Keep your Scout advancing!

[SMTom]

Troop 200 produces some strong Eagle Scouts who show maturity, leadership, and great outgoing personalities.

They are no different from your quiet, shy 12-year-old who seems to be stuck in a rank of New Scout or Tenderfoot.

Here are some tips for keeping your son moving along the advancement trail or giving him the jump start he needs:

1. Bring the Scout Handbook to ALL troop meetings and campouts. They can't get rank requirements signed off unless the book is there. If they wait a few weeks, many ASMs (and this SM for sure) won't remember if they actually completed the requirement.

2. Plan on getting ONE rank requirement signed off at every troop meeting. The ASMs often have nothing to do during the meeting and would be happy to work with your son on a rank requirement. Every ASM in Troop 200 knows that their MOST IMPORTANT function is to work with the Scouts on advancement.

3. Go on the weekend campouts. No better opportunity to get a bunch of requirements signed off.

4. Go to summer camp. Many of the swimming requirements can be easily done at summer camp.

5. Sit down with your son and review his book. At every SM Conference, your son sets a goal for his next rank advancement. Talk to him and help him prioritize and focus on what has to be done for the next rank.

Let me know if anyone else has any other helpful suggestions!