Notes to Scouts and Parents
Scouts learn scouting skills to pass rank requirements in order to advance their rank status. The order of the ranks is: scout, tenderfoot, second class, first class, star, life and eagle. A scout can get a requirement for any rank signed off in any order, however, he is not awarded a rank until he has completed all the lower ranks. That means a boy can get requirements signed off for second and first class before earning his scout or tenderfoot ranks, however, he must have completed all the requirements for scout and then tenderfoot before he is awarded his second-class rank.
Parents can not sign off any of the Boy Scout requirements. (For Scout Rank a parent should note on page 4 of the book that they reviewed with their scout "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide".) The only people who sign off on a requirement for scouts are: Scout Master, Assistant Scout Masters, Junior Assistant Scout Master, Advancement Chair, Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leaders and Troop Guides. The scouts of troop 35 are encouraged to be proactive in their pursuit of advancement and may do so at any time.
The Scouts will use their scout book from when they join Boy Scouts until they reach 18 years old. A good cover for the scout book is strongly recommended and will help the book last. Scouts should bring their books to all troop meetings and camping trips. They can't get a requirement signed off if the book is at home. If a scout reads his book he will discover that it has the instructions needed to complete every requirement. Also by reading the scout book he will have an idea what the requirements are so that when he completes one, he will know to ask for it to be signed off.Scouts should be diligent in maintaining the camping log and service records in their books. This information will be needed for advancement. Examples of service include participating in our Adopt a Highway program, and helping Eagle candidates with their service projects.
In addition to rank requirements, Scouts earn Merit Badges. Swimming merit badge must be earned before a scout is allowed to canoe or kayak without a parent being in the boat with his boy. For this reason, it is recommended that Scouts should earn Swimming merit badge during their first summer at Boy Scout Camp.