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From Basketry to Robotics, merit badges are where Scouts meet the wider world. These posts share counselor tips, workbook debates, new badge announcements and the stories behind favorite badges.
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This neon fleur-de-lis is on display in the dining hall at Camp Alpine in New Jersey. As we get closer to the drop of the ball in times square many people are taking some time to look back and take stock of 2010.
One of the new merit badges announced this year is Geocaching. Geocaching is an outdoor activity that pairs GPS and other navigational techniques to find a cache – anything from an amazing view to a hidden container of treasures. Often described as a ‘high-tech game of hide and seek' there are over 1.2 geocaches in more…
I t looks like Boy Scouts with iPhones and iPod Touch's will soon be able to keep track of their merit badges on their devices. According to scoutingnews.org: Beginning in early 2011, Boy Scouts will be able to manage their merit badges with an interactive application for the Apple iPhone.
Beginning in early 2011, Boy Scouts will be able to manage their merit badges with an interactive application for the Apple iPhone. The application which will be available for $1.99 through the iTunes Store , will let Scouts review merit badge requirements, keep track of their progress by requirement, and even share their success on Facebook.
Here's an excerpt from Ask Andy's December 10th column . Hi Andy: My question has to do with BSA national policies and why so many troops seem to stray... For example, my son recently "failed" his Scoutmaster conference for First Class...
Without getting to wrapped up in politics, flag waving, and humming the Battle Hymn of the Republic while draped in a flag, I want to talk a bit about citizenship in Scouting. Today, I sat in the back of our meeting place while 8 of our Scouts took advantage of a merit badge counselor's day…
Part of the requirements for this badge include doing some fitness tests periodically and recording a fitness plan over a period of 12 weeks. There are some worksheets available for this on the web, but the ones we looked at didn't really fit in with the fitness plan which LC and his merit badge counselor…
With all of the holiday concerts this time of year, some of your Scouts might want to work on the Music merit badge.
The majority of the over 125 active merit badges introduce scouts to skills, careers, and hobbies which have little to do with Scouting. The goal of the merit badge program is to broaden a scout's experience, not just to improve his scouting skills, and that's why we have Coin Collecting, Dentistry, and Truck Transportation merit…
You've got the requirements . Now, check out the design of the Geocaching merit badge pamphlet and circular badge, released today by the Boy Scouts of America. For Boy Scouts who are geocaching enthusiasts, a merit badge that rewards their passion is icing on the cake.
Tonight, our Troop Committee Chair presented a talk to the scout leaders who attended the Boy Scout Round Table on Genealogy. Unfortunately I missed it but I am eager to get the details from him. From what I hear, he presented several websites, aside from the normal ones that come to mind, so as soon…
The Buzz is on location at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree to talk about one of the newest merit badges: Robotics! Featuring: Marianne Elden from Internal Communications and Brad Lauer with VEX Robotics.
On June 2nd we announced that Bugling Merit Badge would be discontinued next January. I'm happy to announce that, on Augst 4th, BSA posted a note on their blog stating that that decision has been reversed, Here's their announcement: Bugling reinstated as separate merit badge Have your guys start practicing "Taps," because Bugling is here…
Shine up your bugle and get ready for some reveille, because today it was announced that the bugling merit badge has been reinstated. Scouting magazine originally reported back in June that BSA was planning to combine the bugling merit badge with the music merit badge, which it already shares the book with.
Have your guys start practicing "Taps," because Bugling is here to stay. In early June, we reported that the Bugling merit badge was to be discontinued and its requirements merged into Music merit badge. That's no longer the case. Responding to concerns from hundreds of Scouters, the BSA's Youth Development team has decided to reinstate…
Scouts at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree are getting a hands-on sneak peek at an exciting upcoming merit badge by visiting the Robotics tent inside Merit Badge Midway. The badge won't be available to earn until April, but that didn't stop a steady stream of Scouts from dropping by to get some one-on-one time with…
Soldiers out of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., with the Joint Task Force-National Scout Jamboree man the pioneering merit badge booth and assist boy scouts with the tasks necessary to earn the badge at the Boy Scouts of America 2010 National Boy Scout Jamboree held at Fort A.P.
A scanner will be used in place of blue cards on the Merit Badge Midway to record merit badges that are earned or partially completed during the jamboree. "Scouts just show up at the merit badges they want to take with their name badges and IDs, and we scan them into our system," said Carol…
This weeks merit badge corner is a merit badge I earned last week at Summer Camp and is also one of the historic merit badges . It's the pathfinding merit badge! The pathfinding merit badge is very interesting and easy merit badge to earn and really only takes at most an hour to complete.
With memorial day having just passed a couple of weeks ago and this being one of the badges I am working on I thought that this would be a good badge for this week's corner. The citizenship in the nation merit badge is required to earn the eagle scout rank and gives scouts a chance…
Boy Scouts and Lemelson-MIT Program introduce Inventing merit badge The inventive spirit of young people burst onto the scene today in Cambridge, Mass., as hundreds gathered to see the first awarding of the Boy Scouts of America's new Inventing merit badge to 50 Scouts from the Boston area.
I'll be taking two crews into the Cloud Peak wilderness of Wyoming this summer to experience some changes in attitude brought on by changes in altitude. To prepare, the scouts have made a schedule of practice hikes and the two crew leaders have agreed on a minimum participation expected of each scout.
The inventive spirit of young people bursted onto the scene today in Cambridge, Mass., as hundreds gathered to see the first awarding of the Boy Scouts of America's new Inventing merit badge. The ceremony was a part of EurekaFest, the Lemelson-MIT Program's annual event at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
D uring the last seven months we have seen three new merit badges introduced to the Boy Scout merit badge program (Scuba Diving, Geocaching, and Scouting Heritage). We have also seen the return of four merit badges for this year only (Signaling, Tracking, Pathfinding, and Carpentry).
The preliminary requirements for Inventing Merit Badge are starting to float around to various Councils. The Inventing Merit Badge is set to debut sometime in 2010. These requirements should not be used to start the Inventing Merit Badge but rather to provide an idea of what the merit badge will entail, prior to its release…
4 Vote On Idea With the recent requirement that all registered leaders have Youth Protection Training, it's become even more critical for youth, parents and adult leaders to be able to confirm that a Merit Badge Counselor is currently registered.
Bugling merit badge is being discontinued as of next January, 2011. Bill Nelson, a Scouter in the Grand Canyon Council (and former member of the USSSP team) wrote to BSA's "Ask the Expert" as follows: The Bugling merit badge is no longer on the scouting.org site, and it looks like the Music merit badge requirements…
Have you been searching for an answer to a Scouting-related question? Ask the Expert is here to help. Send us your question , and Cracker Barrel will seek out the answer. This week we hear from Bill Nelson , a Scouter in the Grand Canyon Council.
The Scouting Heritage Merit Badge is a new merit badge and a great way to allow Scouts to learn about the rich history and heritage of not only the Boy Scouts of America but the Scouting movement. Join Scoutmaster Jerry and his new co host Scott as they go through the requirements of the Scouting…
The Scouting Heritage Merit Badge is a new merit badge and a great way to allow Scouts to learn about the rich history and heritage of not only the Boy Scouts of America but the Scouting movement. Join Scoutmaster Jerry and his new co host Scott as they go through the requirements of the Scouting…
Scouting uses its 125 different merit badges to shine a light on topics that engage and inspire young minds. But with merit badge No. 126, the BSA intends to turn the light on itself. The new Scouting Heritage merit badge , available now, introduces boys to the history of the Boy Scouts of America.
I almost wish I young enough to be a Boy Scout again. The merit badge I have been waiting for has finally arrived. Scouting Heritage is has been approved and is ready for Boy Scouts to begin earning. Since I am too old to earn it myself, I will be signing on as a merit…
With 126 merit badges out there (including four for 2010 only ), Scouting offers something for every boy in your troop. But when a Scout comes up to you with dreams of Drafting or visions of Veterinary Medicine, how would you respond?
OK so this week's Merit Badge isn't available to be earned by scouts yet but the official requirements have been released by BSA. It's the Geocaching Merit Badge. What is Geocaching you ask? Geocaching is an outdoor activity in which a GPS is used to locate caches which are hidden in areas near the coordinates…
The Occoneechee Council has announced that the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is now offering four historic merit badges in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the founding of BSA. Scouts will have the opportunity to earn merit badges in Signaling, Tracking, Pathfinding, and Carpentry.
OK, so back in January the blog over at Scouting Magazine put out the information on the Historic Merit Badge Program. Unfortunately this information was put out before the program was ready to roll and caught most of the scouting community off-guard (including me) when they posted that the program was being postponed.
2 Vote On Idea From: James Welch, Troop 66, Palo Alto, California [email protected] As a Troop Committee Chairman and a merit badge counselor, I have often wondered why the content of the merit badge pamphlets is not available online. I know that the requirements for the merit badges can be seen online, but the only…
BSA today, on the Scouting Magazine BLOG announced the release of the final requirements for a new Merit Badge for the sport of GEOCACHING. The merit badge pamphlet is not yet available, but the Boy Scouts of America wanted to get the official requirements in the hands of Scouts and Scouters as soon as possible.
You won't need your GPS unit to find the Geocaching merit badge requirements. We've got them right here. The merit badge pamphlet is not yet available, but the Boy Scouts of America wanted to get the official requirements in the hands of Scouts and Scouters as soon as possible.
As we stated in Historic Merit Badge Program A Go (for real this time!) , we are going to be taking an in-depth look at each of the four Historic Merit Badges in the next few days. First up was Carpentry Merit Badge , then Signaling Merit Badge , then Tracking Merit Badge , and finally Pathfinding Merit Badge!
As we stated in Historic Merit Badge Program A Go (for real this time!) , we are going to be taking an in-depth look at each of the four Historic Merit Badges in the next few days. First up was Carpentry Merit Badge , then Signaling Merit Badge , and now Tracking!
As we stated in Historic Merit Badge Program A Go (for real this time!) , we are going to be taking an in-depth look at each of the four Historic Merit Badges in the next few days. First up was Carpentry Merit Badge , now its Signaling!
As we stated in Historic Merit Badge Program A Go (for real this time!) , we are going to be taking an in-depth look at each of the four Historic Merit Badges in the next few days. First up is Carpentry Merit Madge!
Arkansas Nuclear One's annual Boy Scout Merit Badge University set a new attendance record recently and left little doubt that the annual event has become a favorite for area youth and adults. Attendance reached 200 – the largest since the university was launched in 2004.
It's been a long wait since Scouting Magazine announced the Historic Merit Badge Program back in January to yesterday when the program was made live for Scouts to earn the badges. (ok, technically the material first appeared on March 30th, according to some readers- however according to the material April 1st was the first day…
The BSA officially released the requirements and information on the four Historic Merit Badges (Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signaling, and Tracking) today, April, 1, 2010. Scouts may work on them now, but must complete them by December 31, 2010, if they wish to use them for rank advancement.
This is no April Fools' Day joke: the Boy Scouts of America Historic Merit Badge program is here. Today marks the first day boys can begin earning Signaling, Tracking, Pathfinding, and Carpentry: four merit badges brought back for the Centennial year.
This week's merit badge is one that fosters lifelong skills that scouts can use in their every day lives. While working on this merit badge scouts will get the chance to learn one of the most valuable skills they can, how to cook.
Do you recall the post at Scouting Magazine that got everyone excited about the Historic Merit Badge program? Carpentry, Signaling, Tracking, and Pathfinding merit badges are being resurrected for 2010 only as a part of the centennial celebration - a great idea!
You may have heard rumors that the Historic Merit Badge Program has been canceled. Not true. What is true is that the BSA is putting finishing touches on the program now, and the end result will be well worth the wait.
