Merit Badges
What are merit badges?
"The Scouting program emphasizes helping young men develop character, citizenship, and mental and physical fitness. Among the handful of methods used to build on these aims of Scouting are adult association, leadership development, and advancement.
Besides parents and relatives, schoolteachers, religious leaders, and possibly coaches, most Scout-age youth don't have much contact with many other adults or professionals. A Scout's association with his merit badge counselors provides an excellent way for him to grow and gain confidence through exposure to quality adults who serve as positive role models and mentors to him. Meeting people from business and community leaders to trained specialists and enthusiastic hobbyists, a Scout can experience a chance for personal growth and a positive life-altering experience while in pursuit of a merit badge."
How do merit badges factor into rank requirements?
The first three scout ranks (Tenderfoot, second class, first class) do not have any merit badge requirements. These ranks primarily focus on learning outdoor scouting skills.
The next three scout ranks (Star, Life, Eagle) focus more on leadership skills and include merit badge requirements.
Star Scout requirements include earning a total of six merit badges including 4 from the Eagle list. Life Scout requirements include 5 more merit badges (11 in total) including 3 more from the Eagle list. Currently there are a total of 127 merit badges in the BSA program, which cover nearly every conceivable topic (see intoduction to merit badge PDF). Among other Eagle requirements, scouts must earn a total of 21 merit badges, which must include the following 12:
How/where do scouts earn merit badges?
Merit badges are meant to be somewhat self driven (self leadership) a scout wanting to work on a merit badge needs to contact the Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster will contact the merit badge counselors to see if there are any available, if there are available counselors the Scoutmaster will give the scouts the contact info and a blue card, it will then be up to the scout to contact the counselor to schedule a time to work on the merit badge.
Beyond summer camp, there is currently only one other organized opportunity to earn merit badges, The Merit Badge Fair which takes place the weekend following Thanksgiving. The Merit Badge Fair allows scouts to earn additional merit badges in various subjects.
How Can I Become A Merit Badge Counselor?
"As a merit badge counselor, your mission is to join fun with learning. You are both a teacher and mentor to the Scout as he works on a merit badge and learns by doing."
If you’ve been wondering how you can get involved with the scouting program on a limited time-requirement basis here is your opportunity. There are 137 merit badges to choose from. If you’re a stamp collector, engineer, dog breeder, cyclist, architect, graphic designer, whatever, there is likely a merit badge that you would be more than qualified to teach once you familiarize yourself with the specific badge requirements. We could either set up additional merit badge workshops at future Troop meetings or you could schedule a session on your own time with a small group of interested scouts, or, just be on call if a scout shows an interest in earning a particular merit badge on their own and needs a counselor to coach them.
1. Fill out a BSA Adult Application form and the Merit Badge Counselor Application form
2. Go to the BSA website and take the Youth Protection Training
3. Submit to the Great Alaska Council
4. Once your form has been approved and you will be added to the MBC Spreadsheet and the Scoutmaster will contact you when a Scout wants to work on a Merit Badge that you can teach.
Link to BSA Merit Badge page, with information and links to all badges.
http://www.scouting.org/meritbadges.aspx
http://meritbadge.org
"The Scouting program emphasizes helping young men develop character, citizenship, and mental and physical fitness. Among the handful of methods used to build on these aims of Scouting are adult association, leadership development, and advancement.
Besides parents and relatives, schoolteachers, religious leaders, and possibly coaches, most Scout-age youth don't have much contact with many other adults or professionals. A Scout's association with his merit badge counselors provides an excellent way for him to grow and gain confidence through exposure to quality adults who serve as positive role models and mentors to him. Meeting people from business and community leaders to trained specialists and enthusiastic hobbyists, a Scout can experience a chance for personal growth and a positive life-altering experience while in pursuit of a merit badge."
How do merit badges factor into rank requirements?
The first three scout ranks (Tenderfoot, second class, first class) do not have any merit badge requirements. These ranks primarily focus on learning outdoor scouting skills.
The next three scout ranks (Star, Life, Eagle) focus more on leadership skills and include merit badge requirements.
Star Scout requirements include earning a total of six merit badges including 4 from the Eagle list. Life Scout requirements include 5 more merit badges (11 in total) including 3 more from the Eagle list. Currently there are a total of 127 merit badges in the BSA program, which cover nearly every conceivable topic (see intoduction to merit badge PDF). Among other Eagle requirements, scouts must earn a total of 21 merit badges, which must include the following 12:
- First Aid
- Citizenship in the Community
- Citizenship in the Nation
- Citizenship in the World
- Communications
- Environmental Science
- Personal Fitness
- Camping
- Family Life
- Personal Management
- Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving
- Cycling, Hiking, or Swimming
How/where do scouts earn merit badges?
Merit badges are meant to be somewhat self driven (self leadership) a scout wanting to work on a merit badge needs to contact the Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster will contact the merit badge counselors to see if there are any available, if there are available counselors the Scoutmaster will give the scouts the contact info and a blue card, it will then be up to the scout to contact the counselor to schedule a time to work on the merit badge.
Beyond summer camp, there is currently only one other organized opportunity to earn merit badges, The Merit Badge Fair which takes place the weekend following Thanksgiving. The Merit Badge Fair allows scouts to earn additional merit badges in various subjects.
How Can I Become A Merit Badge Counselor?
"As a merit badge counselor, your mission is to join fun with learning. You are both a teacher and mentor to the Scout as he works on a merit badge and learns by doing."
If you’ve been wondering how you can get involved with the scouting program on a limited time-requirement basis here is your opportunity. There are 137 merit badges to choose from. If you’re a stamp collector, engineer, dog breeder, cyclist, architect, graphic designer, whatever, there is likely a merit badge that you would be more than qualified to teach once you familiarize yourself with the specific badge requirements. We could either set up additional merit badge workshops at future Troop meetings or you could schedule a session on your own time with a small group of interested scouts, or, just be on call if a scout shows an interest in earning a particular merit badge on their own and needs a counselor to coach them.
1. Fill out a BSA Adult Application form and the Merit Badge Counselor Application form
2. Go to the BSA website and take the Youth Protection Training
3. Submit to the Great Alaska Council
4. Once your form has been approved and you will be added to the MBC Spreadsheet and the Scoutmaster will contact you when a Scout wants to work on a Merit Badge that you can teach.
Link to BSA Merit Badge page, with information and links to all badges.
http://www.scouting.org/meritbadges.aspx
http://meritbadge.org
Merit Badge Info for the Scouts
1. The Scout talks to the Scoutmaster about the Merit Badge (MB) he is interested in working on.
2. The Scout gets the Scoutmasters approval by getting the Blue Card signed by the Scoutmaster.
1. A Merit Badge Counselor (MBC) is assigned by the Scout Master and the MBC contact info is given to the Scout with the Blue Card
3. The Scout arranges a meeting with the MBC. (Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be another Scout, your parents or guardian, a brother or sister, a relative, or a friend.)
4. The MBC and Scout have a conference about the MB.
1. The MB process is explained to the Scout requesting the blue card.
2. They discuss in detail what is required and expected for each and every requirement.
a. The MBC explains which part(s) can be done at home and what is required for proof of completion.
b. The MBC explains which part(s) need to be done in front of the MBC and what needs to be presented in front of the Troop.
3. This is all done so everything is understood before going into each MB.
(There are Merit Badge Worksheets available to use click here)
5. The MBC and Scout (initiated and requested by the scout, unless the MBC deems otherwise) will have weekly, bi-weekly or monthly status reports.
1. This time period really depends on the complexity and length of MB in question and is set during the MBC conference to track scouts progress and further clarify the requirements if needed.
6. Upon full completion of the MB, a full review of the MV with the MBC to confirm compliance with the requirements, the MBC will sign the blue card and return it to the Scout.
7. The Scout then needs to turn the blue card into the Scoutmaster for signature.
2. The Scout gets the Scoutmasters approval by getting the Blue Card signed by the Scoutmaster.
1. A Merit Badge Counselor (MBC) is assigned by the Scout Master and the MBC contact info is given to the Scout with the Blue Card
3. The Scout arranges a meeting with the MBC. (Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be another Scout, your parents or guardian, a brother or sister, a relative, or a friend.)
4. The MBC and Scout have a conference about the MB.
1. The MB process is explained to the Scout requesting the blue card.
2. They discuss in detail what is required and expected for each and every requirement.
a. The MBC explains which part(s) can be done at home and what is required for proof of completion.
b. The MBC explains which part(s) need to be done in front of the MBC and what needs to be presented in front of the Troop.
3. This is all done so everything is understood before going into each MB.
(There are Merit Badge Worksheets available to use click here)
5. The MBC and Scout (initiated and requested by the scout, unless the MBC deems otherwise) will have weekly, bi-weekly or monthly status reports.
1. This time period really depends on the complexity and length of MB in question and is set during the MBC conference to track scouts progress and further clarify the requirements if needed.
6. Upon full completion of the MB, a full review of the MV with the MBC to confirm compliance with the requirements, the MBC will sign the blue card and return it to the Scout.
7. The Scout then needs to turn the blue card into the Scoutmaster for signature.