Service Advancement

A Scout is Helpful

Many Rank, Merit Badge and Award requirements include vollenteering or service.  

Advancement

Those interested in Rank Advancement should know that there are several requirements that require service hours.

Please note that rank requirements are subject to change and do so every few years.  

Tenderfoot Rank

7b. Participate in a total of one hour of service in one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Explain how your service to others relates to the Scout slogan and Scout motto.

Second Class Rank

8e. Participate in two hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Tell how your service to others relates to the Scout Oath.

First Class Rank

9d. Participate in three hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. The project(s) must not be the same service project(s) used for Tenderfoot requirement 7b and Second Class requirement 8e. Explain how your service to others relates to the Scout Law. 

10. Tell someone who is eligible to join Scouts BSA, or an inactive Scout, about your Scouting activities. Invite this person to an outing, activity, service project, or meeting. Provide information on how to join, or encourage the inactive Scout to become active. Share your efforts with your Scoutmaster or other adult leader.

Star Rank

4. While a First Class Scout, participate in six hours of service through one or more service project(s) approved by your Scoutmaster.

Life Rank

4. While a Star Scout, participate in six hours of service through one or more service project(s) approved by your Scoutmaster. At least three hours of this service must be conservation-related.

Eagle Scout Rank

The Eagle Scout Service Project

Merit Badges

• Citizenship in Community 

  • 7(a) Identify three charitable organizations outside of Scouting that interest you and bring people in your community together to work for the good of your community.

  • 7(b) Pick ONE of the organizations you chose for requirement 7a. Using a variety of resources (including newspapers, fliers and other literature, the Internet, volunteers, and employees of the organization), find out more about this organization.

  • 7(c) With your counselor's and your parent's approval, contact the organization you chose for requirement 7b, and find out what young people can do to help. While working on this merit badge, volunteer at least eight hours of your time for the organization. After your volunteer experience is over, discuss what you have learned with your counselor.

• Emergency Preparedness

  • 7(a) Take part in an emergency service project, either a real one or a practice drill, with a Scouting unit or a community agency.

• Backpacking 

  • 11b. Using Leave No Trace principles, take the trek you have planned and, while on the trek, complete at least one service project approved by your merit badge counselor 

• Health Care Professions 

  • 9. With approval of your counselor and parents/ guardian, serve as a volunteer at a healthrelated event or facility in your community (e.g. blood drive, health fair, blood pressure screening event). Report to your counselor what you did and learned from the experience. 

Awards

• 50-Miler

• National Outdoor Badge–Conservation

• BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award 

• Conservation Good Turn

• World Conservation Award 

• Hometown USA Award 

• Historic Trails Award 

• National Park Service Scout Ranger Program - Scout Ranger program