Principles
Council and district advancement committees implement procedures that help achieve the following advancement principles.
Personal growth is the prime consideration in the advancement program. Scouting skills—what a young person knows how to do — are important, but they are not the most important aspect of advancement. Scouting’s goal is the total growth of youth. This growth may be measured by how youth live the Scouting ideals and how they do their part in their daily lives.
Learning by doing. A Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Venturer may read about first aid, or any other topic for that matter. A Scout may hear it discussed, and watch others in action, but a Scout has not learned first aid until a Scout has done first aid.
Each youth progresses at his or her own rate. Advancement is not a competition among individual young people, but is an expression of their interest and participation in the program. Youth must be encouraged to advance steadily and set their own goals with guidance from their parents, guardians, or leaders.
A badge is recognition of what a young person is able to do, not merely a reward for what he or she has done. The badge is proof of certain abilities and is not just a reward for the completion of a task. Advancement encourages Scouting ideals. Scouting teaches a young person how to care for himself/herself and help others. Advancement should reflect the desire to live by the Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Venturing Oath in his/her daily life.
Personal growth is the prime consideration in the advancement program. Scouting skills—what a young person knows how to do — are important, but they are not the most important aspect of advancement. Scouting’s goal is the total growth of youth. This growth may be measured by how youth live the Scouting ideals and how they do their part in their daily lives.
Learning by doing. A Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Venturer may read about first aid, or any other topic for that matter. A Scout may hear it discussed, and watch others in action, but a Scout has not learned first aid until a Scout has done first aid.
Each youth progresses at his or her own rate. Advancement is not a competition among individual young people, but is an expression of their interest and participation in the program. Youth must be encouraged to advance steadily and set their own goals with guidance from their parents, guardians, or leaders.
A badge is recognition of what a young person is able to do, not merely a reward for what he or she has done. The badge is proof of certain abilities and is not just a reward for the completion of a task. Advancement encourages Scouting ideals. Scouting teaches a young person how to care for himself/herself and help others. Advancement should reflect the desire to live by the Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Venturing Oath in his/her daily life.