Newer Scouts: Trail to First Class

New Scouts working their way through Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class focus on learning all the basics of Scouting. Once they have reached First Class, they can’t be any more of a Scout, only a better Scout. There’s little emphasis on Merit Badges during this period. For most of them, they’ll earn their first Merit Badges at summer camp. Don’t let all the information about Merit Badges overwhelm you. Scouts will start diving into that as they approach First Class rank.

Merit Badges

All Merit Badge Pamphlets are online at https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/

First Class rank and up have Merit Badge requirements to help them reach the 21 Merit Badges they need to have for Eagle. Of the 21, 13 are Eagle-required. They can choose eight elective Merit Badges to work on.

IMPORTANT: Scouts ready to work on a Merit Badge must talk to their Patrol Adviser FIRST. Once they receive a blue card (tracks Merit Badge progress) from the PA, then they need to contact the T1000 Merit Badge Counselor for the MB before they start working on requirements. Start with the first MB counselor listed.

• Merit Badge Procedures

• Troop Merit Badge Library   GOOGLE DRIVE LINK Some of these may be out of date. Please visit the Merit Badge Requirements link below updates.

• Merit Badge Requirements (Updated)

• List of Merit Badge Counselors January 2025 .

Merit Badge Updates for 2025

Scouts BSA is excited to share the planned updates to Merit Badges that will take effect on January 1, 2025.  These updates will be reflected in Scoutbook and on our online Merit Badge Hub (https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/). 

Per the Guide to Advancement (https://www.scouting.org/resources/guide-to-advancement/), Section 7.0.4.3, any Scout beginning to work on a merit badge must use the updated online Merit Badge Hub requirements.  Scouts who have already started a Merit Badge may continue using the old requirements until the merit badge is completed or switch to the new requirements.

Download the Merit Badge Requirement Updates file here

Rank Requirements

Scout Rank	Tenderfoot Rank	Second Class Rank	First Class Rank
Star Rank	Life Rank	Eagle Rank	Eagle Palms

Advancements and Awards

• Advancement Overview

• One Grand Patrol Scoring

• Polar Bear Patch

• A Scout is Reverent

Leadership

Every Scout earning rank above First Class must complete 6 months of a Leadership position listed on the Troop Organization page. The requirements and expectations for these positions are listed below.

• Leadership Position Expectations

• Senior Patrol Leader Description and Self-Evaluation

• Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Description and Self-Evaluation

• Troop Guide Description and Self-Evaluation

• Patrol Leader Description and Self-Evaluation

• Bugler Description and Self-Evaluation

• Chaplain’s Aide Description and Self-Evaluation

• Den Chief Description and Self-Evaluation

• Historian Description and Self-Evaluation

• Instructor Description and Self-Evaluation

• Outdoor Ethics Guide Description and Self Evaluation

• Order of the Arrow Troop Representative Description and Self-Evaluation

• Quartermaster Description and Self-Evaluation

• Scribe Description and Self-Evaluation

• Robert’s Rules of Order

Training

In addition, there are several opportunities for Scouts to move beyond troop roles and expand their leadership knowledge.

• Scout Training Opportunities – Scouting.org

• Every Scout Is a Leader

• Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Description and Self-Evaluation

• Dealing with Disruption

• Evaluating Junior Leaders

• Leave No Trace Trainer Description and Self-Evaluation

• Monthly Program Advisor Duties

• Training Junior Leaders Using ILST

• Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops Syllabus

• National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) – Scouting.org

• National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) – Scouting.org

• Troop Leadership Training Booklet

• Webmaster Description and Self-Evaluation