Service Hours for Rank Advancement

Community service is an important component of a boys scouting experience.  Learning to give and help others builds caring and compassionate adults.  Scouting has a long tradition of giving back to the community and requires service hours for various rank advancements

In order for service hours to qualify for rank advancement, the service time must meet the following requirements:

    1) The time spent must be on a supervised project that benefits the community

    2) The service time cannot provide any benefit, directly or indirectly, to the Scout or the Troop

    3) A  note signed by the organizer of the project or activity stating the number of hours worked must be submitted as evidence of having completed the service. This note should be kept in the Scouts own personal records.

To avoid any misunderstanding on what activities will qualify for service hours toward rank advancement, the pre-approval of the Scoutmaster or any of the assistant Scoutmasters should be obtained PRIOR to performing the service time.  Circumstances which may be inappropriate and denied include political campaigns or special interest work that is not consistent with scouting ideals, ad hoc service without supervision and any activity deemed inappropriate by an adult leader.

As with all rank advancement and merit badge work, the Scout is responsible for keeping a record of their service hours.  Scouts should be prepared to show evidence of all their scouting activities when they apply for the rank of Eagle scout. 

Examples of service time that qualifies:

    Work performed for a church or other non-profit organization that is consistent with scouting ideals.

Examples of service time that does NOT qualify: