Rank advancement ...

Let's face it, boys who drop out of Troop 11 are usually those with little interest in advancement who wake up one day to the fact that they are the oldest Tenderfoot in the troop and realize that there's no way to ever catch up while younger kids are nearing Eagle rank.

Here's important stuff a Scout needs to know to be smart about advancement.

• All 1st Class rank advancement and below must be signed off in your book by a troop adult. If you don't ask, nothing will get signed off. If you don't have your book, nothing will get signed off. Hint: bring your book to an adult and ask to work on advancement.
• If you leave your book out in the rain, it will no longer look or smell like a normal book. If you play catch or basketball with your book, others may wonder about your attitude and commitment to bettering yourself. Your advancement should be copied from your book to the troop's computer periodically in case your book gets lost.
• It's not fair to ask a troop adult to recall and sign off on an advancement that you say you did a long time ago, so don't ask.
• Every Scout under 1st Class Rank needs to go to Summer Camp. You should make First Class rank in about one year and certainly less than two years. But if you don't go to Summer Camp, it'll take much longer or never.
• Numerous 2nd and 1st Class requirements are satisfied by earning the Swimming merit badge at Summer Camp. Swimming merit badge is almost never available except at Summer Camp. Repeat, Summer Camp. You can find out more about getting started with earning merit badges by visiting the troop FAQ.
• By far the most requirements for Tenderfoot, 2nd, and 1st Class involve cooking. Hint: you'll never be an accomplished outdoorsman able to trek the wilderness if you can't cook and clean up for yourself. So that's exactly why the BSA put so many cooking requirements in the advancement program.
• First Class requirement #2 calls for being on a compass course. Chances to get this requirement are few - maybe only once or twice a year. So don't fail to be at the compass course the first chance it is offered.
• Every Scout who does not have enough merit badges needs to go to Summer Camp and the Spring and Fall Merit Badge Fairs. ou can find out more about getting started with earning merit badges by visiting the troop FAQ.
• A Scout may have lots and lots of merit badges, but he'll never make it to Star rank without four Eagle required badges. Be sure to concentrate on Eagle required badges and not just the elective ones.
• Don't waste your time signing up for a merit badge at Merit Badge Fair that mostly cannot be done in a class. The worst example of this is Family Life, because nearly every requirement must be done with your family. Read the requirements for the badge before you sign up and ask yourself, "Can lots of this badge be done in a class?" If the answer is mostly no, then take another class. Accomplishing a project that involves participation of your family is a good example of something that can't possibly be done in class.
• Merit Badge Fair and Summer Camp are not the only ways to earn merit badges. You can find a counselor inside or outside Troop 11 for every merit badge and work with him or her on an appointment basis. Ask for a list of counselors.
• It takes a minimum of 90 days to complete the Eagle required badges of Personal Management and Family Life. This means you must start these badges before you are 17.75 years old.
• It's a good idea to mostly finish up Eagle rank by 9th grade, because you will be very busy as a high school student with less time than before to spend on Scouting.
• You can start planning and accomplish your Eagle project as soon as you become Life, even if you don't have enough merit badges for Eagle.
• Age 18 is the deadline for earning Eagle rank. It is impossible to make Eagle rank if you aren't Star by age 17. It is impossible to make Eagle rank if you are not Life by age 17-1/2. You can find all the latest merit badge requirements here.