Taughannock District
Baden-Powell Council, BSA
Advancement and Recognition

Cub Scout | Boy Scout - Merit Badge Counselor List | Venturing | Unit Recognition | Adult Recognition

District Advancement Chair: Tim Nord - advancement@TompkinsCortlandScouts.org 
Recognition Chair: Kathlene Gross kegross@frontiernet.net

• Advancement forms can be found on the Forms page of this site. 

• Cub and Scout advancement can be entered online via the Internet Advancement system at MyScouting.org

• National BSA Advancement Requirements Page

Questions on Advancement Policy? 

National HQ has published the 2011Guide to Advancement. The Guide to Advancement replaces the publication Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures and is the official Boy Scouts of America source on advancement procedures at all levels - Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturing. 

No council, committee, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to, or subtract from, advancement requirements. There are limited exceptions relating only to youth members with disabilities. 

This publication clearly identifies mandated procedures with words such as “must” and “shall.” Where such language is used, no council, committee, district, unit, or individual has the authority to deviate from the procedures covered, without the written permission of the national Advancement Team. Recommended best practices are offered using words like “should,” while other options and guidelines are indicated with terms such as “may” or “can.” Refer questions on these to your local district or council advancement chairs or staff advisors. They, in turn, may request interpretations and assistance from the national Advancement Team.

Every unit should have a copy of the Guide - download it from the National Website (PDF)

Cub Scout Advancement

• Cub Advancement Requirements:

  • US Scouting Service Project Advancement Requirements Page 
  • MeritBadge.org - Cub Advancement wiki page

• Cub Advancement news: 

  The Cub Scout Academics and Sports program gives leaders and youths a supplemental enrichment opportunity to earn recognition for learning and skills development. Leaders often use this program to enhance den, pack, or family participation and provide more immediate recognition opportunities. For more details, go to:

  http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Awards/Boys/sanda.aspx

  In addition, a new feedback vehicle has been created for comments and suggestions on the new Program Guide. The Boy Scouts of America welcomes your comments and suggestions, which can be sent to academics&sports@scouting.org for consideration.

Boy Scout Advancement

Scout Advancement Resources 

• BSA National Scout Advancement Resources Page

• MeritBadge.org - Boy Scout Advancement wiki page

• US Scouting Service Project Advancement Requirements Page 
• 2012 Requirements Changes: See http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/advance/changes/advchanges12.asp

"Serve actively ... in ... positions of responsibility" and "Active Participation"

For many years, these phrases in the requirements for the ranks in Boy Scouts has been a matter for dispute and inconsistent application. The new Guide to Advancement, released late in 2011, now has sections "4.2.3.4 Positions of Responsibility" and "4.2.3.1 Active Participation" discussing and defining what does, and does not, count as satisfying these requirements as well as what a unit can, and cannot, do in defining them. Every troop leader should review these sections, and note that the Guide explicitly points out that "must" means must - waivers from something which "must" be done cannot be given by unit, district or council personnel. 

Eagle Scout 

• Eagle Scout Forms:  After January 1, 2012, National only accepts Eagle Scout Applications that are the 2011 printing or newer. You can find the printing year above the barcode on the back of the application. Please do not use any older printings, because Linda will not be able to sign any applications that are older than the 2011 printing. 

  • Application Form: Download from National Site (fillable PDF)

  • Project Workbook: Download from National Site (fillable PDF) - for use by Eagle Candidates

  • See also National's page with instructions and requirements for the Eagle Project.

• Life-To-Eagle Procedures: The Council Advancement Committee have set up the following required procedure for all of the districts in the Baden-Powell Council. 

  • Life to Eagle Training: All Scouts should attend a "Life to Eagle" training session as soon as they earn their Life rank. These training sessions are offered at Roundtables on a quarterly basis - watch the District Calendar or Training Page for upcoming dates. 

  • Find a project and get troop approval: The Scout, with the help of the Scoutmaster, finds a project. Complete the Eagle Project Workbook up until page 9, making sure to collect all signatures except for the District Advancement Chairman's

  • Schedule a meeting to present the project: The Scout then schedules his first meeting with the District Advancement Committee. He should contact Advancement Chairman Ben Brown at advancement@TompkinsCortlandScouts.org no later than Roundtable and make an appointment for that month's Advancement Committee meeting (see District Calendar for times and place).

  • Present the Project Proposal:

    • A Scout should Be Prepared: 

      • Come in uniform with a notebook and pen/pencil and be prepared to take notes.

      • Bring a budget, plans, materials list and tool list if the project requires.

      • Bring details for fund raising and before-project photographs.

      • Make sure all required signatures are in the project workbook.

    • Project will be discussed with board. 

    • Any problems are discussed and explained to the Scout

    • Chairman gives go ahead with project and signs workbook.

    • A Mentor is assigned to Scout.

  • Execute the Project - The Mentor should stays in contact with the Scout, calling every once in a while if they have not heard for the Scout in a while.

  • Once the Project is finished - The Scout should:

    • Collect required signatures for the rest of the packet.

    • Finish project write up and after-action pictures

    • Once all merit badges are completed, collect all needed signatures on the Eagle Scout Application up to and including BSA local council certification.

    • Make an appointment for final project review at the next monthly District Advancement Commitee meeting

  • Final Project Review (by District Advancement Committee)

    • The Scout should bring all complete project materials as well as blue cards for all merit badges, and be in complete uniform

    • Board gives tentative approval if acceptable, if not the Scout gets feedback and fixes issues and makes new appointment with board

    • If project is acceptable, merit badges are completed, and all paperwork completed the Scout is given his final board of review

  • Final Paperwork Processed - District Advancement Chairman delivers all paperwork to office including Eagle Application and Eagle Project Summary.

  • Eagle Court of Honor - once the Eagle application is approved by BSA National, the troop should schedule a Court of Honor to present the award to the Scout. Don't forget to invite anyone who had any part in the Scout's progress to Eagle!

Merit Badge Counselors

• How to become a merit badge counselor: 

  • Check the Merit Badge Counselor List - please don't sign up for a badge just because your son or a boy in your son's troop wants to take a badge. If there's already a Counselor in your town who is listed for one of the badges, encourage the Scout to call them first. This serves two purposes: (a) it has always been a part of the Merit Badge program to encourage Scouts to meet with outside experts in the area of the badge; and (b) recruiting many duplicate Counselors in the same area weakens the system (if there are too many Counselors for a badge, none of them gets contacted very often, and we wind up losing most of them).  There are over 100 merit badges - why not pick some for which there aren't already Counselors in your area? 

  • Qualification: A Merit Badge Counselor must be at least 21 years old, and must meet the requirements for any BSA adult member. A Counselor should be proficient in the merit badge subject by vocation, avocation, or special training - as the purpose of the Merit Badge system is to allow Scouts to meet people who are well informed in a given area, please do not apply for badges unless you are very familiar with the field. 

  • Choose your badges: While there is no specific limit for how many badges any one person can sign up for, as a general rule the District would prefer that Counselors limit themselves to five or six badges. Pick the ones you're most qualified for or which are most needed.  

  • Fill out and sign the following forms: 

    • Merit Badge Counselor Application - Note: Please use the locally-updated version dated June 2011, which you can download from the link at left. Please do not use older forms or the National form. 

    • Adult Membership Application (Note: you must fill out a new application if you were not previously registered as a Merit Badge Counselor, even if you are already a registered BSA leader. There is no fee for registering as a Merit Badge Counselor.)

  • Send the original signed forms to the Council Office (you can drop them off or mail them to the office at  2150 NYS Route 12, Binghamton NY 13901, give them to DE Bill Albrecht, or drop them off at District Commissioner Mike Brown's office at 400 M&T Bank Building, 118 N. Tioga St., Ithaca)

  • Send a copy of the Counselor Application form (only) to the District Advancement Chair - scan and e-mail it to advancement@TompkinsCortlandScouts.org or give it to him at Roundtable or an Advancement Committee meeting (See the District Calendar for times and places). Do not send the Adult Application - the District neither wants nor needs it. Please be sure the counselor's e-mail address is on the form. 

  • Approvals: 

    • The Council will do the routine background check, as for any adult application. 

    • The District Advancement Committee will review the application at its next monthly meeting

  • Listing: If approved by the District and Council, the counselor is notified, and listed on the Merit Badge Counselor list on this website. 

• District Merit Badge Counselor List: All of the counselors on the current list have been contacted and are presently registered and willing to serve. The list can be downloaded here. By request of district Scoutmasters, you can now get it in two different sort orders:

  • Ordered by Merit Badge, then by city, and last by name - the traditional order (PDF)

  • Ordered by City, then by Merit Badge, and last by name - this should make it easier to find counselors in your troop's area. (PDF)

  • NOTE: The merit badge counselor PDF file is password protected. You will need to enter a password to open and print the list. The password is the Scout Motto, in lower case, without a space between the two words. 

  • Want the list in Excel format? Send an e-mail to DC@TompkinsCortlandScouts.org - I'll be happy to e-mail it to you, but I really don't recommend this approach as your local copy will not be updated as the PDF's on the website will be. 

  • If you have trouble with the file, or if you have any updates or corrections to the information, contact  advancement@TompkinsCortlandScouts.org.

• Merit Badge Counselor Training - see the BSA National Website training page 

• Merit Badge Resources: see our Forms and Links page

• Boy Scout Advancement news: 

New Boy Scout Merit Badges
2011-2012

• Robotics - the requirements for Robotics were released on April 12, 2011 - you can find a Robotics resources page, with downloadable requirements, on the Boys Life Website or download them from the US Scout Service Project site. 

• Chess - Released September 7, 2011 - download the requirements from the US Scout Service Project site

• Welding - Requirements released January 30, 2012 - to "go live" February 24th - for requirements see the Scouting Magazine announcement

• Kayaking - to be released in 2012

• Search and Rescue - to be released in 2012

Centennial Historical Merit Badges

Your Scouts, Explorers and Venturers, 14 years old and older,
can earn the Duke of Edinburgh Award!

Venturing Advancement

• Venturing Advancement Requirements: 

  • US Scouting Service Project Venturing Advancement 

  • MeritBadge.org - Venturing Advancement wiki page

Unit Recognition
"Scouting's Journey to Excellence"

“Scouting’s Journey to Excellence” is the BSA’s performance recognition program designed to encourage and reward success and measure the performance of our units, districts, and councils. It replaced the Quality Awards Program as a means of encouraging excellence in providing a quality program at all levels of the BSA. 

"Journey to Excellence" marks a change in emphasis from year-end numbers to year-round quality. Rather than set numeric targets for results, the program tries to help units judge their performance on those factors which create quality program for the youth members, which in turn helps units retain members and grow. 

Units earn points in a number of areas (13 areas for Packs and Troops, 11 for Crews and Ships). In most of the areas, there are three levels - Bronze, Silver and Gold. The Bronze level is supposed to represent those things which are a minimum for a quality program, a unit which earns all Gold would be one of the best of the best. To earn the annual "Journey to Excellence" award at the Bronze Level, a Pack or Troop has to be at least at Bronze Level in 11 out of 13 areas (or 9 out of 11 for Crews and Ships), and must also have a total number of 700 points overall. If they have met the Bronze requirements, units can progress to Silver Level with 1,000 points, and to Gold Level with 1,600 points. 

One of the requirements for Journey to Excellence is Service - units must perform service projects for their community. In order for the service projects to count, they have to be reported on the Good Turn for America website. There's a Unit Tips for Success page to help you with your projects. 

For general information on Journey to Excellence:

• Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

• What's in it for me? (PDF)

• Definitions and Glossary (PDF)

• Order form for Journey to Excellence patches (PDF)

Click on the links in this table for forms and information specifically for your type of unit: 

PowerPoint show for Unit Commissioners

National has a Journey to Excellence website with additional information, including the Journey to Excellence for the District and Council. 

Adult Leader Recognition

AWARDS PRESENTED AT SCOUTING AWARDS DINNER

National or B-P Council Awards: 

• Training and other Recognition Knots: Ever wondered about all those knots you see on other leaders' uniforms? Here's a page giving the meanings and requirements for all of the square knots (offsite link to The US Scout Service Project) (also see this web page from boyscouttrail.com).  Training knots are available for Cub, Webelos, Boy Scout and Venturing Leaders as well as Commissioners and District Committee members - you can apply for those yourself. Contact Kathlene Gross kegross@frontiernet.net to apply for the knots. 

• Veteran Scouter Recognition - Veteran year pins are awarded every 5 years (5, 10, 15, 20...). Note that pins up to 20 years are awarded by Council, 25 years and up are from National. Submit this form (Mid-America Council website link) to the Council office for all veteran awards. 

• National Unit Leader Award of Merit - This award is presented at the request of the unit to the unit leader - Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Venturing Crew Advisor or Varsity Coach. The unit committee chair completes the Unit Leader Award of Merit Nomination Form on behalf of the unit committee. For Boy Scout troops, Varsity Scout teams, and Venturer crews, the nomination must include endorsement by the senior patrol leader, team captain, or crew president, respectively (Cub packs, being adult led, do not have this requirement). The unit or district commissioner certifies that the form is complete. The unit submits the nomination form to the council for approval by the Scout executive and council commissioner or president.
• District Award of Merit - The highest award a District may give. Each year, Taughannock District gives one or two awards. To nominate someone for the District Award of Merit, use the nomination form on the National website, or get a copy from District Recognition Chair. There are no specific hard-and-fast requirements for the District Award, but a general rule of thumb is that someone should have been active at least five years and have done at least some Scouting service outside the unit in which he or she is registered (although long service unit leaders will be considered). 

Taughannock District Awards

• Spark Plug Award - Does your unit have a leader who gives real "Spark" to the unit and its activities? Give leaders the recognition they deserve and tell them "Thank You!" The Spark Plug recipients are selected by the Unit, and confirmed by the District. No more than one Spark Plug per unit per year, please, and no one can get the Spark Plug twice in the same unit. 

• The District may award one or more of the following each year, as selected by the Key 3 (Chair, DE, District Commissioner): 

  • Rising Star - may be presented to "newish" leaders who have done special service for the District.
  • Old Guard- may be presented to an Old F... we mean, "Distinguished Elder Scouter" who has been serving the District and/or units for many years. 
  • Patriot Patrol - a group of current Scouters who have done outstanding service for the District over the past year.
  • Taughannock 76'er - as a youth leader parallel to the Patriot Patrol, this will be awarded annually to a group of  outstanding youth leaders in the District.  
  • Old Scout - given occasionally to repeat members of the Old Guard
  • Founders Award - awarded from time to time to Scouters with especially long and distinguished service
  • Good Turn - awarded to a non-Scouting individual or organization who has done particular service to Scouting or to youth in general.
  • Outstanding Unit - awarded from time to time to Scouting units - Packs, Troops, Crews, Posts - who have delivered outstanding program to their youth members.