Golden Empire Council Advancement and Recognition
BE PREPARED
Things to be aware of:
(note changes to Required Youth Protection Training and Citizenship in Society Merit Badge Requirements)
- New State of California Required Youth Protection Training. This Training is Required by April 30,2022. This requirement does not replace the BSA Required Youth Protection Training. California Law AB 506 AB 506 took effect on January 1, 2022. While Scouting has its own comprehensive youth protection program, we are required to follow the State Law which adds to additional requirements for volunteers and staff and supports our mission to protect the youth in our program from neglect and abuse. We have created the California Scouting web portal (www.CaliforniaScouting.org) which will serve as your point of reference to help answer your questions about AB 506.
- Below is the 3-step process to be in compliance with AB 506.
- REQUIRED STATE MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING
All Registered Adult Volunteers and Regular Volunteer positions identified as requiring training shall complete the California Mandated Reporter Training: Volunteers beginning January 1, 2022. The training is available online and takes about 2 hours to complete. This training must be completed before February 28, 2022 - UPLOAD COMPLETED TRAINING
Once you have finished the training, upload your state Mandated Reporter Training Certificate to the Golden Empire Council page on the California Scouting portal. This must be completed by February 28, 2022. [click →]https://californiascouting.org/gec/ - LIVE SCAN FINGER PRINTING & BACKGROUND CHECK (coming soon)
Please do not schedule your Live Scan until we announce that we are ready to receive them, as any scans done before we have authorization will be invalid and need to be done again. NOTE: Each organization requires their own live scan, so you will still need to complete this step even if you have been fingerprinted for another organization.
- Changes to requirements due to covid restrictions: As of March 01, 2022, all temporary changes made to Scouts BSA advancement requirements to address the COVID-19 pandemic will expire, and there will be a return to the standard rules for Scouts BSA advancement. This includes deferment of some swimming requirements for First and Second Class, virtual activities for Tenderfoot, Second and First Class, and requirement 9b of the Camping Merit Badge. For additional information, [click →] COVID-FAQ
Council Advancement Committee
The Golden Empire Council Advancement Committee is responsible for implementing and facilitating advancement and processing special awards and recognitions. This is done according to Boy Scouts of America (BSA) national procedures and local practices under the direction of the council executive board. Advancement committees operate under the BSA program function. Advancement committees cooperate with the other program function elements— outdoor programs, activities and civic service, and training—and with the membership, finance, and unit-service functions.
The Council’s committee is comprised of members of the Advancement Committees of all the districts in the council. The purpose is to discuss problems, solve them and keep all districts moving forward along the same path with the same procedures.
Meetings: 2nd Wednesday of every month, GEC Office, 7pm.
Chair: David Kimball
District Advancement Committees
District Advancement Committees manage the Advancement requirements for the Scouts and Scouters in their districts. Their functions include:
Assist Unit leaders and unit advancement committee members.
Turn in all paperwork that pertains to all that follows:
- Scout awards like lifesaving, honor, and meritorious action.
- Merit Badge Counselor Lists.
- Eagle paperwork processing before approval by Council Office (Eagle Desk).
- Eagle Boards of Review.
- Adult recognition and awards
- Time extension requests
Contact them through the district web page for the district you are in. For assistance in determining your district use the Council’s district locator map. [click→] District Map
Advancement Documents
The Aims of Scouting
Every Scouting activity moves Scouts toward four basic aims: character development, leadership development, citizenship training, and personal fitness.
Advancement is one of the eight methods used by Scout Leaders to help the Scout fulfill the aims of the BSA. For information only, the other methods are Ideals, Patrols, Outdoor Programs, Association with Adults, Personal Growth, Leadership Development, and Uniform.
Policy on Unauthorized Changes to Advancement Program
No council, committee, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to, or subtract from, advancement requirements.
There are limited exceptions relating only to members with special needs. Youth with physical disabilities and youth and adults with developmental or cognitive challenges are welcome in the Boy Scouts of America. Various accommodations exist to facilitate advancement. These youth do not need to join a special unit oriented to serving members with disabilities, although those exist and may be beneficial in some cases. The severity of disability will indicate how members should be registered. For details, see Guide to Advancement, Section 10 "Advancement for Members with Special Needs" [click →] Guide to Advancement
Guide to Advancement (GTA) [click →] Guide to Advancement
The current edition of the GTA is the official source for administering advancement in all Boy Scouts of America programs: Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouts. The GTA is regularly updated, and it can be downloaded.
The Guide to Safe Scouting [click →] Safe Scouting
Policies and procedures outlined in the Guide to Safe Scouting apply to all BSA activities, including those related to advancement and Eagle Scout service projects.
Advancement Resources
Each level of Scouting has specific requirements for advancing.
Cub Scouts
Specifics relating to Cub Scouts [click →] Cub Scouts
Scouts BSA
Specifics relating to Scouts BSA (In general) [click →] Scouts BSA
Venturing
Specifics relating to Venturing [click →] Venturing
Sea Scouts
Specifics relating to Sea Scouts [click →]Sea Scouts
Exploring
Exploring Programs [click →] Exploring
Merit Badge Counselors
Any individual who wishes to serve as a Merit Badge Counselor (MBC) must use the following form to register for the desired merit badges. [click →] MBCApp.pdf
Note that there are certain requirements related to being a counselor for specific merit badges. Refer to the GTA for those guidelines [click →] Guide to Advancement
A Merit Badge Counselor must also be registered as a Scouter.
(Refer to district websites for MBC directives)
Eagle Scout (Trail to Eagle)
Starting the Process (contact district eagle scout coordinator)
Eagle Service Project Workbook [click →] Eagle Scout Workbook
Eagle Scout Rank Application [click →] Eagle Scout Rank Application (fillable)
Eagle Palm [click →) Eagle Palms
Tools for Unit Leaders (coming soon)
Time Extensions
If a Scout foresees that due to no fault or choice of his or her own that it will be impossible to complete the Eagle Scout rank requirements before age 18, he or she may apply to the local council for a limited time extension. See “Process for Requesting and Reviewing a Time Extension,” Guide to Advancement Section 9.0.4.1. These should be granted only when necessary and are reserved only for work on Eagle. All time extensions expire on the date of the Scout’s Eagle board of review or the approved extension expiration date, whichever comes first. No further youth advancement or awards may be earned thereafter. When a time extension is requested, the Scout should continue working on the requirements until a final decision is delivered. - GTA Section 9.0.4.0. [click →] Guide to Advancement
Replacement Eagle Certificate
Need a replacement of your Eagle Certificate & card? Is there an error (name misspelled, wrong date, or other incorrect information) on your certificate or card? Contact the Eagle Desk for assistance. (eagledesk@gec-bsa.org)
Awards and Recognition
There are many awards and recognitions available to all members of the Boy Scouts of America, both for registered youth and registered adult volunteers. See Awards Central at Scouting.org for details. Refer to: scouting.org/awards central. [click →] Awards
Contact your district advancement committee for details.
Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year.
This award recognizes the Scout for his or her Eagle Scout leadership service project. Fill out, follow directions, and submit to your district Advancement Chair who will submit to the Council Advancement Committee for consideration. [click →] Project of the Year
Lifesaving and Meritorious Action Award
These awards recognize registered youth and adults who have performed an attempt to save a life or to recognize notable acts of service that need not involve attempts of rescue or risk to self, but put into practice Scouting skills and/or ideals.
Presented to National Court of Honor–approved youth and adults; not qualifying are individuals who do lifesaving as part of their job, such as an EMT, lifeguard, or doctor. See the Lifesaving or Meritorious Action Award Information Page. [click →] Awards
Changes to Requirements
Updates are regularly posted on the Scouting.org webpage. [click →] Scouting.org
National Forms
Can't find what you need, or you think a form above is out of date, here is the source of all these documents. (Scouting.org/forms) [click →] Forms
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