First Class - First Year

[ThunderingWind]

I am lookng for a written plan for the First Class - First Year program.
In the Crossroads of America Council, the program is part of Summer Camp and is called Eagle Quest.

I am looking for a decent trainging plan that lays out a schedule that can help the new scouts see a plan. They already know that they have a lot to get done.

As a new ASM, I am looking for a more focused document that helps me as a leader guide or steer the boys as they wonder a little.

Specifically, what are some things that should come first?

[optimist]

It seems a saw a resource for that but I can't recall it at the moment. I'll keep an eye out.

However, the First Class-First Year Tracking Sheet might be helpful.

[Scouting179]

Besides a training plan, you can do things like combining quals on, for example, one visit to a swimming pool and do the 2nd Class and 1st Class swim "in the water" quals at one time.

For Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat, you don't actually have to be in the water.

There are also certain meal planning and cooking requirements that go together.

A Scout in an active troop (one campout a month, etc) who goes on almost all said outings and goes to summer camp, can make First Class in about 10 months.

I personaly feel there is nothing wrong with going all the way to Eagle quickly. Everything in life has its pluses and minuses though. Just make sure your son has lots of fun along the way!

[Lynda J]

Don't know about your council but here we have a program at summer camp called "Hammer Patrol" All new scouts take this and come home from camp with Tenderfoot complets and lots on 2nd Class and some on 1st Class. It is targeted toward the first year first class. Kevin loved it.

[Scouting179]

Our Council has such a program at camp too, but IMHO, an active Scout in an active Troop doesn't need to attend these programs, but they certainly have a place.

[West]

That's very true, the program dosn't get our guys to first class any faster. It does make for a nice transition into boy scout camp for the first time though.

Well, I guess it does. Maybe a bit sooner. They'd have it within a year either way though.

[scoutchallenge]

Since this is a totally hot topic for me this week I have been looking for the info too.

I did just noticed in the SM hand book that there are meeting outlines for 4 topics - blue section "Program fetures" - it has an outline that referes to the "new scout patrol" - this might help. Also there is a section on the Troop Guide (very short).

I just wrote a letter to another SM regarding my views on this topic. I am cut and pasting part of the letter. Note: my son was told by his SM and ASM for 2nd class cooking over an open fire requirement, the hot dogs that he and another scout cooked doesn't count. Additionally this last weekend he attempted the whole 1st class cooking requirements. From all the other 1st year scout parents I have been told he did a outstanding job. However, he is again not getting it signed off because no one said grace. My question, where was the Scouter when the MAJOR error was being done? Now he has to do the whole thing over. I think that it's detracting from the program. I am taking the stand that as the person who is going to sign off you sould have prevented total failue. They are saying "It's a boy run program, they have to learn"

I know that it's not totally on this topic but I am sharing with you my frustrations Some Scouter in the troop needs to be in charge. When the scouts have a requirement in his sights he should have a guide to help he understand that requirement and watch from afar. The Scouter needs to step in before total failure.

Dave,

Just a few random comments:

I will agree that cooking a hot dog is the easiest meal on earth. However……………when it comes to getting a few 11 year old boys to agree on a meal, toss it the fact that they have to shop for it, transport it and cook it over an open fire………what is then the purpose of the requirement? Exposure!!!!!!!! As they get older I hope that other things get added to the equation. I hope that they experiment more with cooking on a firepit.

In the “Spirit of Scouting” we as leaders should search for something to sign off for these kids when ever we have a chance? “Hey Nick, want to show me how to ………………?” I understand that Scouting is “Boy run”. But when it comes to advancement during the first year, Scouters are the lead. There are 37 places to have an adult sign. If a scout has to spend all his time chasing the requirements then he has no time to enjoy what he is learning. A Souters job is to guide the scouts, from a distance, towards Eagle. During the first ranks it is a Scouters “job” to provide the arena and over see that the rank advancement occurs with in a reasonable time, 12-14 months per the SM handbook. This would equate to 1 week of scout camp, 48-56 meetings and 10 other scouting events. After 1st class the scout needs to work on his own or with a MB councelor.

It just my opinion on my interpretation of the Advancement and SM books published by the boyscout. And now it’s time for work.

[commish3]

Scoutchallenge,
I believe you have an excellent understanding of the methods and purpose surrounding this requirment as well as an appreciation for the art of catching scouts doing things right, compared to 'testing'. Give yourself one big Attaboy!

[Eamonn]

If I remember correctly,Hot -dogs were the menu item for the first meal on the old Boy Scout Wood Badge course.
I think sooner that trying to beat our Scouts down, we need to look for every opportunity to build them up, catch them doing things right and give them a pat on the back.
For an adult to not sign off because they didn't say grace?? This adult needs to go join the Nitpick Patrol, heck he qualifies as the biggest nit anyway !! Leaders like this are a big part of why Scouts quit Scouting.
Sounds like this Leader doesn't need a year to be a First Class Twit.
Man-oh-man, people like this make my blood boil.

[ASM-142]

Last weekend I was at a summer camp prep meeting. One of the leaders asked if his new scouts should participate in the first year program. He said that the boys crossed over in February and all will be first class by summer camp.

So it is not only first class in the first year. In this case it is first class in five months.

[don]

scoutchallenge

2nd Class Requirement 2g Part of the requirements says
Selecting food from the 4 basic food group.
What else did the patrol prepare? If they only cooked hot dogs, I would not have signed off of the requirements.

1st class requirement 4e Lead you patrol in saying grace.
The requirement was not complete. I would not have signed off of this requirement, it was not completed. Are you sure that the patrol was not reminded to say grace, and they just did not do it?
I am assuming you son has been in scouts about a month or two is this correct? Does your sons patrol have a troop guide? If we have adults hanging around the scouts constantly, I feel we are taking a lot of good things away from the scouts.

What am I missing? The requirements where not completed, yet some people here are saying they would have signed off of these even though they where not complete.

[Eamonn]

We don't know what else was served at the Hot dog meal??
The Lad has covered two food groups with the hot dog if it was on a bun.
If the Lad just forgot to say Grace I would hold back on signing until he had the opportunity to say grace at the next camp-out.
If this is playing fast with the rules then charge me guilty.
One do over ?or one unhappy Scout who has done his best?
I know which choice I would make.

[ICanCanoeCanU]

Don - I agree with you on this. Not all the requirements were met.

Tenderfoot, 2nd Class & 1st Class all have requirements for cooking/meal preparation. I would not give credit for all 3 ranks in one outing anyway.

2nd Class 2a clearly states:

On one campout, plan and cook over an open fire one hot breakfast or lunch for yourself, selecting foods from the food pyramid. Explain the importance of good nutrition. Tell how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected.

I would not say a hot dog is considered appropiate selection from the food pyramid.
This is Boy Scouts now not Cub Scouts where we did have young boys cook hot dogs over an open fire. It's time now to step it up a bit. Maybe hot dogs as part of the meal but where's the rest of the meal?

Having said this - I will agree however that I don't think of meeting requirements as either a chance of "catching scouts doing right" or "testing". But rather a balance, guiding and teaching boys by older scouts and adults. This is suppose to be a program of progession and part of this program is for older boys to work with younger boys so both groups benefit.

[kvd]

include:
www.boyscouttrail.com/boy-scouts/1st-scout-schedule.asp. I believe it's based on the older requirements, but it does lay out a good schedule for 12 months.

www.troop230.org has a powerpoint presentation on how to put one of these programs together, but I believe it can only be viewed, not downloaded and printed,

www.troop125.com has an Adobe file of 142 pages on teaching and approving skills for Target First Class, and

www.troop100.org has a word document written by Jeff Thompson that has some program planning and tools for T'foot to First Class.

Good luck! Keep the boys interested so that they stay with the program! We're doing our best as we received a sizeable inflow of Webelos grads this year.

[optimist]

Nice resources! Thanks

[ThunderingWind]

Thank you very much for those specific references. I spent a few hours reviewing them last night.

They are exactly what I have been looking for. Now I will work on adapting them to our calendar and make a pitch to use them.

[kvd]

Keep in touch and let me know how you're making out with them. I'll do the same, this is our first year incorporating the First Class First Year program.

Now, maybe someone can tell me how I can get "scoutmaster" under my name rather than "scout?"

[diamondbackAPL]

kvd, the rank under your name refers to the number of posts you've made. when you make ten posts, it changes to tenderfoot.

our troop doesn't have a first class -first year program. instead, the summer camp we go to has a program called "Polaris", where a scout can start camp with no requirements done and leave almost First Class.

[Scouting179]

If you have a FCFY or equivalent program within the troop, then they don't need those "new scout" programs in Summer Camp and can work on MBs instead.

[kvd]

Funny. We get promoted here for how much we talk. Sounds a lot like work!