Second Class
All requirements for the Second Class rank must be completed as a member of a troop or as a Lone Scout.
The requirements for Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks may be worked on simultaneously; however, these ranks must be earned in sequence.
Alternate requirements for the Second Class rank <a href=”../alternative-requirements/” are available for Scouts with physical or mental disabilities if they meet the criteria listed in the Scouts BSA Requirements book.
Requirements
CAMPING AND OUTDOOR ETHICS
1.
Do the following:
a.
Since joining Scouts BSA, participate in five separate troop/patrol
activities, at least three of which must be held outdoors. Of the
outdoor activities, at least two must include overnight camping.
These activities do not include troop or patrol meetings. On
campouts, spend the night in a tent that you pitch or other
structure that you help erect, such as a lean-to, snow cave, or
tepee. (See pages 260 and 276–277.)
b.
Recite the principles of Leave No Trace from memory. Explain how
you follow them on all outings.
c.
On one of these campouts, select a location for your patrol site
and recommend it to your patrol leader, senior patrol leader, or
troop guide. Explain what factors you should consider when
choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent. (See pages
265–266.)
COOKING AND TOOLS
2.
Do the following:
a.
Explain when it is appropriate to use a fire for cooking or other
purposes and when it would not be appropriate to do so. (See pages
303–304 and 387.)
b.
Use a pocketknife, and a saw or axe if needed, to prepare tinder,
kindling, and fuel wood for a cooking fire. (See page 389.)
c.
Using a minimum-impact method at an approved outdoor location and
time, use the tinder, kindling, and fuel wood from Second Class
requirement 2b to demonstrate how to build a fire. Unless
prohibited by local fire restrictions, light the fire. After
allowing the flames to burn safely for at least two minutes, safely
extinguish the flames with minimal impact to the fire site.
Properly dispose of the ashes and any charred remains. (See pages
388–391.)
d.
Explain when it is appropriate to use a lightweight stove and when
it is appropriate to use a propane stove. Set up a lightweight
stove or propane stove. Light the stove, unless prohibited by local
fire restrictions. Describe the safety procedures for using these
types of stoves. (See pages 303–304 and 392–393.)
e.
On one campout, plan and cook one hot breakfast or lunch, selecting
foods from MyPlate or the current USDA nutritional model. Explain
the importance of good nutrition. Demonstrate how to transport,
store, and prepare the foods you selected. (See pages 290–294,
300–301, 309, and 311–325.)
f.
Demonstrate tying the sheet bend knot. Describe a situation in
which you would use this knot. (See page 370.)
g.
Demonstrate tying the bowline knot. Describe a situation in which
you would use this knot. (See pages 369–370.)
NAVIGATION
3.
Do the following:
a.
Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Use a map
to point out and tell the meaning of five map symbols. (See pages
332–343.)
b.
Using a compass and map together, take a 5-mile hike (or 10 miles
by bike) approved by your adult leader and your parent or
guardian.* (See pages 340–345.)
c.
Describe some hazards or injuries that you might encounter on your
hike and what you can do to help prevent them.* (See
page 252.)
* If you use a wheelchair or crutches, or if it is
difficult for you to get around, you may substitute "trip" for
"hike" in requirement 3b and 3c.
d.
Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night
without using a compass or an electronic device. (See pages
354–357.)
NATURE
4.
Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of wild animals (such as
birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, or mollusks) found in your local area or
camping location. You may show evidence by tracks, signs, or photographs
you have taken. (See pages 199–212.)
AQUATICS
5.
Do the following:
a.
Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim. (See pages
158–161.)
b.
Demonstrate your ability to pass the Scouting America beginner
test: Jump feetfirst 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.** (See
pages 168–170.)
** Under certain exceptional conditions, where the climate
keeps the outdoor water temperature below safe levels year-round,
or where there are no suitably safe and accessible places (outdoors
or indoors) within a reasonable traveling distance to swim at any
time during the year, the council Scout executive and advancement
committee may, on an individual Scout basis, authorize an
alternative for requirements 5b and 5c. The local council may
establish appropriate procedures for submitting and processing
these types of requests. All the other requirements, none of which
necessitate entry in the water or entry in a watercraft on the
water, must be completed as written.
c.
Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg,
by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and
objects. (See pages 177–181.)
d.
Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a
reaching or throwing rescue is possible. Explain why and how a
rescue swimmer should avoid contact with the victim. (See pages 177
and 181.)
FIRST AID AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
6.
Do the following:
a.
Demonstrate first aid for the following:
- Object in the eye (See page 133.)
- Bite of a warm-blooded animal (See page 128.)
- Puncture wounds from a splinter, nail, and fishhook (See pages 134–135.)
- Serious burns (partial thickness, or second-degree) (See pages 136–137.)
- Heat exhaustion (See page 139.)
- Shock (See pages 114 and 123–124.)
- Heatstroke, dehydration, hypothermia, and hyperventilation (See pages 135–141.)
b.
Show what to do for "hurry" cases of stopped breathing, stroke,
severe bleeding, and ingested poisoning. (See pages 115–122 and
124.)
c.
Tell what you can do while on a campout or hike to prevent or
reduce the occurrence of the injuries listed in Second Class
requirements 6a and 6b. (See pages 150–151.)
d.
Explain what to do in case of accidents that require emergency
response in the home and backcountry. Explain what constitutes an
emergency and what information you will need to provide to a
responder. (See pages 151–155.)
e.
Tell how you should respond if you come upon the scene of a
vehicular accident. (See page 152.)
FITNESS
7.
Do the following:
a.
After completing Tenderfoot requirement 6c, be physically active at
least 30 minutes each day for five days a week for four weeks. Keep
track of your activities. (See pages 76–77 and 79–81.)
b.
Share your challenges and successes in completing Second Class
requirement 7a. Set a goal for continuing to include physical
activity as part of your daily life and develop a plan for doing
so. (See pages 76–77.)
c.
Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers
of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and other practices that could
be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the
program with your family, and explain the dangers of substance
addictions. Report to your Scoutmaster or other adult leader in
your troop about which parts of the Scout Oath and Scout Law relate
to what you learned. (See pages 94–98.)
CITIZENSHIP
8.
Do the following:
a.
Participate in a flag ceremony for your school, religious
institution, chartered organization, community, or Scouting
activity. (See pages 60–61.)
b.
Explain what respect is due the flag of the United States. (See
pages 56–62.)
c.
With your parents or guardian, decide on an amount of money that
you would like to earn, based on the cost of a specific item you
would like to purchase. Develop a written plan to earn the amount
agreed upon and follow that plan; it is acceptable to make changes
to your plan along the way. Discuss any changes made to your
original plan and whether you met your goal. (See pages 14–15.)
d.
At a minimum of three locations, compare the cost of the item for
which you are saving to determine the best place to purchase it.
After completing Second Class requirement 8c, decide if you will
use the amount that you earned as originally intended, save all or
part of it, or use it for another purpose. (See pages 14–15.)
e.
Participate in two hours of service through one or more service
projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Tell how your service to
others relates to the Scout Oath. (See pages 11-12 and 68.)
PERSONAL SAFETY AWARENESS
9.
Do the following:
a.
Explain the three R's of personal safety and protection. (See page
400.)
b.
Describe bullying; tell what the appropriate response is to someone
who is bullying you or another person. (See pages 406–408.)
SCOUT SPIRIT
10.
Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how
you have done your duty to God and how you have lived four different
points of the Scout Law (not to include those used for Tenderfoot
requirement 9) in your everyday life. (See pages 11–16 and 23.)
11.
While working toward the Second Class rank, and after completing
Tenderfoot requirement 10, participate in a
Scoutmaster conference. (See page 418.)
12.
Successfully complete your board of review for the Second Class rank.
(See page 414.)