Troop 654 Merit Badge Policies

 

Purpose:  Scouting is supposed to be fun for the Scouts and provide them opportunities to explore the world around them as they grow to adulthood.  There are 119 "merit badges" that a Scout may earn.  Our troop policy regarding these merit badges is to provide for any scout, at any time, the opportunity to complete the requirements of any merit badge they wish to pursue.  They may pursue these as a "self study" individual or in organized groups.  Two reasons a scout would pursue a merit badge are 1) to give them more skill in things they like to do, and 2) to learn and try out new activities that they may like to do.

 

Scout Process:  When interested, a scout should review the merit badge requirements at http://www.meritbadge.com.  After a requirements discussion with the Scoutmaster, any scout may request a counselor and a Merit Badge Application “blue card.”  The scout may purchase or checkout from the troop or local library a merit badge book.  The scout should:  1) read the merit badge pamphlet, 2) contact his counselor, and 3) within his abilities, complete the requirements before his 18th birthday.  After completion of the requirements, the counselor will complete the blue card and the scout will return the blue card to the Scoutmaster for later award to the scout.  The scout should keep his copy of the blue care in a safe place, in case a question arises regarding the merit badge.

 

Troop Process:  This is a “boy-led, boy-run” troop and the Scoutmaster should work with the desires of the scout's Senior Patrol Leaders Council (”Green Bar”) to provide merit badge opportunities for the scouts, e.g., group troop events, attendance at District Merit Badge Jamborees, Summer Camps, etc.  He may delegate some of this to an Assistant Scoutmaster for Advancement, but he retains the responsibility for signing scout blue cards.  There is no limit to the number of merit badges a scout may be working on at a time; however, as a troop goal to not overload our scouts, it is our desire to have a scout not working on more than four badges at a time.

 

Committee Process:  The Troop Committee will provide merit badge books/pamphlets for the troop library, identify registered internal and external merit badge counselors, identify a “Life to Eagle” advisor for senior scouts, and support the troops merit badge opportunity program.  Periodically, the committee will review the troops merit badge program.  The Troop program goals are:  1) to insure that no more than 50 percent of the merit badges are coming from internal counselors, 2) to insure the opportunity to attain each advancement merit badge to attain the Eagle rank (currently 15 silver rim badges, but only 11 are required for Eagle rank) is offered once every three years, 3) two core merit badges (First Aid or Emergency Preparedness, Citizenship in the Home or Citizenship in the Community) are offered each year, and 4) to insure that at least three advancement merit badges (those with silver rims) opportunities are offered within the troop each year for scout advancement.  The committee will not review a Scout's merit badges in progress.

Internal 654 Merit Badge Counselors: As necessary, the committee will recruit and approve internal merit badge counselors for the troop.  It is the goal of the troop to use as many external counselors as possible, but we recognize our parents my have outstanding credentials that will help our scouts, and thus, we should use them as troop resources.  Note:  it is the goal of the troop that no internal counselor will be responsible for more than three merit badges and that they not evaluate their scout unless he is in a group working on the merit badge requirements.

 

Partial completions.  The is no pressure to complete a merit badge, and it is the responsibility of the scout to complete the merit badge requirements, but from time to time a scout may not be able to complete the requirements, e.g. at summer camp or the merit badge jamboree, etc.  If for some reason a scout receives a "partial completion" and he is interested in completing the requirements, the Scout should contact the Scoutmaster to get a new counselor and depending upon the Scout's ability complete the remaining requirements with that counselor.

 

Completion responsibility.  The troop, committee, and counselors provide opportunities and advice, but only the scout can complete the merit badge requirements and he must complete all requirements by his 18th birthday.

 

            Troop Merit Badge Counselors.  As of September 13, 2004, this troop has 11 adult Colonial District “certified” merit badge counselors in 24 merit badges (including 7 in eagle required areas):

 

Merit Badge                                       Certified Counselor

Astronomy                                           Mr. Baerwald, Mr. Tse

Aviation                                                Mr. Dahljelm

Backpacking                                        Mr. Ballenger

Basketry                                               Mr. Tse

Camping                                             Mr. Dahljelm

Canoeing                                              Mr. Carriker, Mr. Stevens

Citizenship in the Community            Mr. Baerwald

Citizenship in the Nation                   Mr. Ballenger, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Oak

Citizenship in the World                    Mr. Dahljelm

Communications                                 Mr. McCormick

Cooking                                               Mr. Tse                                   

Engineering                                           Mr. Perconti                            

Geology                                               Mr. Baerwald

Journalism                                            Mr. McCormick

Law                                                     Mr. Ballenger, Mr. McCormick

Motorboating                                       Mr. Stevens

Nature                                                  Mr. Carriker, Mr. Dahljelm

Orienteering                                          Mr. Tse

Personal Management                      Mr. Oak

Pioneering                                            Mr. Carriker                

Public Speaking                                    Mr. Oak

Small Boat Sailing                                 Mr. Stevens

Space Exploration                                Mr. Dahljelm

Swimming                                           Mr. Kramer