An Introduction to Scouting!

     In today’s post we will be examining the Eagle Scout rank. We will look at the prerequisites of the rank, a little bit about the Eagle Scout Project, and how the process works as a whole. Technically before you can earn your Eagle rank, you must have already earned the preceding rank, Life rank. However, you are able to work on the Eagle requirements before obtaining Life rank. After achieving Life Rank, you must be an active member of your local Troop for a minimum of 6 months. This is to ensure that you are a dedicated member of your Troop. You must complete the 21 merit badges (discussed more in the last post). You must have letters of recommendation from people outside the scouting community. You must hold a position of leadership. You must have a conference with the adult leader of your Troop. This is called a Scoutmaster conference and this is done each time you rank up.  Among the textbook requirements and other things previously listed the most notable requirement for

     In today’s post, we will be talking about what merit badges are, which ones are required, and how you can start earning them as a Scout. Merit badges are awards that you earn as you progress through the different levels of Scouting. The 7 ranks (discussed in the last post) each require that you complete a certain number of merit badges. As of 2022, there are over 135 different merit badges in all different areas of study. To complete your merit badge requirements for your Eagle Rank, you must earn at least 21 of these merit badges. The complete list of merit badges and the requirements to earn those badges can be found here: Merit Badges .  Of the 21 merit badges required to earn your Eagle Rank, there are 13 merit badges that you must earn. I recommend starting these badges earlier on in your scouting career as some of them are more labor intensive and can take longer than others. These badges include: First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citize

     In today’s post, there will be a brief overview of what Scouting is, what the different ranks are and how they work. But first a bit of a history lesson. So the Boy Scouts of America(BSA) were founded in 1907 by a man named Robert Baden-Powell in Britain. William Boyce was actually the man that founded Boy Scouts in America shortly after on February 8, 1910. Since that day, Scouting has spread across the country. Pictured is William Boyce and the current BSA logo.                     To be eligible to join BSA, usually you must have already completed fifth grade or be at least 10 years old. If you were a member of Cub Scouts and earned a badge called the ‘Arrow of Light’ you are allowed to join Boy Scouts even if you do not meet the age/grade requirements. As of February 1, 2019, Boy Scouts of America, changed its name to Scouts BSA and now allows girls to pursue scouting as well. (The first female Eagle Scouts were inducted recently!) Upon joining the Scouts, you will not hav