New BSA 2010 Boy Scout Requirements

The new BSA 2010 Boy Scout Requirements book contains rank advancement changes for every rank along with clarification on the requirement of Being Active in your troop

Here are some highlights:

• A Scout will be considered "active" in his unit if he is:
  • Registered in his unit (registration fees are current)
  • Not dismissed from his unit for disciplinary reasons
  • Engaged by his unit leadership on a regular basis (informed of unit activities through Scoutmaster conferences or personal contact, etc.)
  • In communication with the unit leader on a quarterly basis (Units may not create their own definition of active; this is a national
    standard)
  • If the Scout does not initiate communications, the unit leader is to contact the Scout and ask if the youth wishes to remain in Scouting. If the answer is negative, then the unit leader should no longer communicate with the Scout
  • If the answer is affirmative, the unit leader should provide the unit calendar. After six months of non participation, the unit leader may cease to contact with the youth and drop the Scout from the unit at recharter time
  • The Scout may return to the unit at any time while on the unit charter. At any time a Scout is dropped from a charter, the youth may re-apply to a unit for readmission; the acceptance of the application is at the discretion of the unit. The youth would be reinstated at the rank and level that can be documented by either the Scout or the unit
• Rank Advancement changes:
  • The rank requirements in this book are official as of January 1, 2010
  • If a Scout has started work toward a rank before that date using requirements that were current before January 1, 2010, he may complete that rank only using the old requirements
  • Any progress toward a rank that is begun after January 1, 2010, must use the requirements as they are presented in this Boy Scout Requirements book
  • Tenderfoot:
    • new requirement 4c;
    • revised requirement 13 4c. Using the EDGE method, teach another person how to tie the square knot
    • 13. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. Discuss four specific examples of how you have lived the points of the Scout Law in your daily life. (Note: according to the National Boy Scout website this was intended to be the first 4 points of the Scout Law.)
  • Second Class:
  • new requirement 2;
  • revised requirements 3b, 3c, 3d, 3f, 3g, 4, and 9a;
  • new requirement 10;
  • revised requirement 11 2. Discuss the principles of Leave No Trace
  • 3b. On one of these campouts, select your patrol site and sleep in a tent that you pitched. Explain what factors you should consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent
  • 3c. Demonstrate proper care, sharpening, and use of the knife, saw, and ax, and describe when they should be used
  • 3d. Use the tools listed in requirement 3c to prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel for a cooking fire
  • 3f. In an approved place and at an approved time, demonstrate how to build a fire and set up a lightweight stove. Note: Lighting the fire is not required
  • 3g. On one campout, plan and cook one hot breakfast or lunch, selecting foods from the food guide pyramid. Explain the importance of good nutrition. Tell how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected
  • 4. Participate in a flag ceremony for your school, religious institution, charted organization, community, or troop activity. Explain to your leader what respect is due the flag of the United States
  • 9a. Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the program with your family, and explain the dangers of substance addictions
  • 10. Earn an amount of money agreed upon by you and your parent, then save at least 50 percent of that money
  • 11. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. Discuss four specific examples (different from those used for Tenderfoot requirement 13) of how you have lived the points of the Scout Law in your daily life. (Note: according to the National Boy Scout website this was intended to be the second (middle) 4 points of the Scout Law.)
  • First Class:
    • revised requirements 2, 3, 7a, and 12 2. Using a map and compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.)
    • 3. Since joining, have participated in 10 separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), three of which included camping overnight. Demonstrate the principles of Leave No Trace on these outings
    • 7a. Discuss when you should and should not use lashings. Then demonstrate tying the timber hitch and clove hitch and their use in square, shear, and diagonal lashings by joining two or more poles or staves together
    • 12. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. Discuss four specific examples (different from those used for Tenderfoot requirement 13 and Second Class requirement 11) of how you have lived the points of the Scout Law in your daily life. (Note:
      according to the National Boy Scout website this was intended to by the last 4 points of the Scout Law. So if you started with the new requirements for Tenderfoot you would have gone through all 12 points of the Scout Law, 4 at a time for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class.)
  • Star:
    • revised requirement 5; Added troop Webmaster and Leave No Trace trainer to requirement 5
  • Life:
    • revised requirement 5;
    • new requirement 6 Added troop Webmaster and Leave No Trace trainer to requirement 5.
    • 6. While a Star Scout, use the EDGE method to teach a younger Scout the skills from ONE of the following six choices, so that his is prepared to pass those requirements to his unit leader's satisfaction.
      • a. Second Class - 7a and 7c (first aid)
      • b. Second Class - 1a (outdoor skills)
      • c. Second Class - 3c, 3d, 3e, and 3f (cooking/camping)
      • d. First Class - 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d (first aid)
      • e. First Class - 1, 7a, and 7b (outdoor skills)
      • f. First Class - 4a, 4b, and 4d (cooking/camping)
  • Eagle:
  • Bugler is no longer a position of responsibility; troop Webmaster and Leave No Trace trainer are new positions of responsibility