American Heritage - New pamphlet and requirements

[PaulSWolf]

BSA has published a new merit badge pamphlet for the American Heritage Merit Badge, which was one of the oldest pamphlets around. The pamphlet was last updated in 1976, and the requirements prior to 1982 (probably 1976, but I don't have records that far back.).

The pamphlets have completely new requirements. Scouts that have the old pamphlet, or start the badge between now and January 1, 2006 can use the old requirements, or they can use the new ones at their option.

The new requirements are posted on the new usscouts.org server. at either http://usscouts.org/mb/old/mb016.html or http://65.38.184.167/mb/old/mb016.html (depending on whether the DNS nameservers have our new IP Address.) If you get the old requirements with the first URL, use the second one.

[drgardner]

I noticed the requirements listing for this merit badge still reflect the old requirements, as does the worksheet. What's the process for getting new requirements posted to the website?

I'd be happy to help draft a revised worksheet.

[RWSmith]

Welcome to the board.

Anybody can go here to submit anything they'd like to see put up on MeritBadge.Com, including updated worksheets, website links, what ever.

[drgardner]

Excellent - thanks for the pointer. I'll work up an updated version and send it along as soon as possible.

[jr56]

Thanks for the update Paul.

[Quailman]

Thank goodness for USScouts.org listing the new requirements. I am considering doing an AH MB program and I wanted to see what movies have been suggested for the requirement that says "Watch two motion pictures...that are set in some period of American history....", so I googled "American Heritage" "Merit Badge" and movies. (I admit that I haven't bought the booklet yet since I'm not sure I want to do this or what the interest will be.)

Anyway, websites abound with the old requirements. There are several instances where troops put up the text for all the requirements. I'd recommend that troops not do this, since the requirements change and are available elsewhere. That would eliminate the need to constantly check and update the pages. Simply provide a link in your troop's website to USScouts.org.

So, does anyone have any suggestions for movies to watch? The requirement seems to imply that both movies be about the same period, but I'm not sure of that. Some that immediately come to mind are:

The Patriot
The Alamo (John Wayne)
The Alamo (Billy Bob Thornton)
Gone With the Wind
The New World
Gettysburg
The Fighting Kentuckian
The Kentuckian
Young Mr. Lincoln

Then there are ones like The Longest Day and Tora! Tora! Tora! that are in my personal library.

Being in Texas, I might suggest that the boys watch both versions of The Alamo and compare and contrast them. Within our council is the site where the Texians defeated Santa Ana to win their independence.

[maricopasem]

So, does anyone have any suggestions for movies to watch? The requirement seems to imply that both movies be about the same period, but I'm not sure of that. Some that immediately come to mind are:

The Patriot

Would you really recommend that a Boy Scout watch a movie with an R rating? That hardly sounds appropriate.

[Quailman]

Oops!

It's been quite a while since I've seen that, or The Alamo (new version). I checked the latter before listing it, but not the former. Of course I would verify the rating of any movie prior to recommending it to a scout. The part of the requirement that I omitted says "(with the approval and permission of your counselor and parent).

[molscouter]

The Patriot is on TV often enough in a sanitized version that it would be okay for most Boy Scouts to watch and still get the gist of the story. It's less gory than the theater version, but the historical references are not changed.

[kimberbakos]

My son just did this requirement last week, and the two movies he watched were Glory and Far and Away. This year in school he studied the Oregon Trail and pioneers and the Civil War. So he enjoyed seeing both time periods come to life. I think Glory is rated R, but that is due to the graphic fighting scenes. I don't have a problem with that since that is the reality of war. You can't make a realistic war movie without violence.

[riverwalk]

Where to start? There have been some good suggestions made, though I don't know the Patriot movie. Some of these are definitely set in one period or another. One of my faves is the Duke's version of the Alamo. But is just about a brief period and place.

One that is outstanding in it's portrayal of the developing Nation, is How The West Was Won. It's narrated by one of the best in the business too. Gone with the Wind is useful (a fave also), because it isn't just about the fighting part of War, but let's you see what real people, the land, and other resources endured.

Good thing only two are required...there are too many to choose from.