First Year Program

First-Year-Program: began(?)

The "5th grade" or "First-Year-Program" was one of the signature programs of troop 82. John Cooper and others designed it as a "fast track" for "the Highland Park mentality" of competition. Cooper required a 70% mandatory meeting attendance to advance under the "scout spirit" advancement requirement. This was highly unusual for a scout troop, but allowed for a dynamic fast paced advancement program. The general idea of the First-Year-Program was for a 11-year-old 5th-grader to achieve the first four ranks in his first school year with the troop. (Scout, Tenderfoot, Second-Class, and First Class) This matter was often complicated for boys who didn't turn 11 until mid-year, and thus could not be official Boy Scouts. 10-year-olds were relegated to Cub Scout Webelo status, often while learning Boy Scout skills. At the same time, the foremost 5th-grade classrooms tried to acquire a few merit badges in addition to advancing in rank.