Tenderfoot Rank
First skills — camping, first aid, and physical fitness.
Tenderfoot is where the skills begin. Requirements cover camping basics, introductory first aid, physical fitness, and continued focus on Scout values. Most scouts earn Tenderfoot within one to three months of joining, though the pace depends heavily on troop programming and campout opportunities.
Requirements are paraphrased for reference. Always verify current requirements at scouting.org or with your local council before a Board of Review.
What Does Tenderfoot Rank Require?
- ✓Demonstrate basic camping and outdoor skills
- ✓Learn and demonstrate first aid for common injuries
- ✓Complete a fitness baseline and improvement plan
- ✓Participate in a campout or outdoor activity
- ✓Demonstrate the Scout Oath and Law with understanding
This is a summary. The full requirement list is at scouting.org.
Free Tenderfoot Rank Checklist
Printable sign-off sheet for all Tenderfootrequirements. Keep one in the scout's binder.
What Tenderfoot Rank Actually Means
Tenderfoot requirements are designed to get scouts outdoors and start building competence. The physical fitness requirement (log a baseline and work toward improvement) is less about performance and more about self-awareness and commitment. First aid at this level is basic — recognizing and responding to common injuries — and sets the foundation for the more rigorous requirements at Second and First Class.
Can Scouts Work on Multiple Ranks at Once?
Scouts can work on Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class requirements at the same time. A campout early in a scout's career can knock out requirements from all three ranks simultaneously.
What Comes After Tenderfoot?
After Tenderfoot, the focus shifts to Second Class — navigation basics, cooking, and more involved first aid. Keep logging campout nights; they'll count toward multiple ranks.
Scoutmaster Conference — Tenderfoot Rank
At Tenderfoot, ask about specific experiences — a campout they've been on, a time they used first aid knowledge. The goal is connecting skills to real situations. This scout is still new; the conference should feel like a check-in, not an exam.
Open SM Conference & BOR Guide →