Merit Badges are a requirement for advancement at the higher
levels of scouting beginning at Star.
The merit badges are categorized into regular and Eagle required merit
badges. The actual badges for
Eagle-required merit badges come with white borders- that is why you will hear
people say “Is that a white border, or he needs two more white borders.” (You
can find Merit badges on pages 188-93 in Scout handbook.)
The advancement process breaks down the merit badge requirements so that Eagle required badges are acquired along the path to Eagle, not at the end of the advancement process.
Star Requirements: A total of six merit badges, four must be Eagle required
Life Requirements: Five more merit badges, three must be Eagle required
Eagle Requirements: 10 more merit badges – including First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Physical Fitness, Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving, Environmental Science, Personal Management, Swimming or Hiking or Cycling, Camping and Family Life.
Eagle Palms: Five additional merit badges beyond what is required for Eagle (Bronze Palm, Gold Palm, 5 more, Silver Palm, 5 more!
(Advancement specifications for Star, Life, Eagle and Eagle Palms can be found on pages 444-449 in the Scout handbook.)
The Merit Badge Process:
Look through the book to
determine what interests him. This will let your Scout know what is
involved in achieving the different merit badges. It is a good idea to check here before you get the book. .
Check first to see if we
have a copy of the merit badge book in our Troop 1201 library. Matt Vaughn is the current librarian and he
can help your son find out what books we have.
If we don’t have one, you can purchase the books at the Scout shop. (Please give it to our library when your
Scout has completed the merit badge!!!)
Once your Scout has
determined which merit badge(s) he wants to work on, he should contact the
Scoutmaster to get a blue card. This
card should be filled out completely and must be taken to the first meeting the
Scout has with his merit badge counselor.
This is the official document that will eventually be turned into
Council as documentation that the merit badge has been completed.
Next your Scout needs to
find a merit badge counselor. There is
a list available from the Scoutmaster or Troop Committee Chairman. Though Troop
1201 has a number of merit badge counselors, it is recommended that the boys
pick someone they do not know. Part of
the advantages of the merit badge process is the opportunity to learn how to
work with and communicate with other adults.
Once work begins on the
merit badge, the Scout’s progress is directed and monitored by the merit badge
counselor. Troop 1201 is working to
develop ways to assist Scouts in meeting some of the requirements for merit
badges and having the Scout communicate their needs to their patrol leader or
advancement advisor can do this.
However, the troop is not responsible for providing the opportunity to
complete merit badge requirements. This
is the individual’s responsibility.
Once the merit badge is
complete, the Scout will have the merit counselor sign his blue card. Here is the touchy part. Make sure the card gets taken out of your
Scout’s pants or shirt before you wash it!!!!
The card is then turned into the Scoutmaster.
At this point, your son
is done and the work is left to our troop records folks to make sure the merit
badge is recorded in the various places it needs to be --- for instance in the
Scout’s Troopmaster file and on the website.
Then the advancement team will submit the documentation to Council and
the actual badge will be presented at the next Court of Honor.
Suggestions in helping your Scout with Merit Badges:
·
Don’t have them tackle
too many merit badges at once.
·
Make sure they are
doing the work; asking for the blue card,
the phone calls to the merit badge counselor and all other associated
activities. This is how they learn.
·
Encourage your son to
pick merit badges that they enjoy and see as an opportunity to learn a skill or
about something new, rather than only a means to advancement.
·
Make sure that your
son is at a mature enough age for certain merit badges. Many of the Eagle merit badges require a
certain level of maturity for the boy to really learn from what is being
presented.
·
Merit badge days are
available district-wide. However, for
some of the more complex merit badges, your Scout will get more out of the effort
by working one on one with a merit badge counselor.