Reptile and Amphibian Study - new pamphlet

[PaulSWolf]

BSA has published a new merit badge pamphlet for the Reptile and Amphibian Study Merit Badge. The pamphlet and the requirements were last updated in 1993.

The pamphlets have a few modified requirements (numbers 8, 9 & 10). Most of the changes are simply wording changs, but a new option was aded to requirement 8. 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/mb096.html or http://65.38.184.167/mb/old/mb096.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.

[diamondbackAPL]

just out of curiosity, has anyone ever taken or taught this badge, and do you recommend it?

[tuscarora299]

I heard it may be a very boring badge, but heck, take it

[cballman]

okay guys let me tell yall a little secret about each and every merit badge. some are better suited for some boys and not for others. then again the merit badge program is suited to let kids dabble into a little bit of everything and not just be boring. what seems boring to you might not be to other scouts.

[Lynda J]

I counsel this badge along with Insect Study. Our SM laughs and said I like all the badges where something creeps, slithers, or walks on 4 lege. He is right.
I love this badge. I have a dear friend that works at the zoo in the Rep and Amph education program. I always take any scouts taking this badge on a field trip there. She does about an hour program with them. She shows them snake skins, steril fangs, bone structures. She shows them how our area snakes store their venom. And has a film on injection venom. She also lets then handle the snakes they use in their education program. They always have a ball. I taught this badge 6 times last year.

Kevin took it at camp and liked it but said he learned more doing it with me.

Now if kids are frightened by creepy crawlies. They don't need to do this badge.

[jr56]

I have taught this badge at summer camp. Since I am a herpetoculturist, I often bring in some of my snakes for the boys to examine. Makes the badge much more interesting in my opinion.