Scouting Heritage MB Released

[smtroop168]

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Boy ... itage.aspx

This just showed up under the MB section on scouting.org.
Paul Wolf is checking his sources.
My DE says he saw an "official" announcement.

Looks like you need to be 75 to qualify as a MB Counselor.

[wagionvigil]

Then I'm Good?

[PaulSWolf]

I haven't seen an official announcement , but since BSA has it on their main site, I went ahead and added it at usscouts.org.

OTOH, I did see a note from a high BSA source saying the mb pamphlet had been printed and should be at the NDC (e.g. the National Distribution Center of Supply Division in North Carolina) tomorrow - 4/19/2010, and that Scout Shops and Council Service Centers should place orders for them.

So I'd expect a formal announcement any day now.

BTW, on the page with links to all MB requirements on Scouting.org, even though the requirements for Scouting Heritage are posted, the reqs. for Geocaching are still AWOL, and the reqs. for Bugling are missing at the moment.

[smtroop168]

Then I'm Good?

Based ont he pix you sent me, well qualified!

[RWSmith]

Ouch!

[mhjacobson]

Our council executive stated yesterday at a program committee meeting that the Scouting MB cannot be used for advancement. Does anyone have any information on the issue??

[FrankJ]

I do not know anything official, but if it is a real merit badge, I do not see how you could not use it for advancement.

[wagionvigil]

Our council executive stated yesterday at a program committee meeting that the Scouting MB cannot be used for advancement. Does anyone have any information on the issue??

Now we have Council Rules to keep a kid from advancing?

[RWSmith]

Our council executive stated yesterday at a program committee meeting that the Scouting [Heritage] MB cannot be used for advancement. Does anyone have any information on the issue??

I cannot fathom that; I simply cannot. How could any MB possibly be excluded from advancement?

If it were not usable for advancement, it would have simply been named an award, instead of a MB.

NOTE TO OUR READERS: Don't freak out -- yet... Let's wait for Paul (or somebody) to confirm/deny this rumor... it would not be the first time somebody (i.e., BSA employee) mis-interpreted or mis-spoke. [No offense.]

Now we have Council Rules to keep a kid from advancing?

It seems like he's (as any of us would be) concerned that the word came down from on high... i.e., intended for all Councils.

mhjacobson, Was that your interpretation? ....that this is going to affect all Councils?

If your a Scout or Leader who's interested in this MB, treat this like we should, for now... a rumor... a RUMOR!... Until something definitive (confirmation) comes down.

[PaulSWolf]

OK Bob. Here's my take on it:

I saw an OFFICIAL e-mail from bsa.communications@scouting.org, dated 4/14/2010, stating this:

As a reminder, the Scouting Heritage Merit Badge is finishing printing and should be in the NDC on approximately 4/19. Please remind your Scout Shop personnel to place their orders for this item (#35970).

Subsequent to that, The requirements appeared on BSA's web site, and can be seen here with an image of the badge and pamphlet cover: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Boy ... itage.aspx

The badge is also shown on the Index of Merit Badge requirements at: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Boy ... adges.aspx

(BTW, that page has some errors that I'm aware of: Geocaching and Bugling are both missing, and some of the badges are not listed in alphabetical order. I've notified BSA of the errors.)

There is NO QUESTION that it will be a full fledged merit badge, and will count for advancement.

It's possible/probable that at the present moment in time (Tuesday afternoon, April 20, 2010), the Scoutnet system has not been set to accept it as valid, but I would assume that it will be any day now. My GUESS is that Geocaching will be (or has been) assigned ID No. 143, and Scouting heritage will be ID No 144. The Historic Badges, Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signaling, and Tracking, are numbers 139-142 respectively.

Just as Geocaching and the 4 Historic Merit Badges are valid for advancement, Scouting Heritage will be, also.

The "Earn Date" may not have been determined yet, but that's purely a technicality. If a Scout starts work on the badge now, by the time he finishes, it will be fully recognized.

So this statement:

the Scouting MB cannot be used for advancement.

should more precisely have been:

the Scouting MB cannot CURRENTLY be used for advancement.

[mhjacobson]

Hay guys, I was there and heard the Asst CE tell the program chairs that the Centennial MB and Scouting Heritage MB will not count for advancement. Knowing that all of you out there (and that includes me) have a wealth of knowledge, I was simply attempt to check it out before I run up and down the chain of command to clarify the issue. I have served on two national BSA taskforces, and still information has a way of not getting clearly out of national in a timely manner.

I will quote Paul's helpful statement to the council advancement chair, who can do what he needs to do.

[smtroop168]

Hay guys, I was there and heard the Asst CE tell the program chairs that the Centennial MB and Scouting Heritage MB will not count for advancement. Knowing that all of you out there (and that includes me) have a wealth of knowledge, I was simply attempt to check it out before I run up and down the chain of command to clarify the issue. I have served on two national BSA taskforces, and still information has a way of not getting clearly out of national in a timely manner.

I will quote Paul's helpful statement to the council advancement chair, who can do what he needs to do.

Quote them their own web site when you talk to them:

http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/conten ... ogram.aspx

"The four historical merit badges may be used toward a Scout’s rank advancement. "

They are in Internet Advancement now


The same will hold true for Scouting Heritage.


These guys are paid?

[smtroop168]

Still does not show in Internet Advancement. Geocaching either.

Heard any more about the Earn Date?

[RWSmith]

Pesky, little, (irrelevant) details. Grr.

[smtroop168]

Pesky, little, (irrelevant) details. Grr.

I know...I just don't want to confuse the Registrars who will not be able to process the Advancement reports or have scouts "complete" MBs with erroneous unofficial requirements like some of our Forum brethern did on the Historic MBs e.g. Pathfinding.

[smtroop168]

It is now showing in Internet Advancement. Geocaching is not.

[wagionvigil]

My contact at the Service center said they just got a notice Monday about Geocaching so it should be on there soon

[pipestone1991]

I like the idea of the badge but the reqs seem far too easy. Step it up a bit and I'm on the wagon. I think it will be good though in the respect that the scouts will be able to see that they are in a movement greater than any one person.

[smtroop168]

Has the worksheet for this one in process or been developed?

Also we shoud move this to the Merit Badges S-Z section.

[PaulSWolf]

Has the worksheet for this one in process or been developed?

Not yet. Sorry.