First Class Scout in 12 to 18 Months

Arthur Sainio

LEAD Session 1122 January 27, 2018

Goal First Class in 12 to 18 Months

Scout Tenderfoot Second Class First Class

BSA Philosophy

While advancement is important

to all Scouts, it is the philosophy

of the BSA that all boys complete

at least the requirements for First

Class while in Scouting.

Having a well-planned First Class

program in place gives new

Scouts a strong start in Boy

Scouts by building a strong

foundation with their Scout skills

towards rank advancement,

leadership and toward merit

badges.

First Class Program

Familiar faces can make transition less scary –

talk about Troop events, traditions, etc.

For most Troops:

Troop Survival = Arrow of Light

Rechartering after initial crossover

Who are scouts that usually need First Class? Most are newly transitioned Webelo/Arrow of Light Scouts!

Get your Troop involved with Webelo and Arrow of

Light Scouts!

Which Patrol Method to Use…?

New Scout Patrol? Split Scouts into

existing Patrols?

Patrol Leader Meetings

No matter which Patrol method you

choose – make sure you have

organized, reliable scouts in leadership

positions

Patrol Leaders are essential to the success of the Troop!

“A boy who advances to

First Class within 12 to

18 months has a better-

than-average chance of

eventually becoming an

Eagle Scout.”

From the Scoutmaster Handbook

A First Class Emphasis program is an action-packed program for scouts

working on Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class

simultaneously

FIRST CLASS EMPHASIS

• Be a hands-on experience

• Be a progressive learning process, where each previous rank’s

skills will be expanded upon

• Participation in ten patrol or troop activities including six outdoor

events with three of them as overnight camps.

• These activities are in addition to patrol meetings

• Be more than 80 percent outdoor-related

• Requires participation in service projects

for Second and First Class ranks

FIRST CLASS EMPHASIS

• Merit Badges are not recommended for FC Scouts.

• Possible exception: 1st Aid Merit Badge

• They have a full program learning Scout skills for

Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class.

• If they are to become proficient in these Scout skills

and First Class Scouts in fact and deed, they do not

have time for merit badges.

• They will have years in Scouts to earn Merit Badges.

• “All things at their proper time and place.”

FIRST CLASS EMPHASIS

• Earning First Class Rank is a sign that new

Scouts have mastered the fundamentals of

Scouting and have become net contributors

to the troop.

• They are now ready to care for themselves

and others and to begin the process of

learning to lead others, refining the learned

skills and learning more advancement

skills.

First Class Rank

For the Scout to achieve the rank of First Class within 12 to 18 months after joining the Troop.

It is important that parents realize that

this is a goal, not a requirement.

An active, organized Troop – Campouts, day hikes

– Community Service Projects

– Accurate Troop record keeping

A Motivated Scout – Scout handbook at every event

– Accurate Scout record keeping

Participation in Summer Camp(s)!!

What Does it take for a Scout to Achieve First Class in 12 to 18 Months?

Scoutmaster

Asst. Scoutmasters

Troop Advanceme

nt Chair

Troop Committee

Patrol Leaders

• Plan Ahead

• Set advancement

goals for the year with

the Scouts and put them

on the calendar

• Involve stakeholders in

the Troop

• Communicate progress

and milestones

What Else Does it take for a Scout to Achieve First Class in 12 to 18 Months?

Bridge-over spring 2018 Goal = First Class by end of summer 2019

If you fail to plan…

then

You plan to fail !

• Get Scout, Tenderfoot, Second

Class, First Class activities on

the Troop calendar

Troop Health

Healthy • Goes camping regularly

• Campouts provide numerous opportunities to learn and use Scouting skills

• Follows the Patrol Method

• Older Scouts can readily use the EDGE method to instruct new Scouts

Unhealthy • Pushing a timeline is not fun to

most Scouts

• Unfulfilled requirements = conclusion they are falling behind

• Too far behind that they will never catch up and they leave

• Requirement signed off but no skill actually learned

• Unskilled older Scouts passing off bad skills

• No requirements to challenge them and they leave

Start with focusing on the Scout Badge.

Being able to award the Scout Badge soon after a Scout bridges has important meaning to the

Scout, his family and the Troop.

Everyone likes to be recognized for their achievement – this can be a way to keep a scout’s

interest and involvement during the summer months.

Where to Start?

Scout Badge

• Requirements are more comprehensive starting 2017

• Get started during the Scout’s first meeting

• Involve older Scouts, parents or guardians

• Make it exciting!

Plan an advancement campout for shortly after crossover!

Advancement Methods:

Demonstration

Hands-On

Discussion

Discussion

Scout-age boys are not interested

adult-lead lectures, but if someone

closer to their own age who they

look up to is leading them then

discussions can be effective.

- 20 minute discussion

+

- 20 minute activity

Demonstration This can be done at the Troop level or at the patrol level.

- 5 minute demonstration

- Reference the appropriate page in the handbook

Hands-On

• Scouts would rather be doing!

• Groups of 3-8 work best

EDGE Method

Explain how it is done

Demonstrate the steps

Guide learners as they practice

Enable them to succeed on their own memory

aids, practice, they teach it

March

Complete the

requirements for the

Scout Badge as soon as

possible after Arrow of

Light Scouts cross-over

or a new scout joining

This should only take a few meetings.

April

Program Example

May/June

Scout Skill

Nature

Camping

Tenderfoot

# 4 First Aid and

Nature

#1 Dressed/Packed

for Campout

#2 Pitch/Sleep in

Tent

Second Class

#6 10 Wild Animals

#2 Leave No Trace

#3b Select patrol

site

First Class

#6 10 Native

Plants

Program Example (cont.)

Divide the Requirements into Categories This will help ensure that all requirements are addressed and therefore achieved.

Camping Nature Scout Spirit Fitness Knots and

Lashings

Map/Compass Swimming Fire Cooking

First Aid Citizenship Safety

Hiking

Seasonal Example Define themes for Troop programs

Spring Summer Fall Winter

Camping

Tenderfoot

• #1 Dressed/Packed for a campout

• One night on a campout

• Outdoor Code

Second Class

• #1 Two overnight campouts

• Leave No Trace

• Choosing a site

First Class

• #1 Six outdoor activities

• Three overnight campouts

• Pitch a tent

• Tread Lightly

Work on these simultaneously

during Summer!

Cooking

Tenderfoot

#2 – Assist with prep/cook/

cleanup

Eating as a patrol

Second Class

#2 - Plan/cook hot meal

- Transport/store food

First Class

#2 Plan a menu and budget for a campout

Good nutrition

Utensils

Safe handling/storage of fresh food

Proper disposal of rubbish

Work on these during Spring and Summer!

Swimming

Tenderfoot Second Class

#5 - Safe swim precautions

Swim ability

Water rescue

First Class

#6 - Safe Trip Afloat

BSA Swim test

Line Rescue

Summer

Knots and Lashes

Tenderfoot

#2– Square knot

Two half hitches Tautline hitch

Second Class

#2 Bend knot

#2 Bowline knot

First Class

#3 – proper use of lashings demonstrate - timber hitch

– clove hitch - square, shear, diagonal

– Make a camp gadget

All the time

Safety and Hiking

Tenderfoott

• #5 – rules of safe hiking

• What to do if lost

• Importance of buddy system

Second Class

• #9 – Explain the 3R’s of personal safety & protection

• Bullying

First Class

• #5 Describe three indicators of impending hazardous weather

• Describe extreme weather conditions you might encounter

Spring/Summer/

Fall

Citizenship

Tenderfoot

• #7 –Demonstrate – display, raise, lower, fold American flag

• Service project

Second Class

• #8 – participate in a flag ceremony

• Service project

• Earn/save money/ cost comparison

First Class

• #9 Visit/discuss constitutional rights & obligations as a US citizen with an approved individual

• Investigate an environmental issue

• Monitor trash during an outing

• Service project

Fall/Winter

Tenderfoot

# 4 – Identify Local Poisonous

Plants and how to treat

Second Class

# 4 - Identify or show evidence of 10 kinds of wild animals found in your community

First Class

# 5 - Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds

of native plants in your community

Two ways to get a weather forecast

Nature

Spring/Summer/

Fall

Fire

Tenderfoot Second Class

#2 – Use the tools from to prepare tinder, kindling and fuel for a cooking

fire

Discuss cooking fire vs. lightweight stove

Approved time/place – demonstrate fire building and lightweight stove set

up

First Class

Spring/Summer

Map and Compass/Navigation

Tenderfoot Second Class

#3 – Demonstrate how a compass works, orient a

map. Explain map symbols.

– Using a map & compass – take an adult approved 5

mile hike

- Demonstrate how to find directions – night and day –

without a compass

First Class

#4 – Using a map & compass – complete an orienteering course – at least 1 mile – measure

designated items

#4 – Demonstrate how to use a GPS unit or App

Spring/Summer/

Fall

Fitness

Tenderfoot

#6 – Record your best

• Push-ups

• Pull-ups

• Sit-ups

• Standing Long Jump

• ¼ mile walk/run

- Develop an improvement plan

– Show improvement – 30 days

Second Class

#7 Be physically active 30 min/day, 5 days a

weeks for four weeks, keep track

Set a continuing goal for being active

First Class

#8 Be physically active 30 min/day, 5 days a

weeks for four weeks, keep track

Set a continuing goal for being active

Spring and year-round

First Aid

Tenderfoot

• # 4 – Show first aid:

• Simple cuts/scrapes

• Blisters

• Minor burns/scalds

• Bites/stings of insects/ticks

• Venomous snakebite

• Nosebleed

• Frostbite/sunburn

• Tell what you can do on a campout to avoid injuries

• Assemble a First Aid Kit

Second Class

• # 6 – Show first aid:

• Object in eye

• Bite of suspected rabid animal

• Puncture wounds

• Serious burns

• Heat exhaustion

• Shock

• Heatstroke, dehydration, hypothermia, hyperventilation

• Show what to do for stopped breathing, stroke, severe bleeding, ingested poison

• Tell what you can do on a campout to avoid injuries

• Know what to do fir Emergency response

• Tell how you would respond in a vehicular accident

First Class

• # 7 – Show bandaging:

• Sprained ankle

• Head injury

• Upper arm injury

• Clavicle injury

• Show alone & with help:

• Transport from a smoke filled room

• Sprained ankle

• Five (5) most common signs of a heart attack

• Explain steps in CPR

• Describe utility services in the home and potential hazards

• Explain hot to get potable water in an emergency

Scout Spirit

Tenderfoot

• #9 Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law

• Tell how have done your duty to God and you have lived the four points of the Scout law in your everyday life

Second Class

• # 10 Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law

• Tell how have done your duty to God and you have lived the four points of the Scout law in your everyday life

First Class

• # 11 Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law

• Tell how have done your duty to God and you have lived the four points of the Scout law in your everyday life

All the tiime

FINAL STEPS…

All ranks require a Scoutmaster

Conference and Board of Review as

the last steps in earning the rank.

Tips for Success • Make it fun! – who wants to sit in a church basement and

listen to a lecture on hiking safety

• Make it personal! – the plan should fit the themes and

traditions of your troop

• Make it full of opportunities! – have an outing every

month

• Make it knowledgeable! – leadership must be aware of

the opportunities and requirements

• Make it count! – learn the skill not just

participate in at at one campout

• Inspire parents’ support!

Tips for Success

KISMIF

Keep it Simple!

Make it Fun!

Resources

• Advancement Chart

• Troop Guide Handbook

• First Class Requirement

• Troop Meeting Sample

• Annual Planning Sample

• Lone Scout

Scout Tenderfoot

Second Class First Class

Is First Class – In 12 to 18 Months Achievable?

What Really Matters?

The important thing

is not how fast or far

a Scout advances

but who it is they

become.

Thank You!