The Mission of the Orange County Council Advancement Committee is to implement throughout the Council the policies and procedures of the Boys Scouts of America.
This mission is accomplished by providing training, by promoting advancement, and by supervising those involved in the advancement process.
A good advancement program requires cooperation between the Council and District committees, the Commissioner staff, and the units they serve.
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 concern 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, Venture, or Varsity Scout may read about fire building or good citizenship. He/she may hear it discussed, and watch others in action, but he/she has not learned until he/she has done it.
Each youth progresses at his or her own rate. Advancement is not a competition among individual young people, but is an expression of 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 people how to care for themselves and help others. Advancement should reflect the desire to live the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Venturing Oath in his/her daily life.
No Council, District, Unit, or individual has the authority to add to or subtract from advancement requirements.
For the policies concerning youth members with special needs, see the menu item on the left “Disability / Special Needs”.
Suggestions for changes in requirements should be sent to the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Venturing committee, Boy Scouts of America, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079.