Summer Camp begins July 25 · July 25–31, 2026 · River Bone Ranch · Camp details and payment

The Official Boy Cadet Handbook

The handbook teaches the patrol method, outdoor skills, service, citizenship, safety, leadership, and the full advancement trail from Scout to Eagle.

The Official Boy Cadet Handbook

This page presents the approved Quick Start Guide and rank overview from The Official Boy Cadet Handbook, manuscript version 0.053.

Quick Start Guide

Do this first

  • Bring your handbook, pen or pencil, water bottle, and a good attitude.
  • Find your Patrol Leader and ask what your job is today.
  • Stay with your patrol and always use the buddy system.
  • Take a useful job and do it well.
  • Keep your word, or speak up early and make it right.
  • Use tools, fire, and knives only when trained and permitted.
  • Stop and speak up when something feels unsafe.

Know the terms

Offices are jobs; ranks are skill advancement levels; awards recognize a job well done, or going above and beyond the call of duty.

As a Boy Cadet, you belong to the S membership rank tier. “S” stands for “Scout” because the first rank, S-1, is Scout.

  1. S-1 Scout
  2. S-2 Greenhorn
  3. S-3 Second Class
  4. S-4 First Class
  5. S-5 Star
  6. S-6 Life
  7. S-7 Eagle

Where to read next

  • If you are new: start with “Your Life as a Boy Cadet” and “The Spirit of CCA.”
  • If you are preparing for an outing: go to “To Camp! To Camp!” or “Let’s Go Hiking.”
  • If you need help now: go to “Be Prepared for Accidents.”
  • If you are working on advancement: go to “Upward to Eagle” and then “Rank Requirements.”

Advancement goal

Boy Cadets should aim to reach First Class within the first year and Eagle Cadet by the third year. S-1 through S-4 build outdoormanship, citizenship, teamwork, and basic emergency skills. S-5 through S-7 emphasize mastery, teaching, service, leadership by example, and increasingly serious responsibility.

“Be Prepared.”Lord Robert Baden-Powell of Gilwell