Collections Merit Badge as it relates to trading card games

[ScoutcraftNick]

Hey all,

I'm sure all of you have had some exposure to various card-based trading/collecting games. Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic: The Gathering, Vs. System (based on comic book characters), Pokemon, and others are a large part of many youth's lives. I myself am very involved in Magic: The Gathering. The game and parent company (Wizards of the Coast) was invented in 1993 by Richard Garfield, and has since become incorporated with Hasbro, Inc, and has become an extremely large and profitable company. I have been playing the game to one extent or another since I was in 5th grade, in 1995. It has helped me make many friends, of all ages, and has helped me with math skills, and complex thinking involved with strategy. In ten years, I have accumulated an extremely large collection with some cards being worth over $1000 each. Granted, it's nothing compared to early century baseball card values, but still, it's impressive to know that I could sell off one of my most fun hobbies and pay the down payment on a house.

In scouting, across the years, this has been looked at with a variety of opinions, most of them negative. I can remember having cards taken away from me on campouts, having them banned altogether, having them banned from schools, restaurants, and even mall food courts. In terms of scouting, the reason always includes the word "distracting". As I have grown older, I have seen many knee-jerk reactions of banning these cards. Some of these have been for good reasons, such as some scouts who brought their cards to summer camp would rather sit around and play instead of going to work on badges or activities. In those cases, it's good to limit their exposure to the game.

What I have come across recently, is the Collections Merit Badge. The trading card games that almost everyone has come into contact with fit PERFECTLY into this Merit Badge. I want to offer the Collections Merit Badge with a "focus on trading card games". I want to offer this at the summer camp that i work at, but I'm afraid that I will be confronted with that "knee-jerk" reaction that has happened so often before. Most troops don't allow boys to bring cards with them, with the understanding that it would take away from the Scouting experience. I think that if a Merit Badge was offered at a summer camp that highlighted their collections and experience, it would be a unique and great program. One way I could go about this was to make it clear that at the camp these cards were only acceptable during the merit badge classes.

I'm looking for suggestions on how i might run a program like this. Even if you have never had any experience with these games, please offer your opinion on the subject. Any and all comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

[Lynda J]

In our troop these cards are banned. Not because of the type of cards they are but because there are other things that we need to be doing at troop meetings and outings other than game cards. Our boys are not allowed to take them to camp either. Again not because of the type of cards but because some are so valuable and the posibility of them getting damaged or stolen. Sorry I don't see any need to have a card worth $100 and up on a camping trip. Just not smart.
I have two boy in my troop that used Pokemon cards and one that used
Yu-Gi-Oh. They had no problem with the counselor.
But just like we do not allow Game Boys and such at meetings we don't allow playing cards.
As far as making the focus of the Collections Merit Badge collecting game cards. I am very much against that. Kevin collects antique model cars, he also collects Scouting Patches from all over the world. He has over 100 in his collection. It is what he used to earn this badge. There should not be a focus on any one thing for this badge. And especially at summer camp. I know I would not allow my son to take his $1000 collection of cards to camp. One good rain storm and that collection is not worth nothing. There is also the problem of where to store these collections when the boys are not working on the badge. Would the camp be willing to assume responsibility for the safety of the collection. NO. Would the counselor be willing to take on the responsibility of the safety of the collection. NO. They tell us to please not bring things of value to camp. These collections need to stay at home. Do this badge in the confines of a Merit Badge College or with a buddy but it does not need to be done at camp.

[Mrw]

Linda said what I was thinking. The merit badge college idea would be good for collections (of any sort), but the collections do not belong at summer camp and the class should not be centered around only one type of collection.

[JazerNorth]

It's a great idea, just not for Scout Camp. I probably wouldn't limit types of collections at a merit badge camp either. The idea would work great as a club sponsored item. You could get a non-profit (or not-for-profit) card club to sponsor an event that would meet all of the requirements for the Collection Merit Badge that would be specific to game cards. This way everyone could attend, including non BSA members, and the non BSA participants could get a fun taste of what scouting is about.

Try that for a spin.

JazerNorth

[ScoutcraftNick]

All of these are excellent suggestions. One of the reasons that I was using scout camp as the "base of operations" is that there I am a counselor, I haven't (although I should have by now) signed up as a Council Oriented Merit Badge Counselor. I will present this idea to the card store that I work at, and hopefully I can organize an event that will meet the requirements of the Collections Merit Badge.

I also think that the concern that a "focus" would turn some people away is an idea I hadn't considered. Maybe it's possible to teach this badge at summer camp, accepting anything in terms of collections, but using my own extensive card collection as a teaching point for managing a collection. In terms of monetary value and cards getting ruined, I understand your concern perfectly. Often theft is an issue and unfortunately so are accidents. Do you think it is appropriate to allow boys to show photos of their collections, and being able to describe what they have instead of actually BRINGING the collections to a camp settining, because of the potential for damage?

So far all the responses are great, thanks!
-Nick

[Rick Tyler]

In terms of monetary value and cards getting ruined, I understand your concern perfectly. Often theft is an issue and unfortunately so are accidents. Do you think it is appropriate to allow boys to show photos of their collections, and being able to describe what they have instead of actually BRINGING the collections to a camp settining, because of the potential for damage?

The written requirements allow the scout to bring pictures of his collection if it is not practical for the counselor to view it in person. Whether this is satisfactory is up to the counselor.

[Scouting179]

Anything can be used for Collections (except Stamps and Coins have their own MBs). Even if the cards are banned in the troop, they doesn't stop him from using it for Collections.

[SM270PAL]

At the National Jamboree the Collections Merit badge was given. They were giving away packages of Pokemon cards all during the Jamboree!!. They did run the merit badge there, but you needed your collection. Some had brought thier cards and were able to complete.

As for cards on camping trips - I have banned them during the day - there is to much going on to play cards - they are OK at night in the tent - but I do not want to hear shouting and arguements. For the most part the cards are left home because we do to much on the camping trips.

I am the collections and coin collecting merit badge Consl. I have given Coin Collecting at a summer camp. Boys had fun searching through the thousands of coins I brought. This one was not free but did have 20+ scouts.

Yes I think you should offer the badge - you will need to present your case in a fashion where the badge will be offered to those who collect and it will need to be open to other 'collctions'

Good Luck

[Scouting179]

Such cards (or anything else for that matter) generally get banned on outing when the boys focus on them vice the Scouting program this is (should) be going on.