Scout Spirit
One of the requirements for every rank advancement in Boy Scouts is to show Scout Spirit. The Troop 783 Policy defines Scout Sprit as follows:
- The Scout must have attended a minimum of 50% of all Troop meetings during the preceding three month period to qualify for any rank.
- The first requirement listed in the Boy Scout Handbook for the ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle is: "Be active in your troop and patrol for x months". Troop 783 has established the following definitions for what it means to "be active" in our troop:
- STAR: To meet the "active" requirement for advancement to the rank of STAR, a scout must participate in an average of one troop activity per month since earning his 1ST CLASS rank or in the preceding twelve month period (whichever is shorter). The scout must participate in a minimum of three overnight camping trips - at least one of which is a backpacking trip - as a 1ST CLASS scout.
- LIFE: To meet the "active" requirement for to the rank of LIFE, a scout must participate in an average of one troop activity a month since earning his STAR rank or in the preceding twelve month period (whichever is shorter). The scout must participate in a minimum of four overnight camping trips - at least two of which are backpacking trips - as a STAR scout.
- EAGLE: To meet the "active" requirement for to the rank of EAGLE, a scout must participate in an average of one troop activity per month since earning his LIFE rank or in the preceding twelve month period (whichever is shorter). The scout must participate in a minimum of five overnight camping trips - at least three of which are backpacking trips - as a LIFE scout.
What counts as an activity?
- All troop outings such as camping and backpacking trips, Scout Swim Meet, Scout Field Day, Scout Sunday, Magic Mountain, Summer Camp, Pancake Breakfast, Memorial Day Flag Distribution, Bike outings
- Scouting for Food counts as 1 activity though it requires a 2 day commitment
- Venture outings
- Eagle Courts of Honor
- Eagle projects: a minimum of 3 hours work is required to earn activity credit (though all hours worked will be recorded in the Scouts service hours record). Any given project only counts as 1 activity even if you help several days
What does NOT count as an activity?
- Troop meetings/Greenbar Meetings
- Patrol meetings and outings
- Troop Courts of Honor
- Merit Badge classes and Merit Badge Days
- Hikes and other activities done at Summer Camp
- Cub Scout Pack Blue and Gold ceremonies
Note: A week spent at Summer Camp will be counted as two overnight camping trips towards the STAR, LIFE, and EAGLE rank camping requirement