If you look in your Boy Scout Handbook at
the rank requirements, most of them are pretty straight forward - demonstrate
first aid for serious burns, tie a bowline, earn 6 merit badges, etc. However,
beginning with the Second Class rank there is an added, more indefinite
requirement: Show Scout
Spirit.
The Scoutmasters have had a lot of questions over the years about what exactly
"Show Scout Spirit" means. NO it doesn't mean that on Halloween
night you dress up as the ghost of Baden-Powell (or any other famous Scout
Spirit).
National
BSA must have had a lot questions too, because they changed the requirement
recently to read "Demonstrate Scout Spirit by living
the Scout Oath and the Scout Law in your everyday life." That's a little better,
but still… what does it mean?
The first thing you need to understand about
Scout Spirit is that even though the requirement looks the same
for each rank, it's really different - Scout Spirit for Life Scout
is very different (and more challenging) than Scout Spirit for Second
Class. You'll discover that the scoutmasters will only sign you off for one
"Scout Spirit" requirement at a time, because each one is harder than the
next.
The other thing that you will notice is that
unlike almost all the other requirements, you can never convince a Scoutmaster
to sign off the Scout Spirit requirement on the spot. Tie a
bowline, and he'll sign that off; show him your merit badge card and he'll sign
off that requirement for Star, but he'll never just up and sign off that pesky
Scout Spirit one. That's because you must demonstrate Scout
Spirit in your everyday life, not in the five minutes you're talking to
the Scoutmaster. What happens is that at meetings and especially on campouts,
the Scoutmasters are like Santa Claus - they're always watching you, to see when
you are naughty or nice. Scout Spirit should be shown at all
times, and generally this requirement is one of the last ones to be signed off
for any rank. Scoutmasters will want to see the appropriate Scout
Spirit for some period of time before they sign off the requirement. For
Second Class that may only be for a campout and the last few meetings, but for
Eagle it may be for several
months.
What are they
looking for? Believe it or not, there's a "Scoutmaster's cheat sheet" that the
Scoutmaster and his friends all have to give us some idea. Here is just a few of
the things we look for: By the way, we expect Scouts to not only follow the
items listed for that rank, but also all the items for the previous
ranks.
Tenderfoot
· Do you set fitness goals to be physically fit?
· Do you help other people?
· Do you read your Boy SCout handbook (mentally fit)?
Second Class
· Do you participate in lots of troop
activities regularly (better than 50%, and better than 75% for Troop Officers
and Patrol Leaders)?
· Do you come to "work" activities like service projects
and meetings, as well as fun nights?
· Do you try not to complain or put
other people down, even when you feel bad or you have to do a task like
cleanup?
· Are you willing to try new things, and keep trying even when you
don't succeed at first?
· Do you pay attention when we need you to, and know
when to stop what you're doing to help out?
· Do you come prepared for
campouts? Do you keep track of your stuff, or lose it a lot?
· Do you never
bully, harass, or joke around with other Scouts unless they are willing &
happy participants?
First Class
· A first class Scout
Spirit Scout must never complain about weather, or work, or cleanup, and
must never gripe or "whine" when a leader makes a decision they do not
like.
· A Scout must never criticize others harshly, or make fun of other
Scouts whose skills aren't as good.
· Do you handle normal personal tasks and
patrol tasks (cooking, camp setup and tear down, getting water, etc.) without
being asked?
· Do you keep an eye on others in the troop and help them out -
like pickup their garbage, or quietly returning stuff they forgot or left out,
so that the Scoutmaster doesn't get it?
· Do you sometimes lend a hand
teaching new Scouts some of the basics (and you can do it without yelling)?
·
Are you starting to help out your patrol leader & troop by offering ideas
for events, and helping to organize and call people when needed?
· Do you
listen & learn well when a Scoutmaster or more advanced Scout tries to teach
you something, or do you play "know-it-all"?
· Do you show Scout
Spirit at home and in school?
· Do you also meet the requirements for
Second Class?
Star
· For Star rank, you have to serve in a
troop leadership position. Did you serve well and help out the troop, or did you
miss meetings, show up unprepared, not get things done, etc.?
· Are you
starting to show the kind of leadership a First Class Scout should know? Do you
help organize other Scouts to get things done at campouts (like put up dining
flies, set up campfires, etc.?
· Do you watch out for other Scouts and make
sure they're doing OK - on the trail, in camp, etc.?
· Can you be relied on
to finish what you start?
· Are you always ready to assist and be helpful
when you see something that needs doing, or do you just "hang out" with your
buddies?
· Do you show respect for other Troop Leaders as you would like them
to respect you when you're leading?
· Do you also meet the requirements for
First Class and Second Class?
Life
· As a troop leader (even if
you don't hold an office), do you actively take up leadership when you see
something that needs doing?
· Can you organize & coordinate other Scouts
of all ages (without yelling)?
· Are you a major player in the
"behind-the-scenes" work that makes the troop run - organizing equipment, making
camping arrangements, setting up activities for the PLC?
· Are you a good,
patient teacher and example to younger Scouts?
· Are you involved in your
school or in the community as a volunteer?
· Do you also meet the
requirements for Star, First Class and Second Class?
Eagle
· Do you participate actively in all troop activities?
· Do all the adults and Scouts treat you almost as if you were another Scoutmaster?
· Are you involved in your school and community as a leader?
· Have you demonstrated that you have live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life?
· Do you also meet the requirements for Life, Star, First Class and Second Class?
WARNING: Using this list to ARGUE with a Scoutmaster over whether you
have Scout Spirit is a sure way NOT to get it. NO Whining!Get the
picture? To show "Scout Spirit" means to live up to your word and
be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful at all times! Good luck, & keep working on
that Spirit at every meeting and campout.
Document Courtesy of : Donald Banks, Sr.