According to the National Boy Scouts of America Website, the centennial edition of the Boy Scout Handbook will soon be available, and with the new handbook come several rank requirement changes that will be in effect as of January 1, 2010. We’ve previously reported the new handbook is set to be available August 1st, 2009.

Here are the requirement changes, remember they take effect on January 1, 2010:

Tenderfoot
- A Scout must teach another person how to tie a square knot using the EDGE model (explain, demonstrate, guide, and enable).
- He must also be able to discuss four specific examples of how he lived the points of the Scout Law in his daily life.

Second Class
A Scout must discuss the principles of Leave No Trace and explain the factors to consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.
He must explain what respect is due the flag of the United States.
He must again discuss four examples of how he lived four different points of the Scout Law in his daily life.
He must earn an amount of money agreed upon by the Scout and his parents and save at least 50 percent of it.

First Class
An additional requirement to the 10 separate troop/patrol activities states he must demonstrate the principles of Leave No Trace on these outings.
He must discuss four more examples of how he lived the remaining four points of the Scout Law in his daily life.

Life
A Scout must use the EDGE model to teach a younger Scout a specified skill.

Star, Life, and Eagle
Troop Webmaster and Leave No Trace trainer are two new leadership positions.

Source: 2010 Rank Requirement Changes

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Back in September, Scouting News brought to your attention numerous merit badge requirement changes that would take affect in 2009. Paul Wolf, over at the U.S. Scouting Service Project, brought to our attention a few additional requirement changes:

Archery Merit Badge
Removed “A FITA/NAA Olympic (outdoor) round and make a score of 80 points” from Requirement Number 5, Option A and Option B.

See the detailed changes for Archery Merit Badge at http://usscouts.org/advance/changes/advchanges09.asp#archery

Mile Swim
Requirement 4 was revised. The new requirement is: “Swim 1 mile over a measured course that has been approved by the trained instructor who will supervise the swim.”

The old requirement was “Swim 1 mile (1,600 meters) over an approved, measured course.”

Den Chief Service Award
Requirement number 10 was deleted, requirements 11 and 12 renumbered as 10 and 11.

The new requirements:
10. Meet as needed with the adult members of the den, pack, troop, team, or crew.
11. Complete FOUR of these projects:
c. Advance one rank.
h. Recommend to your Scoutmaster, Varsity Scout Coach, or Venturing Adviser another Boy Scout ,Varsity Scout, or Venturer to be a den chief.

See the detailed changes for the Den Chief Service Award at http://usscouts.org/advance/changes/advchanges09.asp#denchief

You can view a full comprehensive analysis of the 2009 requirement revisions at http://usscouts.org/advance/changes/advchanges09.asp

All of the 2009 requirements can be be found in the 2009 Boy Scout Requirement Book (Stock Number 33216). This is a new stock number, and the book should now be available in Scout Shops and from the Supply Division. As of February 3rd, 2008 it is not yet available through ScoutStuff.org.

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