Merit Badges on ScoutmasterCG Archive

Scout Requirements and "Double Dipping

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Can a Scout fulfill more than one requirement with a single activity? The answer is always clear after a careful reading of the Scout requirements and the directions in the Guide to Advancement 2015 – 4.2.3.6 Fulfilling More Than One Requirement With a Single Activity From time to time it may be appropriate for a Scout to apply what was done to meet one requirement toward the completion of another. In deciding whether to allow this, unit leaders or merit badge counselors should consider the following. When, for all practical purposes, two requirements match up exactly and have the same basic intent—for example, camping nights for Second Class and First Class ranks and for the Camping merit badge—it is appropriate and permissible, unless it is stated otherwise in the requirements, to use those matching activities for both the ranks and the merit badge.

25 Skills Every Man Should Know

Sat, 17 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Popular Mechanics has published an article entitled 25 Skills Every Man Should Know : “…we spent weeks fine-tuning our list of “25 Skills Every Man Should Know,” debating over whether certain items were too basic, too challenging or just too obscure. You can find a full how-to rundown of each one in the October issue.”

I looked at the list and found specific corresponding rank or merit badge requirements that presented Scouts the opportunity to learn these skills.

Stop Being a Merit Badge Counselor

Fri, 22 May 2015 00:00:00 +0000

“Merit Badge Counselor”, taken literally, describes someone who counsels a bit of cloth called a merit badge.

I know nobody actually counsels inert bits of cloth, but it makes you think doesn’t it? We don’t counsel merit badges, we counsel real, live, individual Scouts.

Scouts may have a lot in common, but each deserves individual attention.

Merit badges are much more than a great way to learn about a given field of endeavor.

Merit Badge Instruction

Sat, 12 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The Merit Badge Program is

An active dialogue between scouts and counselors Merit Badge counseling is an active, engaged dialogue; not a passive lecture.
Based on evaluation of effort. The effort extended by the scout bears more weight than his mastery of a skill.
Process valued. The general process of interacting with counselors, learning skills, building and maintaining cooperative relationships with other scouts are as important as the specific skills and knowledge learned.

How I would Change Eagle Required Merit Badges

Sat, 10 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Reading the requirements for sustainability merit badge got me to thinking about merit badges as tools to achieve the aims of Scouting in general and Eagle required merit badges in particular.

Faithful readers will understand that I like to think about these things and write about possibilities, take it all with a grain of salt.

Before diving in I’d also like to reiterate that I am not an official of the BSA, just a Scoutmaster with a blog.

Rethinking Summer Camp Merit Badges

Thu, 04 Jul 2013 00:00:00 +0000

What are your expectations for summer camp merit badges? To most of us and to nearly all of our Scouts the central feature of the week at camp is earning merit badges. But what if it wasn’t? What if Scouts exchanged earning summer camp merit badges for learning and doing the things that actually interest them, the kind of things that Scouts do, instead ? Want to take your patrol on an overnight hike in some remote part of camp? Want to learn to swim, shoot a rifle, how to identify plants, learn about the stars, cook in a dutch oven, learn to tie a dozen knots, cut and split a half a pile of fire wood, make a sheath for your ax, a belt, or a candle lantern? How about studying the interrelationships of the natural environment or how to find your way with (or without) a map and compass?

The Merit of Badges

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

One of the more ingenious ideas in Socuting is recognition through the advancement program.

Humankind has always had some way of marking achievement through decorations of one kind or another; it seems to be a fundamental impulse. Cub Scouts have no pretense when it comes to badges. They pursue them arduously and uncompromisingly because they want to festoon their blue shirt with as many possible. They will wrap themselves with belt loops, fill their hats with pins, and if there’s no room left on their shirt they’ll add a vest full of gaudy patches and the gaudier the better. If they could sew them on their uniform pants they certainly would. One of the first things a Cub Scout will do, on meeting an older Scout in uniform, is to ask him how he earned the various badges he is wearing. Once he has learned what they are and how they are achieved he will then resolve to earn them one day.

Can Scouts Use Power Tools?

Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Assistant Scoutmaster Michael from Troop 2000 in Brockton Mass. asks: Can Scouts use power tools? I’m confused because I’ve been told they can’t yet the BSA guidelines say they can. My other problem is that these guidelines are completely void of any specific information as to which tools are allowed and which ones are not. We can find the answer to this perennial question in the Guide to Safe Scouting ; specifically in this chart. As you note anyone registered as a Boy Scout (10 1/2 years old and older) or Venture is permitted to use power tools and Webelos and Cub Scouts are not. This isn’t my opinion – it is BSA policy in black and white. UPDATE 5/2011- The 2011 version of the Guide to Safe Scouting no longer mentions power tools. This change does not alter my advice (the guide doesn’t mention ladders either).

Merit Badge Days - Good or Bad?

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

This email came from a listener/reader.

I answered it in Podcast number 4 as well as in this post; Hi Clarke- I really enjoy your thoughtful blogs and podcasts, and I’m interested to learn about your views on merit badge days. Your podcast item about BP’s view on badge-hunters vs. badge earners was timely as we have been recently been having a debate in our troop about merit badge days. One side says that the primary purpose is to raise money for the hosting troop, and not to ensure quality instruction for the boys, and that they are a shortcut to merit badge completion.

Merit Badge Thoughts

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0000

We had a wonderful, if somewhat damp, week at summer camp and our Scouts arrived home happily tired from having a great time.

Merit Badge work is a big part of summer camp so there are usually some conversations about the quality of instruction and the effort extended by Scouts in completing requirements.

There is talk of ‘merit badge factories’ of ‘giving away’ badges and so forth as if a merit badge was something the counselor could give away in the first place. Some counselors are better than others and some Scouts are more adept at certain skills so evaluating the work done for a given badge is evaluated on a very subjective scale. What is important is that a Scout has been given instruction in and opportunity to experience subjects that interest him.