Lion Tiger Wolf Bear Webelos AoL
Scout Tenderfoot 2nd Class 1st Class Star Life Eagle

Scouts BSA Program Schedule

Revised May, 2021
The Scouts BSA program is very different from Cub Scouts - mostly in the fact that it is Scout-Led. If scouts are coming from a well-run Webelos program where they were given responsibilities and decision-making opportunities, they will shift into a troop environment easily. If their Webelos leader did all the planning and operational work, then they will have a rougher time taking on responsibility for their scouting activities.

There are 7 ranks in Scouts BSA, culminating with the Eagle Scout rank. A scout completes the Joining Requirements and earns the Scout rank first. The first 4 ranks (Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, & 1st Class) are a time for a scout to learn skills for outdoors, self-sufficiency, and citizenship. The last 3 ranks (Star, Life, Eagle) are earned by completion of merit badges, service efforts, and leadership. As scouts advance in rank, they shift from being a 'learner' to a 'leader' and are expected to teach new scouts.

Either the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, or higher ranking scout will sign off on scout advancements - depending on the troop policy. We allow Troop Guides to sign off for scouts in the patrol they are mentoring and Star, Life, or Eagle scouts to sign-off any Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, or 1st Class requirements. We encourage younger scouts to go to higher ranking scouts for sign-off rather than to the same adult every time. This helps build relationships with the troop leadership and turns their handbook into an autograph book of other scouts' initials.

A common schedule for a scouting unit is:

1 Patrol meeting each month
2 Troop meetings each month
1 Troop campout each month

Here are some documents to:

An active scout can easily reach First Class rank in 10 to 12 months and really should reach First Class within 18 to 20 months. This program schedule offers an example of activities that will have scouts meet that time schedule. The advancement activities listed for Troop Meetings occur during the 'Patrol Time' in each meeting - if your troop does not have this time, then these activities would need to occur before or after the meeting or at a separate patrol meeting.
In Minnesota, due to weather, we try to get most outdoors demonstration skills (like water rescue) done in the summer months.

The troop meeting and patrol meeting activities are often a time for new scouts to just learn the skills. The Troop Guide or Instructor presenting the skills should use EDGE for teaching to ensure scouts learn well. Most probably, scouts will need to practice skills and demonstrate their proficiency at a later time rather than during the same session in which they were taught.

Troop Guides should tell the scouts in their charge what pages of their Scout Handbooks to study well before a skills training session. If scouts do not read about the skill beforehand, they should not expect to be introduced to it, learn it, and demonstrate proficiency all in one session.

Your Troop Guides might use this Advancement Guide to schedule and execute training sessions for various advancement requirements.

Sample First Class Advancement Schedule

J: Scout (joining) T: Tenderfoot S: Second Class F: First Class
Month	Activities
March	Individually: Do J6 with a parent. Read Adventure Ahead chapter in Scout Handbook preparing for J1, J2, J3. 1st Troop Meeting: Practice or do J1a-f, 2a-d, 3a Patrol Meeting: J3b - Create patrol name, emblem, yell, and flag design. Practice J1a-f, 2a-d, 3a 2nd Troop Meeting (Court of Honor): Watch First Class scouts advance. Do J1a-f, 2a-d, 3a-b Discuss upcoming campout - packing list, uniform expectations, and duty roster. Create patrol menu. Troop CampOut: Do J4a-b, 5 - knots, pocketknife safety Do T1a-c, T2a-c, T3a-c - prepare for campout, sleep in tent, cooking, knots
April	Individually: J7 - Schedule a Scoutmaster conference for Joining Do F10 - tell another youth about Scouts 1st Troop Meeting: Arrive Early. Do T6a-b before meeting - record first attempt T5a-c, 7a - hiking safety, flag etiquette Patrol Meeting: Finish patrol flag and yell T3a-c, S2f-g - knots 2nd Troop Meeting: Arrive Early. Do T6a-b before meeting - record first attempt Do J3b - bring patrol flag and give yell for troop. T7a, T8 - flag etiquette, EDGE method Troop CampOut: Do T1a-c, T3a-d, S1b-c, S2a-g - Totin' Chip, Firem'n Chit, cooking, knots Service Project: Do T7b - 1 hour service
May	Individually: Do F10 - tell another youth about Scouts 1st Troop Meeting: Arrive Early. Do T6a-b or T6c before meeting - record first or final attempt Receive Scout badge, if requirements are complete. T3a-c, S2f-g, F3a-c - knots and lashings Patrol Meeting: T4b-c, T5a-c Go on a short hike and practice rules of safe hiking. Review buddy system and use it on hike. Look for poisonous plants and talk about their treatment. 2nd Troop Meeting: Arrive Early. Do T6a-b or T6c before meeting - record first or final attempt T3a-c, S2f-g, F3a-c - knots and lashings Troop CampOut: Do T1a-c, T3a-d, S1b-c, S2a-g - Totin' Chip, Firem'n Chit, cooking, knots Do T5a-c, S3a-d, S4, F5a - Safe hiking, 5-mile hike, navigation, plants and animal ID Service Project: Do T7b, S8e - 2 hour service
June	Individually: Do F10 - tell another youth about Scouts Do S7a-b - physically active for 4 weeks 1st Troop Meeting: Arrive Early. Do T6c before meeting - record final attempt Do S8a-b - flag ceremony. Do S5a, S5d, F6b-d - Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat. Patrol Meeting: Do T4a-d, S6a-e - first aid 2nd Troop Meeting (Court of Honor): Receive Tenderfoot badge if all requirements are complete. Do S8a-b - flag ceremony. Troop CampOut : Do T1a-c, T3a-d, S1b-c, S2a-g - Totin' Chip, Firem'n Chit, cooking, knots Do T4a-d, S6a-e - first aid
July	Individually: Schedule a Scoutmaster conference for Tenderfoot. Arrange Board of Review. Do S7a-b, F8a-b - physically active for 4 weeks Do S1a - participate in 5 outings Do S8c-d - earn money 1st Troop Meeting: Do S8a-b - flag ceremony. Do T4a-d, S6a-e - first aid Patrol Meeting: Do F4a-b - orienteering course & GPS Summer Camp: Complete left-over Tenderfoot requirements Do S5b-c, F6a-e - swimming and water rescue, swimmer test, safety afloat Do T5a-c, S3a-d, S4, F5a - Safe hiking, 5-mile hike, navigation, plants and animal ID Do F3a-d - lashings for camp gadget
August	Individually: Do S7a-b, F8a-b - physically active for 4 weeks Do S1a - participate in 5 outings Do S8c-d - earn money Do F9a-c - community leader, environmental issue, reduce garbage 1st Troop Meeting: Do S8a-b - flag ceremony. Do S7c - drug program Do S9a-b - personal safety and bullying Patrol Meeting: Do F2a-b - plan menu, make food list Practice F5b-d - weather Do F4a-b - orienteering course and GPS 2nd Troop Meeting: Do S8a-b - flag ceremony. Do F5b-d - weather Troop CampOut: Do F3a-d - lashings for camp gadget Do S4, F5a - animal identification, plant identification Do S3d - direction without compass Do F2c-e - (1 scout per campout) - use This worksheet. In patrols of 6 or more scouts, you could break into two groups so a different scout could serve as cook for each. Service Project: Do T7b, S8e, F9d - 3 hour service
September	Individually: Schedule Scoutmaster conference for Second Class. Arrange Board of Review. Do S7a-b, F8a-b - physically active for 4 weeks Do S1a - participate in 5 outings Do S8c-d - earn money Do F9a-c - community leader, environmental issue, reduce garbage 1st Troop Meeting: Do S8a-b - flag ceremony. T3a-c, S2f-g, F3a-c - knots and lashings Patrol Meeting: Do F2a-b - plan menu, make food list Go on a hike for fun and catch up of any outdoors requirements. 2nd Troop Meeting (Court of Honor): Receive Tenderfoot or Second Class badge. Do S8a-b - flag ceremony. Troop CampOut: Do F2c-e - (1 scout per campout) - use This worksheet. Offer catch up of any outdoors requirements.
October	Individually: Do F8a-b - physically active for 4 weeks Do S1a - participate in 5 outings Do F1a - participate in 10 outings Do F9a-c - community leader, environmental issue, reduce garbage 1st Troop Meeting: Do F4a,c,d (1 scout per campout) - plan menu, list cooking gear, explain safe food handling. Patrol Meeting: Do F2a-b - plan menu, make food list Practice F7a-f - first aid, home emergencies 2nd Troop Meeting: Review Tenderfoot and Second Class skills with more advanced helping slower ones. Troop CampOut: Do F7a-c, 7f - advanced first aid, potable water Do F2c-e - (1 scout per campout) - use This worksheet. Service Project: Do S8e, F9d - 3 hour service
November December January February March	Individually: Schedule Scoutmaster conference. Arrange Board of Review. Do F8a-b - physically active for 4 weeks Do F1a - participate in 10 outings 1st Troop Meeting: Practice or complete requirements requested by scouts Patrol Meeting: Do F2a-b - plan menu, make food list 2nd Troop Meeting: Practice or complete requirements requested by scouts Troop CampOut: Do F2c-e - (1 scout per campout) - use This worksheet. Service Project: Do S8e, F9d - 3 hour service

Comments:

Jun 14, 2013 - Patrick

Seems cool. I am currently a Tenderfoot and have been in Boy Scouts for 10 months already! But remember that at Summer camps they have Trail to Eagle so they can all get a lot of requirements done there. I go to BTSR next week, where I think I will be Second Class by the end of the summer.

Jun 14, 2013 - Scouter Paul

@Patrick - Many camps present the information to new scouts, but do not sign off that they have completed the requirements. That is often left up to the troop leaders. In our troop, scouts can come back to their campsite and demonstrate a skill to a leader, but we do not sign off the requirement just because the scout sat through a presentation about the skill. In group settings, most scouts watch and only a few (if any) actually do the skill.

Dec 11, 2014 - Jeff Anderson

This program has been highly successful. It's been around for 25 years. If implemented correctly, you'll see the results. It's great for retention. If you can get a scout to 1st Class in a year, they will possibly earn Eagle approx. 65% of the time. If not, then the percentage drops drastically, 15%.

Mar 19, 2015 - Phil Schramm

On the 1st- scout-schedule.asp page I am not sure what is trying to be said or if you meant to say a different rank by 18-20 months An active boy scout can reach First Class rank in 12 months and should reach First Class within 18 to 20 months.

Mar 19, 2015 - Scouter Paul

@Phil - Maybe it should have emphasis on the CAN and SHOULD. An active boy scout CAN reach First Class rank in 12 months, and SHOULD reach First Class within 18 to 20 months.

Sep 19, 2015 - Art Ramirez

Concerned parent of LDS scout. A court of honor was held this past. ? Can a boy not turning 12 yet earn his First class rank at his first court of honor. According to the guide lines. The answer is a big "NO" Well it happend at ours which i was very upset cause I knew this before hand. A few received this ranking withou doing the required campouts. Answers please...dicj

Sep 20, 2015 - scouter paul

@art - A scout advances when he has completed the requirements for each rank. It sounds like his scoutmaster confirmed that he did the requirements and earned the rank. If you have a concern, you should ask that person directly about how advancement works, maybe mentioning that you need help understanding how the First Class rank is achieved. And, if it still doesn't make sense, ask how scoutX earned it because you're confused about how it's possible.

Sep 21, 2015 - Scouter Joe

@Art - You should point out that in the LDS Scouting Handbook that on pg. 4 section 6.2, that in fact it reads:

Eleven-year-old Scouts participate in rank advancement. They are encouraged to complete as many of the First Class rank requirements as possible before turning 12, with the exception of the requirement for six overnight camps.
Eleven-year-old Scouts may participate in three one-night camps a year, which meets the camping requirements for advancement to the rank of Second Class. If desired, these overnight camps may be held with the ward�s Boy Scout troop. The eleven-year-old Scout leader plans the camps in
consultation with the ward Primary presidency, the bishopric adviser to the Primary, and the ward Scouting committee. No other Scout-sponsored overnight camping should be planned for eleven-year-old Scouts.

As a member it is alarming how many leaders don't read the leader handbooks. smh

Nov 03, 2015 - Scouter Matt

I could be wrong but only 3 campouts are required for first class rank. My understanding is tf, 2nd and 1st class rank requirements can be earned together. Star, Life and Eagle ranks have to be earned in order and have time served requirements.

www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/Advan cementandAwards/firstclass.aspx

Nov 03, 2015 - Scouter Paul

@Matt - That is the case now, but is changing on January 1, 2016. Some publications are updated already, and others are in flux.

Jan 27, 2016 - Matt

Where do the patrol leaders take some responsibility for their scouts? Why is it optimal to complete Eagle by the time a scout is 15? Advancement is only one method of scouting but this web page makes it sound like it's everything. It also makes it sound like the adults have decided the schedule. Fun, the outdoors, leadership and growth are equally important. A scout grows a lot more when he makes his own decisions about advancement, helping younger scouts, and what the calendar is.

Jan 30, 2016 - Scouter Paul

@Matt - This is just one of thousands of pages on this website that folks CAN use if they find it helpful, but don't have to use.
I have no idea where your two questions are coming from, about patrol leader responsibility and age of Eagle scouts. This page discusses neither of those things.

Oct 18, 2016 - Callie Duncan

My son has been in Scouts for several years and is stuck in second class because he cannot pass swimming test. My son is small built and gives out quick,so therefore he cannot achieve up no further. Just wondering if there is any way around this problem, I have heard both there is way to go around not passing the test.

Jun 30, 2019 - wayne chancey

is there a complete (or almost complete) requirement timeline booklet that an adult can utilize for 11 and 12 year old brothers involved in scouting. not necessarily a timeline thing but one that is comprehensive and intelligently crafted to optimize meeting requirements on a timely yearly basis. sorry but with this new generation of young scout leaders and the lack of mentoring by the parents and the loose interpretation of standards this does not look to be fun. just finished weeklong camp and all promises were shall we say unmet . thus the question above thank you for any assistance you can provide.

Jul 06, 2019 - Scouter Paul

@wayne - The advancement of each scout is a unique path with no absolute recommended schedule. If the calendar in the page content above isn't enough, I doubt you'll find what you're hoping for. The Scout Handbook has all the requirements and supportive information for a scout to progress along through the year.

Feb 01, 2023 - Doug Wheeler

Awesome, thanks for keeping this updated.

Scouting 2025 - Ask a Question - Add Content
Just for Fun: Socializing merit badge

This site is not officially associated with Scouting America

Find more Scouting Resources at www.BoyScoutTrail.com