Miscellaneous Advancement Topics

• Introduction to Advancement Topics
• Advancement Documents
•  Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Boy Scout Motto
  • Scout Oath
  • Scout Law
  • Boy Scout Motto
  • Boy Scout Slogan
• Definition of Active Participation
• Definition of Demonstrate Scout Spirit
• Definition of Serve Actively ... in ... Positions of Responsibility
• Advancement by Foreign Scouts
• Outdoor Code
• Leave No Trace Principles
• BSA Wilderness Use Policy
• Proposals for New or Revised Merit Badges
• Current Merit Badge Pamphlet and Requirement Revision Dates
• Merit Badge File Names - BSA Numbers
• Introduction to Merit Badges
• Index to Merit Badge Requirements
• Index to Merit Badge Workbooks
• Cyber Chip
• Nova and Supernova Awards
• Physical Fitness Award
• Emergency Preparedness Award
• Crime Prevention Awards (May not be available in all Councils - CHECK FIRST!)
• Donor Awareness Patch (May not be available in all Councils - CHECK FIRST!)

The following Award is NOT a BSA Award, but is referenced for your information.

• James M. Stewart Good Citizenship Award (also available to Adults)
  (Link is to an NON-USSSP site) - Click on "Scout Award"

Boy Scout Advancement Changes

• 2018 Advancement Changes
• 2017 Advancement Changes
• 2016 Advancement Changes
• 2015 Advancement Changes
• 2014 Advancement Changes
• 2013 Advancement Changes
• 2012 Advancement Changes
• 2012 Advancement Changes
• 2010 Advancement Changes (April)
• 2010 Advancement Changes (January)
• 2009 Advancement Changes
• 2008 Advancement Changes
• 2007 Advancement Changes
• 2006 Advancement Changes
• 2005 Advancement Changes
• 2004 Advancement Changes
• 2003 Advancement Changes
• 2002 Advancement Changes
• 2001 Advancement Changes
• 2000 Advancement Changes
• 1999 Advancement Changes
• 1998 Advancement Changes
• 1996 Advancement Changes
• 1995 Advancement Changes

Boy Scout Advancement

Introduction to Boy Scout Advancement

Boy Scout Ranks

• Boy Scout Rank Requirements
  • Scout Rank Requirements
  • Tenderfoot Rank Requirements
  • Second Class Rank Requirements
  • First Class Rank Requirements
  • Star Rank Requirements
  • Life Rank Requirements
  • Eagle Rank Requirements
  • Eagle Palm Requirements

• Index to Boy Scout Rank Workbooks

• Selecting Leadership Service Projects
• Alternative Requirements
  • for Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class
  • For Eagle Scout

Merit Badges

Index to Merit Badge Workbooks

• AMERICAN BUSINESS
• AMERICAN CULTURES
• AMERICAN HERITAGE
• AMERICAN LABOR
• ANIMAL SCIENCE
• ANIMATION
• ARCHAEOLOGY
• ARCHERY
• ARCHITECTURE
• ART
• ASTRONOMY
• ATHLETICS
• AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE
• AVIATION
• BACKPACKING
• BASKETRY
• BIRD STUDY
• BUGLING
• CAMPING
• CANOEING
• CHEMISTRY
• CHESS
• CITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY
• CITIZENSHIP IN THE NATION
• CITIZENSHIP IN THE WORLD
• CLIMBING
• COIN COLLECTING
• COLLECTIONS
• COMMUNICATION
• COMPOSITE MATERIALS
• COOKING
• CRIME PREVENTION
• CYCLING
• DENTISTRY
• DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
  replaced COMPUTERS
• DISABILITIES AWARENESS
• DOG CARE
• DRAFTING
• ELECTRICITY
• ELECTRONICS
• EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
• ENERGY
• ENGINEERING
• ENTREPRENEURSHIP
• ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
• EXPLORATION
• FAMILY LIFE
• FARM MECHANICS
• FINGERPRINTING
• FIRE SAFETY
• FIRST AID
• FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
• FISHING
• FLY FISHING
• FORESTRY
• GAME DESIGN
• GARDENING
• GENEALOGY
• GEOCACHING
• GEOLOGY
• GOLF
• GRAPHIC ARTS
• HIKING
• HOME REPAIRS
• HORSEMANSHIP
• INDIAN LORE
• INSECT STUDY
• INVENTING
• JOURNALISM
• KAYAKING
• LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
• LAW
• LEATHERWORK
• LIFESAVING
• MAMMAL STUDY
• MEDICINE
• METALWORK
• MINING IN SOCIETY
• MODEL DESIGN AND BUILDING
• MOTORBOATING
• MOVIEMAKING
  formerly CINEMATOGRAPHY
• MUSIC
• NATURE
• NUCLEAR SCIENCE
• OCEANOGRAPHY
• ORIENTEERING
• PAINTING
• PERSONAL FITNESS
• PERSONAL MANAGEMENT
• PETS
• PHOTOGRAPHY
• PIONEERING
• PLANT SCIENCE
• PLUMBING
• POTTERY
• PROGRAMMING
• PUBLIC HEALTH
• PUBLIC SPEAKING
• PULP AND PAPER
• RADIO
• RAILROADING
• READING
• REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN STUDY
• RIFLE SHOOTING
• ROBOTICS
• ROWING
• SAFETY
• SALESMANSHIP
• SCHOLARSHIP
• SCOUTING HERITAGE
• SCUBA DIVING
• SCULPTURE
• SEARCH AND RESCUE
• SHOTGUN SHOOTING
• SIGNS, SIGNALS, AND CODES
• SKATING
• SMALL-BOAT SAILING
• SNOW SPORTS
• SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
• SPACE EXPLORATION
• SPORTS
• STAMP COLLECTING
• SURVEYING
• SUSTAINABILITY
• SWIMMING
• TEXTILE
• THEATER
• TRAFFIC SAFETY
• TRUCK TRANSPORTATION
• VETERINARY MEDICINE
• WATER SPORTS
• WEATHER
• WELDING
• WHITEWATER
• WILDERNESS SURVIVAL
• WOOD CARVING
• WOODWORK

Special Opportunities for Boy Scouts

• National Outdoor Badges
  • Camping
  • Aquatics
  • Conservation
  • Hiking
  • Riding
  • Adventure
• National Outdoor Achievement Medal
• 50 Miler Award
• Historic Trails Award
• Den Chief Service Award
• Firem'n Chit Card
• Totin' Chip Card
• Paul Bunyan Woodsman
• William T. Hornaday Awards
• World Conservation Award
• Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award for Boy Scouts
• Outdoor Ethics Action Award for Boy Scouts
• Resource Stewardship Scout Ranger
• BSA Lifeguard
• Mile Swim, BSA
• Snorkeling, BSA
• Kayaking, BSA
• Scuba, BSA
• Boardsailing BSA
• BSA Stand Up Paddleboarding
• Whitewater Rafting, BSA
• Emergency Preparedness Award
• International Spirit Award
• Interpreter's Strips
• Lifesaving and Meritorious Awards
• Religious Emblems
• Recruiter Strip
• Cyber Chip
• Nova and Supernova Awards
• SCOUTStrong Be MedWise award
• National High Adventure awards
  • Triple Crown of National High Adventure
  • Grand Slam of National High Adventure

Previous Requirements - The following have been discontinued

• Leave No Trace Achievement Award (Discontinued)
• International Activity Badge (Discontinued)
• International Youth Exchange Emblem (Discontinued)
• Varsity Letters and Pins (Discontinued)
• Denali Award for Varsity Scouts only (Discontinued)
• Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award for Varsity Scouts (Discontinued)
• Outdoor Ethics Action Award for Varsity Scouts (Discontinued)

Historical Merit Badges (These 4 Historical Merit Badges could be earned only during calendar year 2010, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.)  THE BADGES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE.  The links below will show you what the requirements were while they could be earned during 2010.

• CARPENTRY (Discontinued)
• PATHFINDING (Discontinued)
• SIGNALING (Discontinued)
• TRACKING (Discontinued)

Cub Scout Advancement

Introduction to Cub Scout Advancement

• Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Cub Scout Motto

Cub Scout Rank Requirements

• Transition Guidelines
• Lion - Pilot Project in 2016-2018
  • Lion Core (Required) Adventures
  • Lion Elective Adventures
• Bobcat Rank
• Tiger Rank
  • Tiger Core (Required) Adventures
  • Tiger Elective Adventures
• Wolf Rank
  • Wolf Core (Required) Adventures
  • Wolf Elective Adventures
• Bear Rank
  • Bear Core (Required) Adventures
  • Bear Elective Adventures
• Webelos Rank
  • Webelos Core (Required) Adventures
  • Webelos/Arrow of Light Elective Adventures
• Arrow of Light Rank
  • Arrow of Light Core (Required) Adventures
  • Webelos/Arrow of Light Elective Adventures

• Index to Cub Scout Rank and Adventure Workbooks

Special Opportunities for Cub Scouts

• Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award
• Cub Scout Shooting Sports Awards
• Emergency Preparedness Award
• International Spirit Award
• Interpreter's Strips
• William T. Hornaday Awards
• Resource Stewardship Scout Ranger
• Lifesaving and Meritorious Awards
• Recruiter Strip
• Religious Emblems
• Whittling Chip Card
• World Conservation Award
• Nova and Supernova Awards
• Cyber Chip

Previous Requirements - The following have all been discontinued or the requirements have been replaced.

• Cub Scout Promise, Law, and Motto (Replaced on June 1, 2015)
• Character Connections (Discontinued after May 31, 2015)
• Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program (Discontinued after May 31, 2015)
  • Cub Scout Academic Program  (Discontinued after May 31, 2015)
  • Cub Scout Sports Program (Discontinued after May 31, 2015)
• Special Opportunities for Cub Scouts
  • Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award (Replaced on June 1, 2015)
  • World Conservation Award (Replaced on June 1, 2015)
  • International Activity Badge (Discontinued)
  • Leave No Trace Awareness Award (Discontinued)
  • Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award (Discontinued)
  • Outdoor Ethics Action Award (Discontinued)

Venturing  Advancement

Introduction to Venturing Advancement

Venturing, Discovery, Pathfinder, and Summit Awards

• Venturing Award
• Discovery Award
• Pathfinder Award
• Summit Award
  • Summit Board of Review - membership guidelines

Ranger Award

• Ranger Award Fact Sheet
  • Ranger Award Requirements
  • Core Requirements
  • Electives:
    • Backpacking
    • Cave Exploration
    • Cycling/Mountain Biking
    • Ecology
    • Equestrian
    • First Aid
    • Fishing
    • Hunting
    • Lifesaving
    • Mountaineering
    • Outdoor Living History
    • Physical Fitness
    • Plants and Wildlife
    • Project COPE
    • Scuba
    • Shooting Sports
    • Watercraft
    • Winter Sports

Quest Fitness and Sports Award

• Fact Sheet
• Requirements

TRUST Religious and Community Life Award

• Requirements

Previous Requirements - The following awards and subjects have been discontinued or replaced

• Venturing Oath and Code (Discontinued)
• Bronze Awards Fact Sheet  (Discontinued)
  • ARTS & HOBBIES Bronze Award (Discontinued)
  • OUTDOOR Bronze Award (Discontinued)
  • SEA SCOUT Bronze Award (Discontinued)
  • SPORTS Bronze Award (Discontinued)
  • RELIGIOUS LIFE Bronze Award  (Discontinued)
    (Formerly YOUTH MINISTRIES Bronze Award)
• Gold Award Fact Sheet  (Discontinued)
  • Gold Award Requirements (Discontinued)
• Silver Award Overview  (Discontinued)
  • Silver Award Requirements (Discontinued)

Sea Scouting Advancement

Introduction to Sea Scouting Advancement

Sea Scouting Ranks and Awards

• Apprentice
• Ordinary
• Able
• Quartermaster

•  Long Cruise
• SEAL Training
• Sea Scout Marksmanship
• Small Boat Handler
• Qualified Seaman

Special Opportunities for Venturers and Sea Scouts

• Venturing Leadership Award
• 50 Miler Award
• Historic Trails Award
• William T. Hornaday Awards
• National Outdoor Badges
  • Camping
  • Aquatics
  • Conservation
  • Hiking
  • Riding
  • Adventure
• Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award
• Outdoor Ethics Action Award
• World Conservation Award
• Boardsailing BSA
• BSA Lifeguard
• Mile Swim, BSA
• Snorkeling, BSA
• Kayaking, BSA
• Scuba, BSA
• BSA Stand Up Paddleboarding
• Whitewater Rafting, BSA
• Complete Angler
• Emergency Preparedness Award
• International Spirit Award
• Interpreter's Strips
• Lifesaving and Meritorious Awards
• Religious Emblems
• Nova and Supernova Awards
• SCOUTStrong Be MedWise award
• National High Adventure awards
  • Triple Crown of National High Adventure
  • Grand Slam of National High Adventure
• Young American (Note that this award is for youth who are College Students through age 25)

Previous Requirements - The following awards and subjects have been discontinued or replaced

• Leave No Trace Achievement Award (Discontinued)
• International Activity Badge (Discontinued)
• International Youth Exchange Emblem (Discontinued)