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Short guides for the parts of Scouting nobody hands you a map for: how to earn a badge, what to say to a counselor, how to lead, and what comes next.
Getting started
- How advancement works, Ranks, sign-offs, conferences, and boards of review in plain words: how a Scout moves from Scout rank to Eagle, at a pace that fits your life., Youth · Families · 6 min read
- Cub Scouts: a guide for families, How Cub Scout ranks and adventures work from kindergarten through fifth grade, what an adult partner does, and how to keep it fun at meetings and at home., Families · Leaders · 4 min read
- From Arrow of Light to a troop, What changes when you join a Scouts BSA troop, how to visit and choose one, good questions to ask, and how to make your first year a great one., Youth · Families · 4 min read
- Venturing: plan your own adventures, How a Venturing crew works, the four ranks from Venturing to Summit, what officers do, how to plan an adventure, and the national high-adventure bases., Youth · Leaders · 5 min read
- Staying safe in Scouting, The safety rules every adult in Scouting follows, what to do if something feels wrong, and who you can always tell. Plus a short guide for families., Youth · Families · 6 min read
Merit badges
- Choosing your next merit badge, How to pick a badge you'll actually finish: start with what you care about, balance Eagle-required and just-for-fun badges, and make the most of camp., Youth · Families · 6 min read
- Earning a merit badge, step by step, From picking a badge to getting the final signature: how to find a counselor, set up meetings safely, work the requirements, and keep your progress., Youth · Families · 6 min read
- Contacting counselors, experts, and organizations, Email and phone scripts, who to ask for, how to follow up, and how to say thanks, with a parent copied every time., Youth · Families · 7 min read
Growing as a leader
- Leading your patrol and troop, Positions of responsibility, teaching with EDGE, running a meeting people want to come to, handling conflict, and learning from how it went., Youth · Leaders · 7 min read
- Your Scoutmaster conference and board of review, What happens at each, how to get ready, questions they might ask you, and questions you can ask them. It's a conversation, not a test., Youth · Families · 6 min read
- Finding service that matters, Service hours count toward your rank, but the best ones are the ones you'd want to do anyway. Here's how to find them, arrange them, and get the most out of them., Youth · Families · 5 min read
The road to Eagle
- The trail to Eagle, Star, Life, and Eagle in plain words: the time and leadership rules, which Eagle-required badges to start first, the records to keep, the project, and the board., Youth · Families · Leaders · 8 min read
- Planning your Eagle project, How to find an organization to help, shape a project you plan and lead, get it approved before you start, and carry it out with a team behind you., Youth · Families · Leaders · 6 min read