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The merit badge program is designed to allow Scouts to explore many fields, help round out their skills, and introduces them to subjects that will perhaps become lifelong interests or a rewarding career. Scouts can explore subjects from Astronomy to Woodwork, and from Backpacking to Personal Finance, by choosing from among more than a hundred merit badges taught by registered counselors who have a degree of expertise in the particular area of study. The merit badge system is designed to propel the Scout beyond the home, to learn to communicate and work with adults.
The opportunity to earn merit badges comes in four ways:
- Individual initiative where the Scout gains approval of the Scoutmaster and commitment from a qualified Merit Badge Counselor for the merit badge of interest.
- Merit badge instruction is a big part of the Summer Camp program and most Scouts earn 3-4 merit badges at each year’s camp.
- The Troop arranges for instruction in merit badges such as First Aid.
- At various local Merit Badge Midways held throughout the year.
There are more than 120 merit badges for Scouts to choose from. Scouts may earn any merit badge at any time, with Scoutmaster approval. Scouts shouldn’t wait for someone to tell them when and which merit badge to work on! They don’t need to reach a certain rank in order to be eligible. However, they should concentrate on achieving the rank of First Class before devoting a lot time to working on merit badges.
While a Scout of any rank may earn any merit badge, the requirements for Star, Life, and Eagle ranks require Scouts to earn merit badges. Twelve specified merit badges are required by the time a Scout achieves Eagle. Eagles must earn an additional nine optional badges for a total of twenty-one.
Troop 3:16 supports and encourages a Scout’s merit badge program, but each Scout is ultimately responsible for achieving his own merit badge goals. The procedure for earning a merit badge outside of a merit badge camp or class is as follows:
- Pick a subject. Talk to the Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster for about your interests. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you. Pick one to earn.
- Obtain a signed blue card from the Scoutmaster. The blue card is the authorization for you to begin work on the merit badge. Fill in your name, address, and the name of the badge, and ask the Scoutmaster to sign it.
- Obtain a pamphlet for the merit badge you will be working on. Reading the merit badge pamphlet will make completing the Merit Badge infinitely easier. The merit badge pamphlet may be borrowed from the Troop Library, borrowed from the Public Library, or purchased at the Scout Shop. Another excellent resource is meritbadge.com.
- Contact a merit badge counselor. Contact a counselor for the merit badge you are working on from the Troop’s list of merit badge counselors. Scouts should avoid, if possible, having their parents as the merit badge counselor. The counselor may ask you to come and see them so they can explain what they expect and start helping you meet the requirements. In meeting with the merit badge counselor, he should be prepared with any materials needed, as indicated by the counselor. You must always meet with the counselor with a buddy such as another Scout, a Parent or a friend. Never meet with the counselor without your buddy present.
- Complete each merit badge requirement. When you know what is expected, start to learn and do the things required. You must complete the stated requirements and satisfy the standards of each merit badge. YOU (not the counselor, Scoutmaster, or Advancement Chairman) keep the merit badge card until you have completed the requirements.
- Show your stuff. When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment to meet the requirements. When you go take along the things you have made to meet the requirements. If they are too big to move, take pictures or have an adult tell in writing what you have done. The counselor will ask you to do each requirement to make sure that you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required. The merit badge counselor may encourage you to do more than the requirements state but he or she may not require it.
- Give your counselor the signed blue card. As you complete all the merit badge requirements, the counselor will initial and date the specific requirement to show that you have completed it. After all requirements have been completed, the counselor will sign off and retain a portion of the card for his/her records. Only the counselor for the particular merit badge may approve a Scout's receipt of that badge. If you change counselors for any reason, it is up to the new counselor whether or not he or she will accept the work you did with the previous counselor.
- Return the completed card to a member of the Advancement Committee. It is your responsibility to make sure the blue card is completed and submitted. If you attend a summer camp, you must get the blue card from the instructor (note: Emerald Bay provides “electronic” blue cards). No Advancements will be awarded without a properly completed blue card.
- Your merit badge will be presented at an upcoming Troop Meeting or Court of Honor. For each merit badge earned, the Scout is given a patch to signify the achievement, along with a portion of the blue card. The Scout should retain his blue cards as a record for use in future Rank Advancement.
There is no deadline for earning merit badges, except the Scout's 18th birthday. Once a Scout has started working on a merit badge (i.e., obtained a signed "Blue Card" from the Scoutmaster, had an initial discussion with a merit badge counselor, and started working on the requirements), he may continue using those requirements until he completes the badge or turns 18.
See Also
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 | | "Tomorrow's Leader" by Norman Rockwell |
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