Monthly Archives: February 2010

Last year the LDS Church added Virtue as the eighth value in the Personal Progress program. Supplemental inserts were published and distributed to leaders and young women.

In 2010, the Church published a new Personal Progress book with the new value added, a new look (think pink), a new matching cover for the journal and a few changes to existing requirements.

There are a few changes to the recognition materials. When a young woman completes all the requirements for a given value, she receives a Value Ribbon in recognition.

These slender ribbons were designed for use as scripture bookmarks, though I imagine some young women may choose to display them differently. I’d be interested to hear about ideas people come up with.

There is still a Young Womanhood Recognition medallion and certificate, and these have been updated slightly to show a young woman also fulfilled the requirements for Virtue.

Beyond that is a new recognition which reminds me of the scouting program’s Eagle Palms. After a young woman has earned her Young Womanhood Recognition, she may earn the Young Woman Honor Bee Charm by completing further requirements as outlined in the Personal Progress book (and on America Jane as well).

Mothers are now invited to earn their Young Womanhood Recognition alongside their daughters. The requirements are the same and they use their own book (their daughter’s may sign off on their requirements, which I think is pretty cool) but daughters should earn their Recognition before their mothers do.

As before, leaders may earn their Young Womanhood Recognition, with adjusted requirements as outlined in the Personal Progress book.

Also new this year, certificates are available for girls advancing to a new class (i.e. Beehive to Mia Maid). These are not connected to the Personal Progress program.

This isn’t a big overhaul like we’ve seen in years past, which is nice. At least for those of us trying to keep certain databases current.

BSA is turning 100 years old and doing it in style. While there are commemorative patches and rallies and such, the best idea (in this writer’s opinion) is what they’re calling Adventure Base 100.

This 10,000 square foot traveling attraction features a rope course, interactive exhibits, a zip line, an “IMAX-like” theater in the Go Scouting! Dome and a museum outlining BSA’s long history. It sounds like a blast.

Adventure Base 100 will hit more than 40 major cities across the US before the year is through (it’s already made a handful of stops), so go to their site to see if it will be coming anywhere near you. If it is, mark your calendar.

Even if you don’t make it to the real thing, the website has virtual tours, video footage from previous stops, and a virtual pinewood derby. You don’t even need sandpaper.

I’ll be touching on the BSA 100 Years theme a bit more throughout the year, but you can also check out this online “Get Into the Action” guide put out by the BSA.

Now where’s the birthday cake?

Welcome to the blog of the America Jane website. The site is a database of Cub Scout programs (Tiger, Bear, Wolf and Webelos) and Boy Scout programs (Scout and Tenderfoot through Eagle) as well as all the youth programs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS or Mormons) including Faith in God, Duty to God and Personal Progress.

The database includes every requirement needed to earn awards or rank advancements in those programs. I’ve also included requirements for all cub scout belt loops and pins, cub scout special awards, boy scout merit badges and boy scout special awards.

It’s a huge database, but I’m not done yet.

Phase Two will offer a resource unlike anything else on the web and should make it FAR easier for parents to help their youth successfully navigate these programs.

Follow the blog for tips, news, activities, site updates and whatever else comes to mind.