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| First Class Trail |
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This is a program designed to help newer and younger Scouts achieve the rank of First Class. Its goal is to familiarize boys with the basic skills that every Scout should know. The program is intended to be a time to learn skills such as first aid, knots, orienteering, personal safety, wildlife identification, and flag etiquette. Once a Scout has learned these skills, he must demonstrate his ability to perform and apply the skills. The First Class Trail program operates in the Eagles Nest area. It runs in the morning during all three sessions and during some evenings. Every time slot covers different requirements. A schedule of offered requirements is below. Some sessions require specific materials. Scouts should also bring their Boy Scout Handbook to all sessions. (Example: The water rescue requires a swimsuit and towel, and the orienteering course requires a compass.)
The staff of First Class Trail does not sign off requirements in the Scout’s handbook. Each Scout is provided with a progress report that keeps track of what times he attended and which requirements he has completed. This sheet will then be given to the Scoutmaster at the end of the week. It is recommended that the Scoutmaster check with the counselor daily to see each Scout’s progress and then review the material with each Scout in their campsite. We encourage adult troop leadership to take the time to review the skills that the Scouts have learned before signing off the requirement. This ensures the best quality of teaching/learning a Scout can get.
2013 FIRST CLASS TRAIL WEEKLY SCHEDULE
RANK REQUIREMENTS
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Tenderfoot
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4a |
Demonstrate how to whip and fuse the ends of a rope. |
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4b |
Demonstrate you know how to tie the following knots and tell what their uses are: two half hitches and the taut-line hitch. |
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4c |
Using the EDGE method, teach another person how to tie the square knot. |
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5 |
Explain the rules of safe hiking, both on the highway and cross-country, during the day and at night. Explain what to do if you are lost. |
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6 |
Demonstrate how to display, raise, lower, and fold the American flag. |
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9 |
Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal safety on outings and in your neighborhood. Describe what a bully is and how you should respond to one. |
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11 |
Identify local poisonous plants; tell how to treat for exposure to them. |
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12a |
Demonstrate how to care for someone who is choking. |
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12b |
Show first aid for the following: simple cuts and scrapes, blisters on the hand and foot, minor (thermal/heat) burns or scalds (superficial, or first-degree), bites and stings of insects and ticks, venomous snakebite, nosebleed, frostbite, and sunburn. |
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Second Class
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1a |
Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Explain what map symbols mean. |
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2 |
Discuss the principles of Leave No Trace. |
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3e |
Discuss when it is appropriate to use a cooking fire and a lightweight stove. Discuss the safety procedures for using both. |
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3f |
In an approved place and at an approved time, demonstrate how to build a fire and set up a lightweight stove. Note: Lighting the fire is not required. |
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4 |
Participate in a flag ceremony for your school, religious institution, chartered organization, community, or troop activity. Explain to your leader what respect is due the flag of the United States. |
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6 |
Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of wild animals (birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, mollusks) found in your community. |
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7a |
Show what to do for “hurry” cases of stopped breathing, serious bleeding, and ingested poisoning. |
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7c |
Demonstrate first aid for the following: object in the eye, bite of a suspected rabid animal, puncture wounds from a splinter, nail, and fishhook, serious burns (partial thickness, or second-degree), heat exhaustion, shock, heatstroke, dehydration, hypothermia, and hyperventilation. |
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8a |
Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim. |
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8b |
Demonstrate your ability to jump feet first into water over your head in depth, level off and swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming, then return to your starting place. |
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8c |
Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects. Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing rescue is possible, and explain why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with the victim. |
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9b |
Explain the three R's of personal safety and protection. |
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First Class
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1 |
Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass. |
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2 |
Using a map and compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.). |
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4d |
Explain the procedures to follow in the safe handling and storage of fresh meats, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, and other perishable food products. Tell how to properly dispose of camp garbage, cans, plastic containers, and other rubbish. |
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6 |
Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of native plants found in your community. |
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7a |
Discuss when you should and should not use lashings. Then demonstrate tying the timber hitch and clove hitch and their use in square, shear, and diagonal lashings by joining two or more poles or staves together. |
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8a |
Demonstrate tying the bowline knot and describe several ways it can be used. |
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8b |
Demonstrate bandages for a sprained ankle and for injuries on the head, the upper arm, and the collarbone. |
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8c |
Show how to transport by yourself, and with one other person: (1) a person from a smoke-filled room and (2) a person with a sprained ankle, for at least 25 yards. |
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8d |
Tell the five most common signals of a heart attack. Explain the steps (procedures) in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). |
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9a |
Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe trip afloat. |
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9b |
Successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. |
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9c |
With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and as rescuer. (The practice victim should be approximately 30 feet from shore in deep water.) |
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11 |
Describe the three things you should avoid doing related to use of the Internet. Describe a cyberbully and how you should respond to one. |
First Class Trail Scouts should come prepared! If the requirement they are wishing to work on deals with knots, they should bring a section of rope to tie knots. If the requirement requires getting into the lake a Scout should have a bathing suit and towel. The program will supply things like compasses, stoves and first aid equipment but a Scout is always prepared and it helps when Scouts bring their own equipment to practice and learn on.
