Merit Badge Day
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Scout Spirit, Active, Special Needs, Eagle Projects, Scoutmaster Conferences,
Boards of Review, Appeals, Courts of Honor, Time Extensions, and more.
A Merit Badge Day may also be known as a:
Merit badge days are often hosted by local councils, districts, troops, civic groups, fraternities, or charter organizations and held at a college campus, high school, civic area or during a camporee. Many merit badge days are held once or twice a year, often in the fall, winter, or spring.
The largest merit badge event is the National Jamboree Merit Badge Midway established at Fort A.P. Hill. Since 1981, this program has been held at each jamboree and is expected to feature hundreds of counselors offering nearly 100 merit badges to thousands of Boy Scouts at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree.
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Overview
A merit badge day let's Scouts learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers. A merit badge day may focus on a single merit badge or offer a variety of fields to explore that might not normally be available. Observatories, planetariums, parks, museums, ships, colleges, universities, police, and fire departments may offer special events available only to Scouts and only one day each year. Scouts might learn first-hand from dentists, veterinaries, doctors, lawyers, financial planners, engineers, chemists, artists, astronomers, scientists, and other experts.
Many merit badge events also offer training in the skills needed through the First Class Rank as well as adult and youth leader training. Regardless of the setting or content, the goal is to have fun as you learn new skills and gain knowledge.
Often certain requirements must be completed outside of the merit badge day either as preparation or in completing the work with a merit badge counselor back home.
Boy Scout Requirements
Most merit badge days follow the Boy Scout Requirements and Advancement Policies.
| The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: Boy Scout Requirements, 2012 Edition (BSA Supply No. 34765) |
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| — Boy Scout Requirements p. 22 - 23. |
Advancement Policies
| The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: Advancement Committee Policies & Procedures, October, 2009 Edition (BSA Supply No. 33088) |
- Group Instruction of Merit Badges
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| — Advancement Policies #33088, p. 26) |
- Troop and Team Merit Badge Counselors
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| — Advancement Policies #33088, p. 14) |
- Responsibility for Merit Badges
- Main: Responsibility for Merit Badges </b>
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| — Advancement Policies #33088, p. 17) |
- Qualifications of Counselors
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| — Advancement Policies #33088, p. 13) |
Merit Badges Offered
A merit badge day may focus on a single merit badge or offer a variety of fields to explore that might not normally be available.
Merit Badges offered might include:
Merit Badge Worksheets
Merit Badge Worksheets allow Merit Badge Counselors to offer group instruction but still test each Scout individually. The counselor can see who is understanding and who will need more time. Worksheets require the Scout to be an active listener not just hearing words but understanding concepts.
Cub Scout Belt Loop Days
There are also many Cub Scout Belt Loop Days are sometimes called Loopapaloza's that may be offered at the same time as a merit badge day or as a separate event. These events may focus on Cub Scout Academics or Cub Scout Sports belt loops and pins. In two moring and two afternnon sessions, Cub Scouts may earn up to four Belt Loops. Cub Scout Worksheets are available for all belt loops and pins.
Webelos Days
Similarly, a Webelos Day or Webelos Workshop may be scheduled to coincide with other events or as a separate event. Indoor settings Webelos might work on Readyman, Citizen, Scientist, Craftsman, or Engineer. In outdoor settings, Webelos Days might include Outdoorsman, Aquanaut, Naturalist, Forester, or Geologist. Webelos Worksheets for all 20 Activity Badges.
Scouting Magazine Articles
Scouting Magazine has featured numerous merit badge events in its articles for adult leaders:
- Astronomy for Scout Groups - Observing the stars and planets makes a great group activity.
- Merit Badges and Five Arrows- South Florida Council's annual college, 900 Scouts earn all or part of more than 2,800 merit badges, while another 400 Scouts work toward First Class in a special advancement program.
- Days of Discovery - Missouri merit badge college
- Troop 73's 2,500-Mile Learning Adventure - Scout Spirit Days& - a special Walt Disney World program for earning merit badges..
- High-Tech Badges and High-Ideal Lives - The annual merit badge weekend at the U.S. Naval Academy lets Scouts and midshipmen share good times and common values.
- Partnerships for Learning - Merit badge clinics and Webelos Scout workshops presented at the St. Louis Science Center.
- Tools of the Trade - A Wisconsin troop's annual Home Improvement Camporee gives Scouts hands-on experience in the building trades while they perform a service project.
- Great Times at Merit Badge U - Alpha Phi Omega, the national service fraternity, hosts a day on the University of Texas campus in Austin for Boy Scouts and Venturers to work on merit badges and other outdoor skills.
- What a Blast! - Hands-on experience, quality instructors, great facilities, and fun have made this Utah merit badge event a soaring success for 48 years.
- Trek Into History - The Henry Ford serves as the ideal vehicle for a weekend of learning and fun for Detroit-area Scouts.
- A Garden State First - New Jersey State Police team with five local Scout councils to host 6,100 campers for a first mega-camporee dedicated to learning about law enforcement.
- News Briefs - Georgia Merit Badge University Looks to Repeat Success
- Rendezvous at Ripley - Five Scout councils team with a National Guard facility to host 9,000 campers at a mega camporee filled with history themes, action centers, and merit badge workshops.
- A Boost Toward Eagle - A council's special camp helps older Scouts move up the Trail to Eagle by offering instruction in required merit badges - plus a healthy dose of high adventure.
- Seeing Beyond Disabilities - A special camporee lets Scouts personally experience the impact of different physical handicaps and also realize that such limitations need not keep a person from living a full life.
- To God and Country - Georgia and Alabama Scouts convene at a site rich in historical significance for a weekend focusing on issues of citizenship and the importance of spirituality in their lives plus American Cultures and American Heritage merit badges.'
See also
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Merit Badge information
- An Introduction to Merit Badges – how to get started, who chooses the counselor, etc.
- Merit Badge Worksheets & Requirements – with the revision dates, diagrams, charts, checklists, logs, and links you need.
- Merit Badge Application – offers online resources to let you print "Blue Cards," etc.
- Merit Badge FAQ – answers dozens of questions like: Who can be a counselor? Can requirements be added or removed?
- Merit Badges Requiring Prior Approval – Certain requirements need prior approval. Most do not. Here is the list.
- Also see: Most Popular Merit Badges – Merit Badge Policies – Eagle-Required Merit Badges – Merit Badge Days
- Additionally: List of Merit Badges by Field of Study – Merit Badge Pamphlets & Libraries
- Merit Badge Counselors must complete Youth Protection Training, file an Adult Application (and Merit Badge Counselor Information Form); and be approved by the local council. (See the Guide for Merit Badge Counselors for additional details.)
Controversies
Some merit badge days state publicly that they do not follow the Boy Scout Requirements or Advancement Policies.
External Links
- Listing of Merit Badge Days] throughout the US.
- Coronado Council Kansas State University
- Rainbow Council Pathways to Eagle
- Troop 9 Merit Badge Seminar University of Illinois campus
- Alpha Phi Omega - A coeducational service fraternity in many US colleges and universities founded on the principles of the BSA and Scout Oath and Law.
- Epsilon Tau Pi - Eagle Scout Fraternity
