The Trail to Eagle Scout

The Trail to Eagle Scout, Boy Scout Troop 925, Kensington MD Olde Mill District, NCAC, BSA, Montgomery County, Maryland, Come and scout us out. Best viewed with Netscape. Image

When Baden-Powell started the Scouting movement, he felt that any Scout who took the time and trouble to master skills should be rewarded for his effort. He gave to each Scout who passed certain tests a badge to wear on his uniform. It recognized the importance of what the Scout had done and let others know of his achievement. That is how the badge system started in Scouting. (From: The Boy Scout Handbook)

To become an Eagle Scout, the most difficult requirement is to earn a total of at least 21 merit badges covering various subjects, skills and hobbies. Included in this total are twelve specific required merit badges required by the BSA. Below you will find a listing of these badges.

CAMPING
CITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY
CITIZENSHIP IN THE NATION
Citizenship in the World
Communications
Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving
Environmental Science
Family Life
First Aid
Personal Management
Personal Fitness or Swimming or Sports
Safety

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The long trail to Eagle is full of opportunities for a Scout to learn about himself, others, and the world around him. Along the trail he sets goals for himself and works towards them, all the while gaining valuable knowledge that will aid him in his life. It takes determination and effort, but the rewards are great.

Camping

Make a layout of a typical patrol campsite. Show cooking spots, dining fly, latrine, and at least three two-man tents. Explain how and why weather, season, and water supply are considered when choosing a site. Explain what care to take with regard to safe water, sanitary facilities, and emergencies.
Make a written plan for getting to and from a camping spot on foot or by vehicle.
Make a chart showing how a typical patrol is organized for an overnight campout. List assignments for each member.
Prepare a list of clothing you would need for an overnight campout in:

Summer
Winter

Discuss the kinds of footwear for different kinds of weather. Explain care of the feet.
Describe four kinds of tents. Cite their good and bad points.
Prepare for an overnight campout with your patrol by doing the following:

Make a checklist of personal and patrol gear that will be needed.
Prepare a camp menu that is right for the time of year. Give recipes. Make a food list for your patrol. List foods you can get from your grocery store. Supplies should be light weight, though some canned foods may be used. Plan two breakfasts, three lunches, and two suppers.
Pack your own gear and your share of the patrol gear and food for proper carrying. Protect it against bad weather. Show that your pack is right for getting what's needed first, and that it has been assembled properly for comfort, weight, balance, size, and neatness. Explain how the rest of the patrol gear and food is divided among members.
Show the right way to pack your full gear on a pack frame. Use a diamond hitch or other good hitch.

Complete the following while on an overnight campout:

Present yourself with your pack for inspection. Be correctly clothed and equipped for an overnight camping trip.
Working with another Scout, pitch a two-man tent. Consider weather and terrain. On this camp site, where allowed, make a latrine for your patrol. (Where not allowed, as in state parks, etc., describe how to build it.)
Make a comfortable ground bed. Use it for 2 nights. Use ground cloth and padding of clothing, pack, grass, leaves, or straw.
Where it's allowed, build up a fireplace area of nonburnable soil. Show proper use of woods tools in getting and preparing fuel for a cooking fire. Show how you would get, prepare, and protect your wood on a rainy day. Show how you would prepare a meal properly when it's raining.
Build three kinds of top-of-the-ground fires. Use charcoal for one. Show how to put out a fire properly. (Where open fires cannot be used, show how to build the fires, but don't light them.)
Show the right way to protect your camp, including food and gear, against animals, insects, and wet or bad weather. Discuss how you would protect yourself against all kinds of weather if caught out on the trail with only a pocketknife.
Strike camp. Fold or roll your tent for packing. Pack all gear. Leave a clean camp. Show the right way to get rid of garbage and rubbish.

Show experience in camping by doing the following:

Camp out a total of at least 20 days and 20 nights. Sleep each night under the sky or under a tent you have pitched. (You may use a week of summer camp as a part of the 20 days and 20 nights.)
On one of these camp trips, hike 1-1/2 miles or more each way to and from your campsite. Pack your own gear plus your share of patrol gear and food. (This camp-out is in addition to the two for Camping skill award.)
Serve as one of the cooks for your patrol for at least five meals prepared in camp.

Discuss how the things you did to earn this badge have taught you personal health and safety, survival, public health, conservation, and good citizenship.

*May be part of a troop trip.

CITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY

Describe your community to your counselor giving:

Short history
Cultures and ethnic groups
Major places of employment

What is the future of your community?
Mark or point out on a map of your community the following:

Chief government buildings
Fire station, police station, and hospital nearest your home
Schools, churches, and synagogues near your home
Main highways to neighboring cities and towns
Nearest railroads and bus stations and airport, if any
Chief industries or other major places of employment
Historical and other interesting points

Do the following:

Chart the organization of your local or state government. Show the top offices and tell which are elected or appointed.
Name the political parties in your community government and list four persons active in the politics of your community and what positions they hold.

Attend ONE:

County or parish board meeting
City council meeting
School board meeting
Municipal, county, or state court session

After visiting the governmental meeting, obtain a copy of that body's published budget. Review the major sources of income and expenses for its operation with your counselor.
List the services your community provides to the citizens in return for the taxes paid by you and your parents.
Select a city, county, or school problem or issue under consideration from the local newspaper or news broadcast and write a letter expressing your views to the mayor, administrator, or school board president. Show this letter and any response to your counselor.
List and describe the work of five volunteer organizations through which people in your community work together for the good of your community.
Tell how to report an accident or an emergency in your community.
List five ways you can demonstrate good citizenship in your community, religious institution, school, or Scouting unit.

CITIZENSHIP IN THE NATION

After reading, discuss with your counselor the following documents:

Declaration of Independence
Preamble to the Constitution
Constitution
Bill of Rights
Amendments to the Constitution

Name the three branches of government and explain their functions. Explain the checks and balances on each branch of government.
Outline the relationships between state and federal governments.
Do ONE of the following:

Visit the National Capitol
Visit your state capitol
Tour a federal installation

Explain your experiences to your counselor
Name your two senators and the congressman from your congressional district. Write a letter to one of these elected officials on a national issue sharing your view with him or her. Show your letter and any response to your counselor.
What are five important functions of your national government? Explain how these functions affect your family and local community.
Discuss the main ways by which our federal government is financed.

CITIZENSHIP IN THE WORLD

Answer the following:

What is citizenship? How does one become a citizen in the United States? How does one become a citizen in other countries?
What rights, duties, and obligations does an American citizenship entail? How are these similar to or different from the way citizenship is experienced in two other countries?

Do the following:

Discuss the concept of national interest.
Explain how a country's security, economy, and values relate to its national interest.

Explain one of the following to your counselor:

How communications and transportation have changed relationships between countries.
How changing national interests, democratic values, and global economic partnerships are affecting the relationships between countries.

Do the following:

Tell how the geography, natural resources, and climate of a country affect its economy.
Using a map of the world, select two countries. Describe how geography, natural resources, and climate are important in defining each country's national interest. Explain how these interests affect relations with at least two other countries.

Do the following:

Explain international law and how it differs from national law. What role does international law perform in the international system? Describe how international law can be used as a tool for conflict resolution.
Select TWO of the following global issues and explain how they have been affected by international agreements and treaties:

Environmentalism
Terrorism
International trade
Communications
Transportation
Famine relief
Disease control
International sports

Select TWO of the following organizations and describe their role in the international system:

The United Nations
The World Court
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Health Organization
Amnesty International
The International Red Cross
American Watch
CARE

Do the following:

Explain to your counselor what is meant by:

International trade agreement
Foreign exchange
Balance of payments
Tariffs
Free trade

Explain how world trade and global competition affect the economy of your state and community?

Locate the listing of foreign currency exchange rates in the financial section of a newspaper. Select three major foreign currencies and explain the rates of exchange between these currencies and the American dollar.
Select a foreign currency and price a product in that currency. Explain how fluctuations in currency exchange rates affect the price of that product if you are exporting it from the United States. Explain how fluctuations in currency exchange rates affect the price of that product if you are importing it into the United States.

Do the following:

Discuss the differences between constitutional and non- constitutional governments.
Name at least five different types of government currently in power in the world.
Show on a world map countries that use each of these five different forms of government.

Do the following:

Explain how a government is represented abroad. How is the United States government accredited to international organizations?
Describe the roles of the following in the conduct of foreign relations:

Ambassador
Consul
United States Information Agency
Agency for International Development
Foreign Commercial Service

Explain the purpose of a passport and visa for international travel.

Do ONE of the following:

Attend a world jamboree
Take part in an international event in your area
Visit with a foreign exchange student and discuss his or her country and customs.
Study a foreign language for a year.
Write an embassy or consulate for material about its country and discuss the material with your counselor.
Examine a particular international issue and give a brief oral presentation and a written report to your counselor.

COMMUNICATIONS

Develop a plan to teach a skill. Have it approved by your counselor. Then, create and make teaching aids. Carry out your plan. With the counselor, check to see if the learner has learned.
Pick an item or product. It may be real or imagined. Build a sales plan based on its good points. Try to "sell" the counselor on buying it from you. Talk with him about how well you did in telling him about the item and the wisdom of buying it.
Show how you would make a telephone call inviting someone who is an expert fisherman to give a demonstration on fishing to your unit.
Do the following:

Write a 5-minute speech. Give it at a meeting of a group.
Show how to introduce a guest speaker.

Attend a town meeting where two or three points of view are being given. Record what you hear. Make a report from your notes. Tell your troop or patrol what you think you heard.
Plan a troop court of honor or campfire program. Give it to the patrol leaders' council for approval. Write the script. Prepare the program for reproduction. Act as master of ceremonies.
Prepare an autobiographical resume that you would use in applying for a job.
Check careers in the field of communications. Prepare a statement on the one you like. Talk it over with your counselor.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Earn First Aid merit badge.
Do the following:

Tell what you would do to prevent injury and possible loss of life to yourself and others in each of the following emergencies: fire or explosion at home and in a public building, car stalled in blizzard or desert, motor vehicle accident, mountain accident, food poisoning, boating accident, search for lost person, lost or marooned group, gas leak, earthquake, flood, tornado or hurricane, atomic emergency, and avalanche (snow or rock).
Show that you know what to do in at least TWO of the above.

Show how you could safely save a person from the following:

touching a live electric wire.
A room with carbon monoxide or other fumes or smoke.
Clothes on fire.
Drowning using non-swimming rescues (including ice accidents).

Tell the things a group of Scouts should be prepared to do, the training needed, and the safety precautions to be taken for the following emergency service:

Crowd or traffic control.
Messenger service and communication.
Collection and distribution services.
Group feeding, shelter, and sanitation.

Take part in an emergency service project, either real or a practice drill.
Show three ways of attracting and communicating with rescue planes.
With another person, show a good way to move an injured person out of a remote and rugged area, conserving the energy of the rescuers.
Do the following:

Prepare a written plan for mobilizing your troop when need to do emergency service. If there is a plan, explain it. Tell your part in making it work.
Take part in at least one troop mobilization. Describe your part.
Show the personal "emergency pack" which you have prepared to be ready for a mobilization call. Show a family kit (suitcase or box) for use by your family in case an emergency evacuation is needed. Explain the need.

Show proper use of ropes and lines for rescue work by doing the following:

Tie knots for joining lines. Tie knots for shortening or adjusting lines. Tie knots for lashings.
Lower a person from a height sufficient to show how.
Coil and accurately throw light and heavy 50-foot heaving lines.

LIFESAVING

Before doing requirements 2-15

Earn Swimming merit badge.
Swim 400 yards.

Explain:

Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat.
The order of methods in water rescue.

Show reaching rescues using such things as arms, legs, branches, sticks, towels, shirts, paddles, and poles.
Show rescues using items that can be thrown, such as lines, ring buoys, rescue bags, and free-floating supports.
Show or explain the use of rowboats, canoes, and other small craft in making rescues.
With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and as rescuer. Perform the rescue with the practice victim approximately thirty feet from the tender. Use a 100-ft length of 1/16- inch line.
Show that you can remove street clothes* on shore (except underwear or swim trunks) in 20 seconds or less. Explain the importance of disrobing before a swimming rescue.
Explain the importance of avoiding contact with a victim; explain "lead" and "wait" tactics; and explain why equipment should be used in a swimming rescue.
Swim 30 feet and make the correct approach to a tired swimmer. Move him 30 feet to safety using the following:
(a) underarm swim-along, (b) two-person assist.
Make rescues on a practice victim 30 feet from shore, using the correct entry and a strong approach stroke, and bringing the victim back to pier or poolside using:

A rescue tube or torpedo buoy
A shirt, towel, or other equipment
A front approach and wrist tow.
A rear approach and single armpit tow
A rear approach and single armpit tow, changing to the cross chest carry

Discuss the different methods for removing a victim from the water. Choose the appropriate method for your situation. Remove the practice victim from the water and place in position for resuscitation.
Show in deep water your defense against grasps by blocking, and escaping. Free yourself from a wrist hold, rear head-hold, and a front head-hold.
Make four surface dives in 8 to 10 feet of water. Retrieve an object on each of the first three dives. Bring up a 10-pound weight on the fourth dive.
Show search techniques as part of a lost swimmer drill. Discuss search techniques using mask, fins, and snorkel (not scuba).
Do the following:

Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person, and explain how such conditions are recognized.
Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR on an adult mannequin for at least 3 minutes.

Demonstrate proper management of a spinal injury by

Explaining the signs and symptoms of a spinal injury.
Supporting a face up victim in calm, shallow water.
Turning a person from a face down to a face up position while maintaining support.

*"Street clothes" means low shoes, socks, underwear (or trunks), belt, and long-sleeve shirt. A jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt also may be worn.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Explain the meaning of the following: ecology, biosphere, ecosystem, plant succession, limiting factor. Give an example of each.
With the help of your counselor, pick an area of 10 acres* for study.
Visit the area four times for 2 hours each time. Do this at different times on one day a week for a month, or if at camp, on four different days of the week at different times of the day.

Record the temperature, rain, and wind.
List the animals you saw. Tell what they were doing.
List the plants you saw.
Name the kinds of rocks and soil.

Write about your study in 500 words or more showing:

How the climate, topography, and geology have influenced the number and kinds of plants and animals.
How the living and nonliving elements are interrelated.
Why it is important that people understand this.

With your counselor, plan and carry out a project in ONE of the following:

The effect of water-holding capacity of soil on plant life. The relation of plant cover to runoff. How both are related to the water and oxygen cycles.
The influence of land plant life on temperature, light intensity, wind velocity, and humidity. the influence of water plant life on the water environment. How both land and water plants affect animal life.

Make a report, in the form of a short talk to a Scout group, on what you did in requirement 5.
Show you understand the following:

The causes of water pollution. Tell what it does to rivers and lakes.
The causes of land pollution. Tell what it does to the environment.
The causes of air pollution. Tell what it does to the environment.
How some chemicals get into the tissues of animals miles from where they were used.

Describe what you and others can do to help solve a local problem of air pollution, water pollution, or litter.
Describe the duties of three positions in environmental science.

*City Scouts may pick an area in a large park, if a better place is not available.

FAMILY LIFE

Prepare an outline and discuss with your merit badge counselor what a family is and how the actions of one member can affect other members.
List 10 reasons why you are important to your family. Review these points with your parents or guardians and with your merit badge counselor.
Prepare a list of your regular home duties or chores (at least five) and do them for 90 days. Keep a record of how often you do each of them.
With the approval of your parents/guardian and your merit badge counselor, decide on and carry out a project that you would do around the house that would benefit the family. Submit a report to your merit badge counselor outlining how the project benefited the family.
Plan and carry out a project that involves the participation of your family. After carrying out the project, discuss the following with your merit badge counselor:

The objective or goal of the project.
How individual members of your family participated.
The results of the project.

Do the following:

Discuss with your merit badge counselor how to plan and carry out a family discussion.
After the discussion, plan and carry out a family discussion to include the following subjects:

How to avoid the use of drugs and drug abuse.
Understanding the growing-up process, how the body changes, and making responsible decisions dealing with sex.
Personal and family finances.

FIRST AID

Satisfy your counselor that you have current knowledge of all first aid requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks.
Do the following:

Explain how you would obtain emergency medical assistance from your home, on a wilderness camping trip, and during an activity on open water.
Prepare a first aid kit for your home. Display and discuss its contents with your counselor.

Do the following:

Explain what action you should take for someone who shows signs of a heart attack.
Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person.
Demonstrate proper technique in performing CPR on an adult manikin for 3 minutes.
Show the steps that need to be taken for someone suffering from a severe laceration on the leg and on the wrist. Tell the dangers in the use of a tourniquet and the conditions under which its use is justified.
Explain the symptoms of heat stroke and what action needs to be taken for first aid and for prevention.

Do the following:

Describe the signs of a broken bone. Show first aid procedures for handling fractures, including open (compound) fractures of the forearm, wrist, upper leg, and lower leg using improvised materials.
Describe the symptoms and possible complications and demonstrate proper procedures for treating suspected injuries to the back, neck, and head. Explain what measures can be taken to reduce the possibility of further complicating these injuries.

Describe the symptoms, proper first aid procedures, and possible prevention measures for the following conditions:

Hypothermia
Convulsions
Frostbite
Bruises, strains, sprains
Burns
Abdominal Pain
Broken, chipped, or loosened tooth
Knocked out tooth
Muscle cramp

Do the following:

If a sick or injured person must be moved, tell how you would determine the best method.
With helpers under your supervision, improvise a stretcher and move a presumably unconscious person.

Teach another Scout a first aid skill selected by your counselor.

PERSONAL MANAGEMENT

Talk over with parents or guardian how family funds are spent to meet day-to-day and long-term needs. Tell how you can help with the family budget.

Make a budget for yourself for 90 days. Keep a record of income and expenses for that period. Review it and report.

Help to choose and buy family groceries for 1 month. Make a report of what you learned.

Explain the possible use, advantages, and risks in using $100 in each of the following ways. Tell how it might help you and others.

Hide it in a mattress.
Put it into a savings account at a bank or savings and loan association. (Explain the difference.)
Buy a bicycle.
Open a checking account.
Buy a U.S. Savings Bond.
Buy a power mower or paint sprayer.
Invest in a mutual fund.
Start a life insurance policy.
Buy fishing gear.
Buy common stock.

Talk about things you would like to do within the next 90 days. Tell how you plan to get these done. After 90 days, tell what you did. Tell how you did them.

Tell how important credit and installment buying are to our economy and the individual and the family. Visit an officer of a bank or credit department of a store. Find out and tell what you must do to establish a "good credit rating." Tell what it means to you now and in the future.

Check out jobs or career opportunities through interviews or reading. Tell what the "next step" would be to prepare yourself for one of these careers.

PERSONAL FITNESS

If meeting any of the requirements for this merit badge is against the Scout's religious convictions, it does not have to be done if the boy's parents and the proper church officials state in writing that

To do so would be against religious convictions.
The parents accept full responsibility for anything that might happen because of such exemption. They release the Boy Scouts of America from any responsibility.

Before you try to meet any other requirements, have your physician give you a thorough examination. He or she is to use the Scout medical examination form. Describe the examination. Tell what questions you were asked about health. Tell what recommendations your doctor made. Report what you have done about them. Explain the following:

Why physical exams are important
Why preventative habits are important in maintaining good health
Diseases that can be prevented and how
The seven warning signs of cancer

Have an examination made by your dentist. Get a statement saying that your teeth have been checked and cared for. Tell how to care for your teeth.

Explain to your merit badge counselor verbally or in writing what personal fitness means to you, including

Components of personal fitness.
Reasons for being fit in all components.
What it means to be mentally healthy and fit.
What it means to be physically healthy and fit.
What it means to be socially healthy. Discuss several healthy social traits.
What you can do to prevent social, emotional, or mental problems.

From the Personal Fitness merit badge pamphlet, answer the questions titled "Evaluating Your Personal Fitness" and list several signs of poor personal fitness. Describe your activity in the eight areas listed.

With your counselor answer and discuss the following questions:

Are you free from all curable diseases? Are you living in such a way that your risk of preventable diseases is minimized?
Are you immunized and vaccinated according to the advice of your family and school physicians?
Do you understand the meaning of a nutritious diet and know why it is important for you? Does your diet include foods from all food groups?
Is your body weight and composition what you would like it to be and do you know how to modify it safely through exercise, diet, and behavior modification?
Do you carry out daily activities without noticeable effort? Do you have extra energy for other activities?
Are you free from habits relating to nutrition and the use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other practices that could be harmful to your health?
Do you participate in a regular exercise program or recreational activities?
Do you sleep well at night and wake up feeling refreshed and energized for the new day?
Are you actively involved in the religious organization of your choice and do you participate in their youth activities?
Do you spend quality time with your family and friends in social and recreational activities?
Do you support family activities and efforts to maintain a good home life?

Explain the following about physical fitness:

The components of physical fitness
Your weakest and strongest component of physical fitness
The need to have a balance in all four components of physical fitness.
How the components of personal fitness relate to the Scout Laws and Scout Oath.

Explain the following about nutrition:

The importance of good nutrition
What good nutrition means to you
How good nutrition is related to the other components of personal fitness
The three components of a sound weight (fat) control program

From the Personal Fitness merit badge pamphlet, perform the physical fitness test (chapter 8) with your patrol leader, Scoutmaster, parent or adviser before doing the next two requirements. Be evaluated above the 50th percentile in the aerobic endurance test, flexibility test, and muscular strength test.

Aerobic Endurance Test

There are several tests that can be used. They are the 9- or 12-minute run and the 1- or 1 1/2-mile run. In the timed run, the objective is to run as far as you can in the allotted time (9 or 12 minutes). In the distance run, the objective is to run the given distance (1 or 1 1/2 miles) in the shortest time. Walking is permitted but the Scouts should not stop. If they need to stop running, they should walk until they can continue to run.

Flexibility Test

By using the sit-and-reach test, boys should remove their shoes and sit down facing the sit-and-reach box with knees fully extended and flat on the floor and feet up against the end of the board. The arms are extended forward with the hands placed on top of each other with palms down. The boy bends at the hips and reaches forward along the measuring scale four times. Record the farthest reach.

Muscular Strength Test

Using timed sit-ups, the boy lies on his back with his knees flexed, feet on the floor, and heels 12 to 18 inches from the buttocks. The arms are crossed on the chest with the hands on the opposite shoulders. The feet are held by partners to keep them in touch with the floor. The boy curls to the sitting position until the elbows touch the thighs. Arms must remain on the chest and the chin remains tucked on the chest. The number of sit-ups that the boy can correctly do in 60 seconds is the score.

Outline a 4-week physical fitness program using the results of your physical fitness tests. Use the guidelines in chapter 8 to write your program. Use exercises to develop aerobic endurance, upper body muscular strength, and flexibility of the lower back and legs. Have the program approved by your Scoutmaster or adviser and your parents.

Fulfill requirement 1 for this merit badge.
Complete one of the four aerobic endurance tests, the flexibility test, the muscular strength and endurance test, and the body composition measurements.
Fill in your results on the record sheet and chart your percentile ranks for each test (using the norms found in the appendix) on the progress chart.
Determine the types of exercises you want or need to do, the amount of time you have to exercise, and the equipment or facilities that are available for your use.
If muscular strength exercises are to be a part of your program, determine how many push-ups and pull-ups you can do.
Use the guidelines discussed in the text concerning cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, and muscular strength and endurance to determine the frequency, intensity, and duration of your exercises.
Write your exercise program out for each day of the week on a sheet of paper. Have it approved by your adviser or Scoutmaster and parents.
Retest yourself after 2 full weeks of exercising. Also retest for the number of pull-ups and push-ups you can do. Record the results of this test on the record sheet and graph the percentile ranks on the progress chart.
Retest yourself after another 2 full weeks of exercising and record your results on the record sheet and progress chart.

Carry out the physical fitness program you wrote in requirement 7. Keep a log of all your exercises (i.e., how long you exercised; how far you ran, swam, or biked; how many exercises you did; your exercise heart rate; etc.). Test yourself again after two weeks of exercise on the information sheets provided in this book. Compare improvements. Describe your experience.
Describe your long-term plans regarding your personal fitness.

SWIMMING

Explain how swimming should be conducted safely for a group (Safe Swim Defense plan.)

Swim continuously for 150 meters or yards using the following strokes in good form: Sidestroke for 50 meters or yards, elementary backstroke for 50 meters or yards, and any of the following strokes for the last 50 meters or yards: trudgen, crawl, back crawl, or breast.

Surface dive headfirst into water over your head but not to exceed 8 feet and bring up an object from the bottom. Repeat using the feet first method of water entry.

Show a plain front dive from a low board, if available. Show a headfirst dive from a dock. Show a racing start.

Enter water over your head wearing clothes. (Clothes means shoes, socks, underwear or trunks, long pants, belt, and long-sleeve shirt.) Remove shoes and socks. Inflate shirt and show that you can float using the shirt for support. Remove the pants and use them for support while floating. Swim 50 meters or yards using the inflated clothing for support.

Do the following:

Float face up in a resting position, as nearly motionless as possible, for 1 minute.
Float face down in a related position using minimum movement of arms and legs to raise head for breathing and keep body afloat for 10 minutes or longer.

Do the following:

Demonstrate rescuing a person from water by reaching with arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and floating objects.
Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing assist or boat rescue can be done. Explain why and how a person making a swimming rescue should avoid contact with the victim.

SPORTS

Explain sportsmanship. Tell why it is important. Give several examples of good sportsmanship in sports. Relate at least one of these to everyday citizenship off the sports field.

Take part for one full season as a member of an organized team in ONE of the following sports: baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, diving, fencing, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rugby, skating (ice or roller), soccer, softball, swimming, team handball,tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling. (Or any other recognized team sport approved in advance by your counselor, except boxing and karate.)

Take part in ONE of the following sports on a competitive basis in two organized meets or tournaments: archery, badminton, bait or fly casting, bowling, canoeing, cycling, diving, fencing, fishing, golf, gymnastics, handball, horsemanship, horseshoes, judo, orienteering, paddleball, rifle or shotgun shooting, sailing, skating (ice or roller), skiing, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field, waterskiing, and wrestling. (Or any other recognized team sport approved in advance by your counselor, except boxing and karate.)*

Make a set of training rules for the sports you picked. Tell why these rules are important. Follow these rules. Design exercises for these sports. Keep a record of how you do in these sports for one season. Show how you have improved.

Show proper techniques in your two picked sports.

Explain the attributes of a good team leader and a good team player.

Draw diagrams of the playing areas for your two sports.

Explain the rules and etiquette for your two sports. List the equipment needed. Describe the protective equipment. Tell why it is needed. Tell what it does. *This cannot be the same sport used to meet requirement 2.

SAFETY

Prepare a notebook to include:

Newspaper and other stories showing common kinds and causes of accidents in the home.
Newspaper and other stories showing common kinds of crimes against families like yours.
Facts you have obtained concerning the frequency of accidents and of crimes involving families in your locality.
A paragraph or more written by you explaining how your family life could be changed by serious fire, accident, or crime.
A list of safe practices and safety devices currently used in your home and automobile.

Do the following:

Using a safety checklist approved by your counselor, make an inspection of your home. Explain the hazards found and how they can be corrected.
Review or develop your family's plan of escape in case of fire in your home.

3. Do the following:

Discuss with your counselor how you contribute to the safety of yourself, your family, and your community.
Show your family members how to protect themselves and your home from accidents, fire, theft, robbery, and assault.

Show your family exits you would use from different public buildings (such as church, theater, municipal building, library, supermarket, shopping center) in the event of an emergency. Teach your family what to do in the event of a panic.

Make a plan for accident prevention programs for five family activities outside the home (such as church, theater, picnic, beach, travel). Each plan should include an analysis of possible hazards, and reasons for the correction you propose.

Plan and complete a safety project approved by your counselor in your home, school, church, or community.

NOTE: If you have a permanent physical or mental disability you may become an Eagle Scout by qualifying for as many required merit badges as you can and qualifying for alternate merit badges for the rest. If you seek to become and Eagle under this procedure, you must submit a special application to your council service center. Your application must be approved by your council committee on advancement BEFORE YOU CAN WORK ON ALTERNATIVE MERIT BADGES.

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Gerrie de Groot, CC, Troop 925
Gerrie@aol.com