GETTING THAT BOY SCOUT HANDBOOK SIGNED

For all Scouts who have not yet reached the rank of First Class, it's very important to bring their handbooks to all the meetings and outings so that they can get proper credit when they master new skills. If your son has been in the troop more than 6 months, he should definitely have most of the requirements signed for Scout and Tenderfoot, and should have at least a few done for Second Class. The goal is for Scouts to move through these first ranks in about a year, although some Scouts move a bit faster and others take a bit longer. And working through these rank advancements should be his priority; earning merit badges is definitely secondary at this stage. Advancing through the ranks teaches him the skills he needs to go on the weekend outings and successfully function as a member of his patrol.

Here's the way this is supposed to work: the Scout works with an Assistant Scoutmaster or occasionally the Scoutmaster to learn and master a skill, whether it is knot-tying or lashings or hurry-up First Aid. When the adult leader feels that a Scout has learned this skill and can repeat it without help in the future, he can then sign the Scout's handbook indicating that he has fulfilled that requirement. This may take one meeting or it may take six meetings. It depends upon the Scout, his attendance, and his desire to accomplish the task at hand.

One thing that some of the parents don't realize, however, is that actually getting his book signed is part of the Scout's development. If he has his book there with him when he is working with the adult leader, it is up to the Scout to produce it and ask the adult leader to sign the book. The adult leader may remind him early on, but as time goes by, it's really an integral part of the Scout's learning curve to make certain that he gets the proper documentation to show that he fulfilled a requirement. So if you have noticed that there aren't very many requirements signed in your Scout's handbook, and you're fairly certain that he has worked on those skills at a meeting or weekend outing, encourage him to find the adult leader that he worked with and ask that leader to sign his book.

Scouting is all about teaching the Scouts responsibility and personal accountability. They need to make sure they have their books and get them signed. If they forget the books, it's up to the Scout (not his parents) to go back later and ask the adult leader to sign it, which means he has to remember which adult leader he worked with and muster the courage to go and initiate a conversation--that's character building! By starting out with these baby steps, by the time he is 15 or 16 years old and needs to talk to a lumber store manager about supplies for his Eagle project, he will have the necessary confidence to make that happen.

We want to be sure that your son gets credit for his accomplishments; Scouts who advance enjoy Scouting much more than Scouts who don't. So encourage him to practice his skills, and ask him if he needs to get some adult leader signatures. Parents can't sign off on rank requirements for their own son, except for the early requirement attesting that you have read and discussed the Child Protection issues with him. Help him to grow and develop, and then watch him glow with pride when he reaches his goal!