Advancement & Awards

Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. Scouts plan their own advancement and progress at their own pace as they meet each challenge. Scouts are recognized and rewarded for each achievement, which helps them gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.

Basic Guide

By Program

Eagle Scout Rank

NESA Awards

Merit Badge & Nova Counselors

Council Advancement Committee

BSA Guide to Advancement

The definitive source for the mechanics of advancement across all Program levels. Always consult the Guide when questions arise regarding rank advancement, boards of review, merit badges, the path to Eagle and more.

Internet Advancement 2.0 Reporting

Unit-level tools for online recording of a youth’s individual progress through the ranks. The BSA continues to improve it’s online reporting capability. Leaders must go through their my.scouting.org to get to IA 2.0.

Advancement by Program

Eagle Scout Rank

The award is a performance based achievement whose standards have been well-maintained over the years. Not every Scout who joins a Scouts BSA troop earns the Eagle Scout rank; only about 5 percent of all Scouts do so. This represents more than 1.7 million Scouts who have earned the rank since 1912. Nevertheless, the goals of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness—remain important for all Scouts, whether or not they attain the Eagle Scout rank.

Resources

NESA Awards

Youth Award

Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year

The National Eagle Scout Association established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award (ESSPY) to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by an Eagle Scout candidate to a religious institution, a school, community, or other entity through completion of an Eagle Scout project.

Examples of projects that have been selected for the ESSPY include projects that have benefited underprivileged children, recognized veterans, been international in nature, and have required significant time and resources. The selection of recipients begins at the local level and is conducted through the PTAC NESA committee. Submissions are due by January 21st, 2022. Anyone can submit the nomination including the Eagle Scout themselves.

Submit form to Sean Gertsch at srg1985@gmail.com

Adult Award

NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout

The NOESA recognizes those Eagle Scouts who have inspired others through their actions and have devoted a lifetime to their profession, avocation, community, and beliefs, at great sacrifice to themselves and their families. The award recognizes notable Eagle Scouts who have either performed distinguished service at the local, state, or regional level or who were known nationally for their professional and scouting achievements.

Nominations are due by 5pm on December 3, 2021. The award will be presented as part of the Youth Recognition Dinner on March 5, 2022.

Submit form to Sean Gertsch at srg1985@gmail.com

Merit Badge Counselors, Nova Counselors & Supernova Mentors

A merit badge counselor serves as both a teacher and mentor as Scouts work on a merit badge. In one way, he or she is an examiner. In a larger sense, the counselor uses this opportunity for coaching—helping Scouts overcome the hurdles of the different requirements and making Scouts aware of the deeper aspects of the subject from their knowledge and experience. Because of these unique opportunities to serve Scouts, volunteering as a merit badge counselor is one of the most gratifying experiences for adults in Scouting today.

Resources

Council Advancement Committee

District	First Name	Last Name	Email
Calumet	Rich	Jones	richj318@comcast.net
Checaugau	Heath	Winborn	bklyntango@gmail.com
Five Creeks	Russ	Talbot	eaglesthree26@gmail.com
Iron Horse	Jim	Sullivan	sanquen80@hotmail.com
Iron Horse	Al	Cook	ajcsr@sbcglobal.net
Portage Creek	Tom	Wetzel	twetzel@wetzelandassoc.com
Prairie Dunes	Doug	Gutjahr	djgutjahr@icloud.com
Tall Grass	Pat	Troy	pdtroy@gmail.com
Thunderbird	Dave	Shanks	dshanks@etechgroup.com
Trailblazer	Dave	Dionne	fddd160@aol.com
TriStar	Carol	Stieve	carolwst@sbcglobal.net

Advancement Webinars

Hosted by the Council Advancement Committee

Special Needs Scouting – ADHD. May, 2023 – Click Here

Passcode: P?27jt+^

Special Needs Scouting – Autism. April, 2023 – Click Here

Passcode: UD6&^fYH

Advancement Scoutbook. March, 2023 – Click Here

Passcode: DHF1=m$n

Life-to-Eagle Seminar. September, 2022 – Click Here

Passcode: !R.AWw7c

Seizure First Aid Course. August, 2022 – Click Here

Passcode: PVY7cs!&

Scoutbook and Advancement. June, 2022 – Click Here

Passcode: X7P?Maz7

STEM / NOVA Awards. February, 2022 – Click Here

Passcode: yn7X8+#P

Unit Resources

Membership

Training