Troop 764 Advancement Merit Badges

Merit Badges

“Two of the reasons for the Scout Merit Badge Plan are (1) to give you more skill in things you like to do; (2) to give you a chance to try out new activities, so that you can find new things which you really like.” Handbook for Boys, 5^th ed., 1948.

A merit badge is an invitation to explore an exciting subject. Many are designed to help increase your ability to be of service to others, take part in outdoor adventures, better understand the environment, and play a valuable role in your family and community.

Earning a merit badge can even lead you toward a lifelong hobby or set you on the way to a rewarding career. Steven Spielberg says that earning the Photography merit badge helped him on his way to a distinguished career in filmmaking. While earning the Weather merit badge, Justin Cook, one of Troop 764’s Eagle Scouts, developed such a passion for the field that he decided to study meteorology at Penn State.

There are two general types of merit badges: those required for Eagle Scout and all others (electives):

· Eagle-required merit badges (12 total)

1. Camping

2. Citizenship in the Community

3. Citizenship in the Nation

4. Citizenship in the World

5. Communications

6. Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving

7. Environmental Science

8. First Aid

9. Cycling OR Hiking OR Swimming

10. Personal Management

11. Personal Fitness

12. Family Life

· All others (electives)

- From American Business to Woodwork

Questions?

How do I earn a merit badge? What are the steps involved?

There are eight steps in earning a merit badge:

1. Pick a subject.

Think of a merit badge that might interest you. Check to see if you need one or more Eagle-required merit badges for your next rank. Whatever it is, decide that you want to spend time working on that badge.

2. Assemble your resources.

These are (1) the most current edition of Boy Scout Requirements and (2) the current pamphlet for the merit badge you’re interested in working on. Remember:

· Use the Requirements book to get the most up-to-date list of requirements for your merit badge. If you use an outdated source, you might have to complete additional requirements when you thought you were finished!

· Use the merit badge pamphlet as an information resource for help in completing individual requirements. Even if the pamphlet is not current, the information it contains can still help you. You can save a lot of time by using the merit badge pamphlets. They usually have most, it not all, of the information you need to complete the badge. Some badges can’t be completed without using them. It’s worth the time to check the troop library, or buy one at the Scout Shop.

3. Get a “blue card.”

Pick up a “blue card” from the Scout Hut or buy a few at the Scout Shop to keep on hand when you need them. This will be your official way of keeping track of which requirements you’ve finished and the date you finished them.

Fill in all the information you can on all sides of the card. There are three sections – Counselor’s Record, Applicant’s Record, and Application for a Merit Badge. Be sure you’ve completed all the information that’s requested. Remember - the Scoutmaster or advancement committee member must approve your work on the merit badge by signing the blue card before you start!

4. Contact the merit badge coordinator.

Tell the coordinator which merit badge you’d like to work on and why. You will be assigned a qualified merit badge counselor, usually an adult leader in the troop. Remember - the Scoutmaster or advancement committee member must approve your work on the merit badge by signing the blue card before you start! You will work directly with your counselor to complete your merit badge.

5. Contact your merit badge counselor.

· Set up a meeting with your counselor to discuss the merit badge you want to work on.

· Go over the requirements. Discuss those that you might need help in completing.

· You may have to complete some requirements where your counselor is not present. Remember that your counselor must be satisfied that you have completed all requirements exactly as stated.

· If you have any questions, this is a good time to ask them. Be sure to ask if your counselor wants to check off one or two requirements as you finish them, or wait until you’re completely finished and have one comprehensive session to review everything. Ask where the review sessions will be held (your home or the Scout Hut).

· Have your counselor sign the Applicant’s Record section of your blue card. You’re now ready to begin.

Important: In all meetings with your counselor, always have at least one other person there with you. You cannot meet alone with your merit badge counselor. This is part of BSA’s “two-deep” leadership for youth protection. Better yet, work on a merit badge with a friend. If you meet with your counselor in a group session like a troop meeting, have the meeting in an open area where other people can see you.

6. Complete the requirements.

Work on the requirements. Meet with your counselor. Get your completed requirements signed off on the back of the blue card. When all of the requirements are completed, have your counselor sign and date the application section of your blue card. Check to see that all the information requested on the card has been filled in. Make a copy of your final blue card.

7. Give your completed blue card directly to the merit badge coordinator or the advancement chair.

That means, put it in their hands or call and drop it off at their home. They will take your blue card; buy your merit badge; put the information into the computer; and give the Scoutmaster your merit badge stapled to your blue card for presentation at the next troop meeting (you’ll receive the white merit badge card at the next court of honor).

DO NOT give blue cards to the Scoutmaster or any other adult leader; only the merit badge coordinator or the advancement chair. DO NOT turn in a blue card that is only partially signed off (you need to keep it until you have completed all of the requirements for the merit badge). DO NOT put the blue card in a folder in the Scout Hut. DO NOT tear off sections of it.

8. Get recognized for your achievement!

As with rank advancements, you will receive your award at the next troop meeting. Your blue card will be returned to you then. You will be recognized for your accomplishment at the next court of honor, and you will receive the record card for your new badge. Remember to keep your merit badge record card, as well as your blue card, in a safe place. Congratulations!

Is there any time limit on completing a merit badge?

No. As with rank advancement, you may take as long as you need to finish the requirements. NOTE: Some merit badges do have time requirements. However, there are at least three good reasons to finish them as soon as you can and not procrastinate:

1. You’ll get it out of the way!

2. You may lose your blue card or forget which requirements you’ve completed, and have to start all over again. Unfortunately, that’s happened. There may be that one community meeting you have to attend and you put it off. In the meantime, a year has gone by, and you can’t find your blue card. Agh!!!! Don’t put the advancement committee in the awkward position of taking your word that you finished the requirements when you have no proof.

3. The requirements may change. If different requirements are published in the next year’s Boy Scout Requirements book, you may be asked to complete these new requirements.

Are there any group merit badge sessions available to Scouts in Troop 764?

Yes. Check the troop website or announcements at troop meetings for details.

Can I work on more than one merit badge at a time?

Yes.

Do I have to be any certain rank before I begin working on merit badges?

No. For most merit badges, you can work on any one at any time, subject to approval by your merit badge counselor. A few merit badges are prerequisites for another (e.g., you need to earn Swimming before Lifesaving).

Can my parents be my merit badge counselor and check off my requirements?

We would prefer that you use another adult as a merit badge counselor who is proficient in the subject of your merit badge, is registered as a merit badge counselor, and has been assigned by one of the troop merit badge coordinators.

Why can’t I just ask the Scoutmaster or my assistant Scoutmaster to check me off?

They have other jobs to do. Having specific merit badge counselors gives you someone who can focus on helping you when you need them. This also spreads out the work and provides a way for more parents to get involved with the troop.

Can I get another Scout to be my merit badge counselor?

No. BSA policy requires that merit badge counselors are at least 18 years old. A Scout may lead various merit badge sessions that will help you complete one or more requirements, but your troop-assigned counselor must supervise these sessions. Your adult counselor is your primary resource in helping you and reviewing your progress.

Is there any special registration for merit badge counselors?

Yes. They must complete an Adult Leadership Application form, even if they are already a registered BSA leader. They will list “42” in the position code, which indicates merit badge counselor. There is no additional fee. Applicants must also complete a Merit Badge Information form indicating which badges they wish to instruct and why they are qualified to teach them. The merit badge coordinator is responsible for ensuring that all troop counselors are properly registered.

Can Scouts teach merit badges at summer camp like they teach rank requirements?

Scouts may assist adult leaders, but can’t be the primary merit badge counselor, who must be 18 years old according to BSA policy.

Isn’t it a good idea to review the requirements I’ve completed with my merit badge counselor at a troop meeting? That way we save some time by not scheduling a separate meeting.

No. There’s too much going on at a troop meeting for the two of you to focus on your merit badge requirements. Besides, you’ll not be participating in troop and patrol activities. Do not ask your merit badge counselor to review merit badge requirements during a troop meeting. Schedule some quiet time where you can both focus on reviewing requirements. If you and your counselor are participating in the same monthly outdoor activity, you might find some time to talk about your progress in the car, in camp, or on the trail.

Why do certain merit badges have a silver border while others have a green border?

Good question – you’ve been paying attention! Eagle-required merit badges have a silver border. All others (“electives”) have a green border.

Why do I need to use a blue card? Why do I need to keep it?

The blue card is the official BSA method of keeping records on merit badges. If you ever change troops, your new troop may ask to see your blue cards as proof that you completed the badges. Keeping good records is so important as you work on a badge. If you lose your blue card while you’re working on a badge, you’ll have no record that you’ve completed any of the requirements. Keep your records safe – both the blue card and the merit badge record card you receive when you receive your new merit badge. Put them in a box or drawer that only has your Scout stuff in it.

Will the troop keep a list on my computer record of the requirements I earn, even if I don’t complete the entire merit badge?

Yes and no. Any requirements met at summer camp (“partials”) will be recorded. If a Scout takes the initiative and tells the advancement records coordinator of any partials he has (from group instruction, like NESA Day, or a badge he’s working on alone), those will be entered. If not, the Scout is responsible for keeping track of any partial requirements he’s met.

So You Know Advancement?

Test Your Skills!

Merit Badges

True or false –

Merit badge requirements rarely change.

False. In 1998, revised requirements were published for 23 merit badges; in 2001, for seven merit badges; and 2002, for 10. If you use out-of-date merit badge pamphlets, you could find yourself with more work to do when you thought you were finished. (Personal Management is an Eagle-required badge that went through extensive revision in 1998.) Be safe and use the most current Boy Scout Requirements book.

The merit badges required for Eagle haven’t changed in years.

False. There were major changes in the merit badges required for Eagle Scout beginning in 1999. Safety is no longer required for Eagle; Personal Fitness replaced it. The requirement for Swimming OR Personal Fitness OR Sports was changed to Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling.

There is no real way to visually distinguish between an Eagle-required and non-Eagle required merit badge.

False. Eagle-required merit badges have a silver border. All others have a green border.

A Scout must be at least 1^st Class before working on merit badges.

False. A Scout can work on any merit badge at any time, except those merit badges that require a prerequisite badge (e.g., Swimming before Lifesaving).

Group instruction of merit badges is not permitted.

False. Group instruction can occur at the council level (held by the National Eagle Scout Association - NESA Day – once a year), district level, or troop level. The same procedures are in effect for all instruction, whether it’s in an individual or group setting.

A Scout can be a merit badge counselor.

False. A Merit Badge Counselor must be at least 18 years old. A Scout can lead a merit badge session but must be actively supervised by an approved adult merit badge counselor.

Merit badge counselors can substitute requirements as they deem appropriate.

False. No addition or deletion of any requirement is permitted at the council, district, or troop level.

A merit badge counselor is a recognized BSA leader.

False. Merit badge counselors register with the district in which they serve. They are not an officially recognized BSA leader unless they have also registered separately as a BSA leader with their troop or district. Currently registered adult leaders are encouraged to become merit badge counselors.

A merit badge counselor has to be affiliated with the troop or with BSA in general.

False. Adults with specialized knowledge who have no other affiliation with BSA can make great merit badge counselors (e.g., lawyers, health care professionals, pilots, photographers, business people, scientists). The guiding principle is that the counselor is proficient in the subject by vocation, hobby, or special training . . . and wants to help!

There are no special sign-up procedures for merit badge counselors.

False. Adults must register as merit badge counselors, even if they are already registered as a BSA leader in their troop or the district. A separate Adult Leader Application form must be completed, with “42” (indicating “merit badge counselor”) written in for the position code. No fee is required. Applicants must also complete a Merit Badge Information form indicating which badges they wish to instruct and why they are qualified to teach them. The troop merit badge coordinator is responsible for ensuring that all troop counselors are properly registered with the district.