The boy scout handbook ($10) is pretty important to have as your boy passes off achievements. He can keep track of his tasks and merit badges in the front, and his leaders sign them off in the back.
The rank advancements go in this order: Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class. (These are the ones he will work on as a New Scout. He should be able to get to the rank of 1st Class by the time he is 12. I have seen several boys get to Star before they turn 12.) Then Star, Life, Eagle.
Then Bronze Palm, Gold Palm, and Silver Palm. These are for extra merit badges after the Eagle is earned.
The BSA shirts can be expensive ($35), try looking for one on ebay, Deseret Industries, Craigslist, etc. My sons had outgrown their youth size large shirts by the time they were 13. You might not want to pay full price for a new one until he gets bigger.
Campouts are critical for advancement for the first three levels of scouting. Make sure to go on them every chance you get.
Get a three-ring binder, some baseball card sheet protectors and some folders. You can keep the merit badge worksheets in the folders and the merit badge cards (blank or filled-out) and your rank advancement cards in the baseball card holders quite nicely.
If your son gets the First Aid or Swimming merit badges while he is a New Scout, then he will also have passed off the requirements in the 2nd and 1st Class rank advancements for the swimming and first aid.
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