Fast Advancement suggestions?

[bluswimmer123]

Hi.
I am a late starter in scouting. I joined when i was late 14. i really want to get my Eagle tho. I currently am second class with ab 5 requirements to go before first. I am now 15 and will be 16 in july. Any advice for moving along past 1st class at the quickest possible time limit. Im willing to work hard.

[ASM-142]

The important thing is to work towards Eagle required merit badges first and then the MBs that are most interesting to you, stay active in your troop (both in meetings and in service projects). Based on your age you still can make Eagle. Good Luck.

[Chief J]

Agree with ASM-142, based on your age there is still time. There is no substitution for dedication and hard work.

I would advise you focus on Eagle required merit badges, especially those like Family Life and Personal Management that require a minimum of 3 months to complete. The other 10 merit badges should come from those that interest you.

Also, don't forget your participation in Troop Leadership and service projects. These areas also require dedication and hard work.

Best wishes on your Journey,
Chief J

[Billvann]

Make a plan and write it down. You already have a long term goal, now you need to divide it up into smaller, more managable objectives. For example, which merit badges will you work on for Star and when will you start them? Which ones do you plan on working towards at summer camp? Does your district have a Merit Badge Opportunity Days program? If so, what badges to they offer there?

Enroll the help of your SM or other adult leaders. They will be glad to offer advise and counsel to help you on the way. Also enlist the help of an older scout who has been in the program a bit longer. He can help tell you how to navigate your way. You may also find you can help each other towards Eagle. It's often easier and more fun if two or more boys help support each other and work toward the same objectives together.

Good luck

[Rick Tyler]

I am a late starter in scouting. I joined when i was late 14. i really want to get my Eagle tho. Any advice for moving along past 1st class at the quickest possible time limit. Im willing to work hard.

You have some excellent advice here from others, but let me add a few others:

1. Make a written plan (as suggested above.) Discuss it with your Scoutmaster and get his approval.

2. You have time to go to summer camp twice. Most summer camps offer Swimming, Environmental Science, Lifesaving and First Aid. A lot offer Emergency Prep. Include your summer camp MB plan in your overall plan. Merit badges generally take less planning on your part to earn at summer camp.

3. Commit to FINISHING one MB per month. Use extra MBs at summer camp (like Art, Pioneering, etc.) as "Eagle insurance" in case life intrudes and you don't quite finish one per month.

4. Frequently check your progress against your plan. If you aren't achieving your plan goals, meet with your Scoutmaster and revise the plan.

5. Do the hardest, most time-consuming MBs FIRST. In my experience this would be the 90-day badges (Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Family Life), and Citizenship in the World.

6. As soon as you make Life Scout, do your Eagle project. It wouldn't hurt to have it all lined up just before you finish Life so that you get a running start. Sometimes projects have a way of unexpectedly stretching out and you want plenty of cushion time. It will be comforting to finish your project when you still have 2-3 months of your 6-month participation requirement left.

7. Make sure your Scoutmaster and SPL are onboard with your need for the right positions of responsibility at the right time. You can't mess around.

Have fun and good luck. For what it's worth, I know a Scout who started Scouting older than you and is right on track to complete his Eagle. It can be done.

[wagionvigil]

Do all the 90 day Merit Badges NOW this winter. GEt all your citizenship this winter

[t305spl]

Many scouts either come in late or start really working late. Don't worry you really do have time. You might want to get an ASM in your troop to be your advisor and help you plan and accomplish your goals and finally accomplish the greatest goal EAGLE.

[Beagle Scout]

Since many boys start at 11 and earn Eagle at 14, there is no reason that you can't do it.

If you're motivated, merit badges are the easy part. Especially the elective merit badges because so many can be earned for activities that you already do.

Play a couple sports? Sports merit badge
Have a dog? Dog care and pet care.
Good grades? Scholarship and reading
Like to bike? Cycling
Work on dad's car? Automotive (or whatever it is called)
Forced to do landscaping? Gardening

Start cracking on the Eagle required MBs right away as well. First aid is good one as are swimming, camping and hiking.

Get busy on on the badges that take an extended time. No sense in waiting until the last minute.

Remember that you need some Eagle MBs to make Star and Life. Start now.

[West]

Before the advice, good show on comeing in late. Not many boys have the guts to do that, in fact many seem to quit or become less active right around your age (when in my opinon scouting could do them the most good).

Now on to the advice. As stated, make a plan. Make sure you know the requirements for all the MBs and ranks you need. Starting personal management or finding out you need one more merit badge 2 months before your 18th birthday is not a good thing. Work hard, you're going to have to, but it's manageable. Most important, have fun and make sure you are learning along the way.

[freebyrd1964a]

I don't have any additional advice, the above advice is great especially about the written plan.

I do want to commend you on setting such a high goal This is what makes scouting work

[Lynda J]

Star Rank requires 4 months after becoming 1st class and Life requires 6 months after becoming Star. So you need to finish 1st class ASAP. Then push the Eagle badges. Pet and Dog care are easy. As is Reading. If your area offers a Merit Badge College get in. If you do all the required home work and get your paperwork turned in you can finish 3 badges.
Home Repair is another one that is easy to earn.
It will take committment and hard work on your part but there is no reason you can't make Eagle. It will depend on you. You might also start figuring out your Eagle project not and getting a written plan for that. Since many times the planning process is harder than the actual project.

[West]

The planning part will always be harder then the actual project, at least if it's a good worthwhile project.

[commish3]

Make a plan, then make it work. Regardless of what order you earn them in you will need 11 required merit badges along with 10 optional ones.

Being willing to make a committment, make a plan, and make it work is largely what earning Eagle Scout is all about. If you become better at doing this because of you experiences in scouting then you will have accomplished an awful lot, whether you complete the Eagle Award or not.