Service Hours

We are implementing a slightly different method of tracking service hours. As you know, service to others is a big part of scouting. It sometimes gets lost in the shuffle of ranks and merit badges and camping. We would like to encourage more service hour work by offering a reward patch to those Scouts that work above and beyond the requirements of the rank. So any scout that documents six or more hours in addition to the number of service hours needed for the rank will receive a service hour patch. He will receive the patch along with his rank advancement.

Here is the link to the new form (click here for form) that we will be using to document service hours. It is the Scout’s responsibility to get it completed and signed by the person for whom the service is provided. Then get it to me so we can log it with the Service hour coordinator.

 So for example, Tenderfoot has no service hour requirement for the rank, so if a Scout has six or more hours documented, he can get a patch when he earns the Tenderfoot rank. Hours worked for Eagle projects, community service, church groups, etc. all count for service hours.

 Upper ranks, like Star or Life, require six hours of service for the rank. So you need 12 hours to get a patch. We will be stricter on the definition of service hours for the first six hours, than the extra six hours.