and have experiences that others would rarely have. Scouting truly is a great program.