Nathan Anderson

iPhone app has been updated


We have fixed a number of bugs in our latest version of our iPhone app.  Please make sure you update to version 1.0.5.  Our app gives you instant access to your advancement records.  You can record merit badges, rank advancements and activity information.

For example, let’s say you are at a service project.  Quickly pull out yout phone while you are there and record who was in attendance and how many hours each participant provided.

We are excited to hear your feedback on our app.  If you have ideas on how to make it better or easier to use, please let us know by sending an e-mail to support@etrailtoeagle.com.

Thanks!

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Nathan Anderson

Have you read the new Swimming merit badge requirements?


New requirements were released for the Swimming merit badge. Read the following blog to educate yourself on what has changed.

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/05/19/swimming-merit-badge-revised-in-time-for-summer-camp/

Here is a quick summary of the changes according to the article:

The new requirements focus more on teaching Scouts correct stroke mechanics while continuing to emphasize basic water skills. Previous requirements like snorkeling, competitive swimming and CPR (which Scouts learn more fully in other merit badges anyway) have been removed.

With the new requirements, the goal is to teach Scouts to swim with greater ease and efficiency, as well as keep them safe in and around the water.

Are you going to start your troop on the new requirements this summer?

Nathan Anderson

Cooking Merit Badge is now required


Cooking Merit Badge

As of January 1, 2014 the Cooking merit badge is an Eagle-required merit badge.  In addition, the requirements for the Cooking merit badge have changed.  eTrailToEagle now supports this change and our reports and other tools will reflect this.

There have been many questions on the Cooking merit badge and we like the blog post by Byan on Scouting.  He talks about the changes and how that affects your scouts:

  • Scouts who already started Cooking MB using old requirements: They’re fine and may finish with the old requirements. They will not need to re-earn the merit badge with the new requirements, but they may switch to the new ones if they choose. There is no time limit between starting and completing a badge, although a counselor may determine so much time has passed since any effort took place that the new requirements must be used.
  • Scouts who already earned Cooking MB: They may purchase or be presented with the new, silver-bordered Cooking MB patch (regardless which requirements were involved). They don’t need to re-earn it now that it’s Eagle-required. But they can’t wear both the green- and the silver-bordered versions.
  • Scouts who begin Cooking MB in 2013 or 2014: They may use the old or new requirements — their choice.
  • Scouts who begin Cooking MB in 2015 or beyond: They must use the new requirements.

If you have any questions on this change, please let us know.

Thanks!

Nathan Anderson

New Trail to First Class Report


We are excited to rollout a new Trail to First Class report today.  This report is a complete roadmap of what needs to be done to achieve the First Class rank.  One the first page, we grouped the requirements into related categories to help leaders, parents and scouts quickly identify what it is they need to be working on.  The second page contains the standard listing of all the requirements grouoed by rank.  We also made the report available for email delivery via our Report Subscription page.  Schedule the report to be delivered to scouts and parents to encourage them to make consistant progress.

TTFC First Page TTFC Second Page

 

To access this feature, click on Reports and then Trail to First Class-Individual as shown below.

Report Center that contains all of the availabe scouting reports.
Report Center that contains all of the availabe scouting reports.

If you have ideas on how to improve the report, please let us know.

Enjoy!