Scouts BSA Troop 457 > FAQs > Advancement

How to complete Scout Requirement #6 and Star Requirement #6 (Protect Your Children from Child Abuse and CyberChip / Personal Safety Awareness)?

On January 1, 2023 the BSA revised Scout and Star rank requirements (#6) as follows (edits in red):

With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide and earn the Cyber Chip Award for your grade or view the Personal Safety Awareness videos ( with your parent or Guardian’s permission)

There are two components of this requirement.

How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parents Guide

Parents and Scouts should read the Youth Protection pamphlet that is included at the front of your Scout’s Handbook. (An online version is available here.)

Discuss the questions at the end of the pamphlet and make sure everyone understands what the BSA’s policies are regarding youth protection.

Cyber Chip / Personal Safety Awareness videos

The BSA is phasing out the Cyber Chip program in favor of the Personal Safety Awareness videos so the Troop encourages our Scouts to watch these videos on Scouting.org.

The Troop typically spends one or two meetings each year for Scouts to watch the Personal Safety Awareness videos.  If a Scout misses one of those meetings, they can watch these videos on Scouting.org.

After Completing These Activities

Once a Scout has completed the pamphlet exercises and watched the Personal Safety Awareness videos, parents should email the Scoutmaster to inform him the Scout has completed the requirement.  At our next Troop meeting, the Scoutmaster or other leader may ask some quick questions to confirm understanding before approving the requirement.

Who can sign-off on Rank Requirements?

The unit leader authorizes those who may test and pass the Scout on rank requirements. They might include the patrol leader, the senior patrol leader, the unit leader, an assistant unit leader, or another Scout.Guide to Advancement

At Troop 457, rank requirements may be signed off by:

  • Any registered leader
  • Any Scout who has earned at least 2 ranks higher than the rank in which the requirement is being signed off (i.e., a Scout rank requirement may be signed off by a Scout who holds at least the Second Class rank, Tenderfoot requirements may be signed off by a Scout with the First Class rank or higher)

Parents or guardians are involved at home encouraging, mentoring, and supporting, but they do not sign for rank advancement requirements unless they serve as registered leaders and have been designated by the unit leader to approve advancement.  (Guide to Advancement Section 4.2.0.0)

As a general rule of thumb, Troop 457 encourages Scouts to have rank requirements signed off by leaders who are not related to or guardians of the Scout.

What other awards can I earn in Scouts BSA?

The BSA has many additional awards Scouts (and leaders) can earn while participating in the program.  Each of these awards has their own unique requirements, so we won’t cover them in the bootcamp. Scouts can earn additional awards such as:

  • Recruiter Strip (for those who recruit a new Scout to the Troop)
  • Religious Emblems for the Scout’s faith
  • Achievements in Swimming, Hiking, Canoeing and more such as “50-miler award” or the mile swim
  • Completion of additional Training such as Boardsailing, Lifeguard, or Standup Paddle Boarding.
  • Environmental recognition (i.e. EPA Award, Distinguished Conservation Service award)
  • And more

A full list of awards and requirements is available on Scouting.org.

Scouts who are interested in earning one of these awards should discuss their goals and objectives with the Scoutmaster who will guide them through the process of earning the award.

What is the Order of the Arrow and how can I get involved?

The Order of the Arrow (OA) is Scouting’s national camping honor society. It recognizes Scouts and Adult Leaders who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well.

Members of the Order of the Arrow are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long-term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend Scouting impact to youth.

Scouts are elected to the Order by their peers in the Troop during a special election in the Spring.  Our Troop’s OA Members are a part of the Kuskitannee Lodge.

Eligibility

To be eligible for election, a Scout must:

  • Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.
  • Have experienced 15 nights of camping while registered with a troop, crew, or ship within the two years immediately prior to the election. The 15 nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of at least five consecutive nights of overnight camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. Only five nights of the long-term camp may be credited toward the 15-night camping requirement; the balance of the camping (10 nights) must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps of, at most, three nights each. Ship nights may be counted as camping for Sea Scouts.
  • At the time of their election, youth must be under the age of 21, hold the Scouts BSA First Class rank, the Venturing Discovery Award, or the Sea Scout Ordinary rank or higher, and following approval by the Scoutmaster, Crew Advisor or Sea Scout Skipper, be elected by the youth members of their unit.

Adults (age 21 or older) who meet the camping requirements may be selected following nomination to and approval by the lodge adult selection committee.

Reference Information

What is a Court of Honor?

Courts of Honor are  gatherings for Scouts, families, and  guests where the troop and troop members are recognized for what’s been accomplished and achieved. They are presented in a manner appropriate for a special occasion and can feature a variety of impressive ceremonies.

Troop 457 tries to hold a Court of Honor once a quarter (typically on the month with a fifth Tuesday).  Family and friends are encourage to attend these events.  The Troop plans these events.

An Eagle Scout Court of Honor is a more rare and special event.  This Court of Honor is focused on the Scout who is receiving their Eagle Scout award and may include additional participants, recognition, and celebration on achieving this major accomplishment.  The new Eagle Scout and their family are actively involved in planning their own Court of Honor.

What are the Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review? How do I request one?

Every Rank in Scouts BSA has a requirement that a Scout participate in a Scoutmaster Conference and, with the exception of the Scout Rank, a Board of Review.

Scoutmaster Conference

The Scoutmaster Conference is a meeting between the Scout and the Scoutmaster (or their delegate) that allows the Scoutmaster to review:

  • a Scout’s growth in his understanding of Scouting’s ideals
  • how the Scout applies these ideals in his daily life and in the troop
  • the requirements of the Scout’s next rank so that he can be properly encouraged

The Scoutmaster Conference is not a retest of the Scout’s completion of the requirements, however the Scoutmaster may ask questions about the Scout  to ensure they have developed the skills needed for future ranks.

Board of Review

The purpose of a Board of Review is to determine the quality of the Scout’s experience and decide whether the requirements for the rank have been fulfilled. If so, the board not only approves the Scout’s advancement but also provides encouragement to continue the quest for the next rank.

Boards of Review are conducted by 3 to 6 committee members that are not the Scout’s parents, relatives, or guardians.  The Scoutmaster is permitted to attend as an observer but is not an active participant unless called upon.

Boards of Review should not become a retest or “examination” or a challenge of the Scout’s knowledge. In most cases it should, instead, be a celebration of accomplishment.

Requesting a Scoutmaster Conference or Board of Review

Scouts may request a Scoutmaster Conference or Board of Review at any time when they are confident the requirements for their rank have been achieved.  Adult leadership will do their best to accommodate requests in a timely fashion.

It is strongly encouraged that Scouts request a Scoutmaster Conference / Board of Review at least one week in advance since these meetings require multiple adults to participate.  This can be done in person at a Troop meeting or by submitting a form on the Troop website.

REMEMBER:

  • Scouts should come to the Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review prepared to demonstrate the skills they learned in the rank they are pursuing and any prior rank.  This includes bringing any supplies needed to demonstrate the skills.
  • A Board of Review should be requested after Scout has completed the Scoutmaster Conference requirement.

What do I do AFTER I’ve completed a merit badge?

Upon completion of a merit badge, the merit badge counselor will remove the third of the card labeled COUNSELOR’S RECORD and retain it for their records.  The remaining two sections should be turned in to the Troop’s Advancement Chair or the Scoutmaster at the next Troop meeting.  The Advancement Chair will then process your merit badge application and you will be awarded your patch at the next suitable occasion.

At that time, the third of the Blue Card labeled APPLICANT’S RECORD will be returned to the Scout for their records.  Keep this card in a safe place and DO NOT throw it away.  This card is the record that you have successfully earned the merit badge.  Many Scouts keep the blue cards in baseball card pages in a binder.

I’ve been approved to work on a Merit Badge. Now what? Do I need to buy a copy of the merit badge booklet?

Once you have completed the Blue Card and obtained the Scoutmaster’s approval, you are ready to start working on the merit badge.  The following are the recommended next steps:

  1. Obtain a copy of the Merit Badge pamphlet and review it in detail.  You will find that most of the requirements are thoroughly explained in the contents of the pamphlet.
  2. The Scout contacts the counselor while following youth protection requirements. >Even though Scouts may benefit from reviewing requirements with a merit badge counselor before getting to work, a Scout may begin the effort on any badge at any time after registering in Scouts BSA.
  3. The counselor considers any work toward requirements completed prior to the initial discussion with the unit leader.  It is the counselor’s decision whether to accept work or activities completed prior to any meeting with the unit leader or the merit badge counselor. Common sense should prevail, however. For example: nights already camped as a Scout in Scouts BSA, or coins or stamps already collected, would count toward their respective badges.)
  4. The Scout, the Scout’s buddy, and the counselor meet (often several times).
  5. Partial progress is recorded as requirements are completed.
  6. The Scout finishes the requirements.
  7. The counselor approves completion.

Remember, advancement requirements must be passed as written. If, for example, a requirement uses words like “show,” “demonstrate,” or “discuss,” then that is what Scouts must do. Filling out a worksheet, for example, would not suffice.  (Guide to Advancement 4.2.0.1)

Resources:
  • Troop Library (via TroopTrack):  A listing of the Merit Badge pamphlets in the Troop library and whether they are currently checked out.  See the Troop Librarian to checkout or return a Merit Badge Book.
  • Merit Badge Pamphlets (via ScoutShop.org):  Scouts can also purchase physical and digital versions of the Merit Badge pamphlets from the BSA’s Scout Shop or at a local Scout Shop.
  • Merit Badge Requirements and Workbooks (via usscouts.org):  The US Scouting Service Project has created a series of Merit Badge workbooks to help Scouts organize notes, listen actively, and document their work. These workbooks can help you but you still need to read the merit badge pamphlet. The work space provided for each requirement should be used by the Scout to make notes for discussing the item with his counselor, not for providing the full and complete answers. Each Scout must do each requirement. Completing these worksheets may suffice where a requirement calls for something in writing, but this would not work for a requirement where the Scout must discuss, tell, show, or demonstrate, etc. Scouts are NOT required to use these learning aids in order to complete a merit badge.

How do I request Scoutmaster Approval for a Merit Badge?

It is the responsibility of the Scout, and the Scout alone, to decide what merit badges he would like to earn.  However, the Scout must obtain Scoutmaster approval (documented on the Blue Card) before working with a counselor or attending a group or virtual merit badge opportunity.  This is the Scoutmaster’s opportunity to:

  • give guidance on the wisdom of pursuing a selected badge,
  • advise the Scout on how work might be approached and what may be encountered along the way.
  • Provide the names and contact information for one or more approved counselors

It is also how the Troop’s Advancement Chair is made aware that the merit badge is being pursued.  Ultimately, it is the Scout’s decision whether or not to proceed with the merit badge even if a leader voices a concern.  (Guide to Advancement Section 7.0.0.3)

Scouts can meet with the Scoutmaster during any Troop meeting  to request approval.  Alternatively, Scouts may submit THIS FORM to request Scoutmaster approval (ideal when the Scout or Scoutmaster is not in attendance at a meeting or if the Scout choses to attend a merit badge class between meetings).  Submitting this form will automatically email the Scoutmaster and the Advancement Chair to inform them of the request.  The Scoutmaster will reply to the Scout and CC the Scout’s parents via TroopTrack email with additional information or approval.  The email approving the Scout to pursue the merit badge is considered the documented approval until the Scout can obtain the Scoutmaster’s signature at a future meeting.

How do I complete a Blue Card?

Blue Cards must be completed before the Scoutmaster signs the card authorizing the Scout to begin working on the merit badge.  You can find instructions for completing the blue card on THIS PAGE.

The Scout is responsible for completing the Blue Card.
As a Scout, it is your responsibility to complete the Blue Card. It is NOT ACCEPTABLE for the Blue Card to be completed by a Scoutmaster, parent, or anyone besides the Scout. Filling out the Blue Card is just as important as performing the skills and demonstrating the knowledge in order to complete the merit badge requirements.
Add to cart