Boy Scouts

When Scouting began there were only three ranks; Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class. As the popularity of Scouting grew, three more ranks were added; Life, Star, and Eagle (yes in that order). In 1925 the Life and Star were switched in order so that the five points of the star would represent the first 5 merit badges that were required for that rank. In 1912, the first Eagle Scout Rank was awarded to Alfred Eldred.

The Boy Scout requirements have changed throughout the history of Scouting. The basic skills have always been taught during the first three ranks. It wasn’t until 1972 when these skills were consolidated into 12 groups that could immediately be awarded in the form of belt loops. After a short 17 year life, the Boy Scouts returned to the original requirements, putting the skills back into the ranks and dropping the belt loops. Early Scouting focused on the basics skills of the first three ranks, leaving merit badges available only to scouts that were at least Second Class. It was in 1972 that merit badges were opened to all scouts, regardless of rank. Some of these merit badges were added to the Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class ranks, only to be removed later.

Senior Scouting Programs

Sea Scout was introduced to America in 1912. Two people supported and oversaw this group and developed the skills and activities; Chairman of the National Council Committee, Arther Carey and Charles Longstreth who authored the book Nautical Scouting in 1915.

Sea Scouting was slow to grow at first, but with the support of G. V. L. Meyer, Secretary of the Navy, in 1913 partnered the Navy Department and the Sea Scouts to stimulate its growth. In 1949 the Sea Scouts changed their name to Sea Explorers and in 1972 it became coed. In 1998 Sea Explorers were reorganized into the Exploring Program and into the Venturing Program and renamed back to Sea Scouts.

Explorer Scouting can be traced back to 1922 in the west. It was officially approved by the National Committee in 1933, becoming part of the Senior Scouting program. This can be considered to be the land equivalent of the Sea Scouting Program. Surprisingly, for the first three years of its official existence, there were no membership listings. Explorer Scouts originally existed within the Boy Scout Troop. Around 1944 the program went though a period of change, it developed its own uniform, changed its terminology and its name to Explorers. In 1959 the Explorer program was replaced with Exploring program and in 1969 started to accept females into the program, however would not let them be “Members.” It was two years later when Exploring officially went coed. In 1998 Exploring was divided into two; the Career Oriented Program was given to the BSA Learning for Life Department. The remaining arts, sports and outdoor Explorers were then merged into the Venturing Program. The Venturing Program continues to this date.

Another organization that was designed for the older Scouts is the Order of the Arrow. This organization was started in 1915 for those scouts who display the virtues of scouting. E. Urner Goodman started his research with Indian Lore and the Delaware Indians. Combine Goodman’s knowledge with James F. Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans, the idea of the Order of the Arrow formed and started to spread by 1921. It was not, however, fully integrated into the Scouting program until 1948.

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