SCOUT RANK BASICS
What is the first rank a new member earns when joining Scouts BSA?
Scout
How many nights of camping are required for Tenderfoot?
At least one night on a patrol or troop campout, sleeping in a tent you helped pitch.
How many nights of camping does a Scout need before earning Second Class?
At least two nights — Scouts start gaining real outdoor experience by this point.
What’s the total number of nights a Scout must camp before earning First Class?
At least three nights of camping after joining — enough to prove your outdoor skills!
When raising the U.S. flag at camp, who gives the command to begin the ceremony?
The senior patrol leader or designated Scout in charge.
A Scout must memorize and recite two key parts of Scouting ideals. What are they?
The Scout Oath and the Scout Law
What “code” must you explain how you practiced on an outing?
The Outdoor Code
When you’re hiking and using a compass, what direction does the red end of the needle always point?
North
When using a map and compass, what’s the first thing you should do before taking a bearing?
Orient your map to the north.
In Second Class, you talk about your duty to your country. What does “duty to country” mean to you as a Scout?
Obeying laws, showing respect for the flag, helping your community, and being a responsible citizen.
Name one Scouting ideal besides the Oath and Law that a Scout must learn.
Scout Motto (“Be Prepared”) or Scout Slogan (“Do a Good Turn Daily”)
What must you do as part of preparing a meal for Tenderfoot?
Help prepare one meal and explain why everyone should share in meal prep and cleanup.
On a five-mile hike, you see trash on the trail. What should you do according to Leave No Trace?
Pick it up and pack it out — leave the trail cleaner than you found it.
If a fellow Scout falls into deep water while boating, what’s the safest way to help?
Use “Reach, Throw, Row — but don’t go.”
On a troop or patrol campout, how do you decide who does what jobs, and why is that important?
Dividing duties like cooking, cleaning, and setup teaches teamwork, fairness, and leadership.
Explain how the Patrol Method helps Scouts learn leadership.
It teaches teamwork, communication, and shared responsibility through youth-led patrols.
How far must you hike for Tenderfoot and what must you do afterward?
Hike at least one mile and explain what you saw and how you practiced Leave No Trace.
Why is cooking with your patrol better than eating alone on a campout?
It teaches teamwork, planning, and responsibility — plus it’s more fun!
Lashings are used to build what kind of helpful campsite structures?
Camp gadgets like tables, tripods, or flagpoles.
For Second Class, you plan and participate in a patrol campout. What’s one thing your patrol did well — and one thing you’d improve next time?
Answers vary — teamwork, cooking, and setup may be strengths; planning, cleanup, or communication could be areas to improv
True or False — A Scout may work on multiple ranks at once but must earn them in order.
True
What safety rule must a Tenderfoot follow when using a knife, saw, or ax?
Always use them in a safe area called the “safety circle” or “blood circle,” and keep tools sharp and stored safely.
You’re leading a short hike for new Scouts. Name two things you’d do before starting out to keep everyone safe.
Check the weather, bring water and a first-aid kit, know your route, and tell someone your plan.
You’re in charge of a patrol on a weekend trip — what’s one way to show good leadership during camp setup?
Duty Roster: Assign clear tasks, listen to input, and make sure everyone works together efficiently and safely.
Scouts learn to be conservation-minded. How does protecting the outdoors connect to your duty as a citizen?
Caring for natural spaces shows responsibility, stewardship, and respect for shared resources — key parts of citizenship.