There is no timeline for advancement in Troop 1525; each Scout advances at his own pace. Advancement in Scouting should not be a task for completion, but rather an opportunity to grow in a self-directed manner. Troop 1525 Scouts have busy home lives, attend church & school, participate in numerous activities such as  sports, music, etc --- in general our Scouts have many demands on their time. The Troop’s advancement philosophy recognizes these demands.  

Troop 1525 will set the conditions for a Scout to achieve the rank advancement of First Class within 15 to 18 months after joining the Troop. Having said that – as noted above, Scouts advance at their own schedule and a Scout who remains a Second Class or any given rank for an extended period of time does NOT make them any less successful as a Scout.

The advancement requirements for Scout, Tenderfoot, Second, and First Class involve learning and demonstrating scout and outdoor skills. The requirements for these ranks are contained in the Boy Scout Handbook.  These ranks are often referred to as “the big badges” and should be the focus of a Scout’s first year instead of Merit Badges (“the small badges”).

Until reaching First Class, Scouts should bring their Boy Scout Handbook to every meeting and outdoor activity.  It is very important to keep these advancement records safe.  The skills required for Scout, Tenderfoot, Second, and First Class are best learned and practiced at meetings and on campouts.

If possible, Scouts should attend summer camp with the Troop.   Attending summer camp is a time-tested way to learn skills, earn advancement, and experience the best that Scouting has to offer, especially for those new to the Boy Scouting Adventure. Scouts who attend summer camp early in their Scouting careers tend to have long and rich experiences in Scouting.  Troop 1525 attends summer camps that have a unique and specialized program for first year Scouts known as “Brownsea.”  Brownsea sets new Scouts up for success through several ranks as it takes on unique requirements best accomplished at a camp setting.