Merit Badge Weekend 2017

MERIT BADGE COURSE COUNSELOR CHECKLISTS - Updated 4/25/2017

Thank you for serving as a Merit Badge Counselor for

Merit Badge Weekend. This checklist is intended to make

sure you are prepared for the big day.

Course Counselors – Required ALL counselors for Merit Badge Weekend must be

registered with their local BSA District and Council for the badges they lead.

All counselors and their adult assistants must take Youth Protection Training (YPT) EVERY YEAR (per Chief Seattle Council). If you have not completed this yet, please visit www.scouting.org/YouthProtection

ONLY USE THE CURRENT MERIT BADGE REQUIREMENTS - Get the latest from from the BSA or MeritBadge.org (just because the booklet is new, doesn’t mean the requirements in it are up to date)

Course Counselor - Suggested Items Counselors are responsible for bringing EVERYTHING needed to teach their courses.

Current Merit Badge Requirements - from the BSA or MeritBadge.org

Merit Badge Pamplet/Booklet (highly recommended) Any equipment needed for the course Merit Badge Worksheets (if you have specific ones you

like to teach with) Popup Canopy Camp Chairs Tarp for students to sit on Table, if needed (there are some on site near the

permanent shelters – please reserve these) Note Pad and Marker for Sketching Day Pack with 10 Essentials, water, snacks, etc. Personal First Aid Kit

Merit Badge Course Guidelines We are excited to offer Merit Badge instruction to Scouts, and we want to be clear that we will do it by following the standards set out by the BSA.

1. USE THE LATEST UP TO DATE REQUIREMENTS – The Scouts and the BSA count on Counselors to know the latest requirements – please don’t teach to old requirements. Get the latest from from the BSA or MeritBadge.org

2. PARTIALS ARE EXPECTED - almost all badges are impossible to complete in a few hours. Scouts will work with their home troop to find counselors to complete the badge.

3. EACH SCOUT FULFILLS EACH REQUIREMENT – Each Scout will be expected to “actually and personally” fulfill each requirement before being signed off on that requirement.

4. USE THE ACTUAL WORDS OF THE REQUIREMENTS - Each Scout will be expected to complete requirements as written - no more and no less. If it says, "Show or demonstrate," that is what the Scout must do; just "telling" isn't enough. The same holds for words like "make," "list," "in the field,"

"collect," "identify," and "label." If the requirement dictates a setting, it must be completed in that setting. Ex: "While on a trail hike or backpacking trip, do X", means just that.

5. GROUP INSTRUCTION - group instruction does not mean group testing. Each Scout must complete each requirement.

6. INSTRUCTION & LEARNING vs. COMPLETING REQUIREMENTS - most courses time for instruction and learning, and time for testing. Only when the testing is complete is the requirement done.

7. WORKSHEETS, WORKBOOKS AND NOTES - worksheets are to help the Scout stay organized with your notes to learn faster. They are NOT turned in for credit like a homework assignment. “Credit” toward a requirement is only given by doing what the written requirement says, which usually includes a discussion or demonstration.

8. CURRENT, REGISTERED COUNSELORS - The only persons authorized to sign off on a merit badge are adult members of the BSA who are registered as merit badge counselors, and approved for that specific badge. Additional experts or support volunteers may serve as instructors under the direction of the merit badge counselor.

Course Locations Courses will be set up around Mountain Meadows, mostly around the pond in the lawn, or in some of the shelters. If you have a course that requires a shelter or table, or electricity access, please let the organizers know.

Gotchas – We Don’t Have These Things There is no potable water source at the event There is limited A/C power from a generator There is no expense reimbursement from the event

organizers – nominal expenses need to be paid for using course fees paid by students

Scouts Should “Be Prepared” All Scouts have been asked to bring the following items to ALL COURSES and have been given links to the Course Directory that includes course descriptions, pre-req, and required gear for each of his courses (tinyurl.com/mbw2017Courses). If a Scout is not prepared, don’t feel obligated to bail them out. As an alternative, you might ask him “How do you think you could solve problem X?“

FOR ALL COURSES Pen, Pencil, and Paper Hard Writing Surface Ten Essentials – Blue Cards - signed by

Scoutmaster. Folding Chair or Stool Course Schedule Boy Scout Handbook

VARIES - EACH COURSE MB Booklet/Pamplet -

recommended Printed Worksheet Pre-Requisites Required/Suggested Gear Course Fees