Merit Badge Question.

[cballman]

New set of questions. What rank is your son? What rank is all the other boys? If they are below the First class rank then I would not force them with merit badges yet. Unless they are older scouts. First almost anybody can become a teacher of merit badges. Get a merit badge pamhplet from the scout shop, READ the book, learn how to teach each requirement, make a plan on how to teach the merit badge, THEN teach it. I would first try to make sure the boys are making progress on the Scout, Tenderfoot, Second class, and First class ranks. Then merit badges should come later. To teach all the rank requirements do the same as you would a merit badge or have one of the older boys who have reached the First class rank teach them. In our Troop we only let Adults sign off the First aid requirments. Also we only let certain adults sign off on the swimming requirements. Good luck and please keep asking questions.

[SoCal76]

I was going to suggest the same thing. Have you thought about becoming a MBC? All you need is to do is fill out an adult application (position code 42 - no fee charged), a merit badge counselor information form, and complete YPT. If you have any background in a subject (hobby, profession, training) then you have the skills to become a MBC in your own right. For example, I am a teacher, so naturally I am a MBC for Reading and and Scholarship. I have a BA in Poli Sci and, of course, teach the students US history, so I am a MBC for Citizenship in the Nation and American Heritage. As a kid I collected stamps and comic books which lasted until college, so I am a MBC for Collections and Stamp Collecting. My sister-in-law and I spent many years researching our family trees, so I am MBC for Genealogy (maybe the only non-LDS one ) . About 10 years ago, I became interested in model railroading and I became a MBC for Railroading.

I am sure you have certain knowledge or background that will fit for many different merit badges. There are around 130 merit badges. There is probably at least one that you know something about.

[ogunquitmaddy]

Hi,
I am going to try and reply to both of you at once, as I am not sure how to reply to an older post, once a new was has come in. My son is only a Tender Foot, which I find horrible because he is 14 and started since he was 11. There is only one first class scout in the troop. It seems that in this troop unless you are connected with a parent who is an MBC or something, you do not advance. The two boys that have several badges both got them from other means. One went outside the troop and the other came from another troop. The first class scout has a mom that is a MBC. The life scouts father was an ASM. It's great to become an Eagle if that is your goal, but my son would be happy just working on badges. That is what he enjoys. I have collected stamps and coins for many years. My father got me into it when I was about 10 and now I am 45. I have owned just about any animal you can think of and raised several. I took several courses in creative writing, an American History. I have also read about Indians for many years and learned how to make Dream Catchers and other items. I also enjoy going to train shows, and that sort of stuff. I will try and find the form that you mentioned and see if I can qualify for any of the badges.
Thanks for the help and ideas.

[SoCal76]

Here is a link to a list of all the merit badges. Click on a badge to see the requirements


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


Based on what you wrote, there are Coin Collecting, Dog Care, Pets, and Stamp Collecting merit badges. Maybe you'll find others that interest you. Good luck.

[ogunquitmaddy]

Hi,
Thanks. I go on the Meritbadge.org site and that's how I viewed all of the badges and worksheets and such.
Maddy

[smtroop168]

The OP was that the scout couldn't find an Indian Lore MBC but now we have more of the "Paul Harvey" rest of the story.

If your son has been in the same troop for 3 years and is still a Tenderfoot, it is time (maybe even past time) to get him into another troop. This one is not helping him.

[ogunquitmaddy]

Yes, I know what you are saying. I have been having him meet with another troop as well. The Scout Master there has already gotten him another badge and has helped in many other ways. We haven't switched troops because the ride is to far. It is 60 miles one way, but it seems that just by us going there and his Scout Master knowing it, has seemed to make him do a little more. I wrote about the Indian Lore Badge, because for whatever reason, my son really wants that badge and when he asked his Scout Master about it, he told him we had to go on line and find someone that does it.

[Nuts4Scouts]

Just an FYI - Just because you are an ASM it does not automatically make you a Merit Badge Counselor (MBC).

A MBC is a registered with the DISTRICT, not the unit. You must fill in a BSA adult application -

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/524-501.pdf

Fill in a BSA Merit Badge Counselor Application -

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34405.pdf

Set up an account, and take Youth Protection Training -

https://myscouting.scouting.org/

Attach the Adult Application, MBC Application, and Youth Protection Training completion certificate together, and drop them off at your Council Service Center for approval.

[ogunquitmaddy]

Hi, thanks but yes I knew that.

[Nuts4Scouts]

Hi, thanks but yes I knew that.

I mentioned that an ASM is not automatically a MBC because of the following comment you made -

"1 ASM He was told about 4 months ago to start on fishing badge, and still hasn't done that. Told me he doesn't know how."

It sounds like this ASM might not be a registered MBC for the Fishing merit badge at all. That would be a BIG red flag for me.

[ogunquitmaddy]

No, he is registered, but that is the exact point I am getting at. This troop doesn't know what they are doing at all.

[smtroop168]

No, he is registered, but that is the exact point I am getting at. This troop doesn't know what they are doing at all.

RUN before your son's entire scouting experience circles the drain.

[Nuts4Scouts]

No, he is registered, but that is the exact point I am getting at. This troop doesn't know what they are doing at all.

On the Merit Badge Counselor application/information form the would be counselor is supposed to list his qualifications for EACH specific badge he wants to be a counselor for.

If he is registered with council as a merit badge counselor for the Fishing merit badge, and still has no idea what the merit badge is all about, then either he lied on his counselor application, lied when he stated he did not know how to counsel that badge, or your council just could care less if it's merit badge counselors have any knowledge of the merit badges they are signed up as counselor for.

Again, the SM is supposed to at least have somewhat of an idea of how good/bad a specific MBC is for a specific badge. A SM is also supposed to have a pretty good idea of what his ASM can, and can not do.

An ineffective SM, possible lying by adult leaders, and MBCs with no knowledge of the merit badges they are supposed to be registered to teach, would have me moving my son to another Troop immediately, if not sooner.

[Mrw]

I am somewhat familiar with north Florida since I vacation there each year. I know there are fairly sparsely populated areas, but it is a touch hard to believe the closest other troop is 60 miles away.

If the boys in the troop as a whole are not advancing at all, unless it is the ASMs kid, that would very much concern me. Just what exactly is this troop doing all this time? If they are camping regularly and the boys are doing the cooking, shopping, etc, then they should have completed the rank requirements for the first few ranks by now just in the course of being in scouts. If the kids are just hanging out while the adults do the work, or if the troop is not camping, then you are not seeing anything like what is remotely supposed to be scouting.

If I were you, and I wanted to stay in the current troop, I would register as an ASM and take all the associated training for SMs and ASMs as fast as I could. Get that training as fast as possible regardless of how far you need to go to get it.

I would be sure my son went to summer camp both for the exposure to other troops and for the practice of being away from home and with other people in a controlled setting. At age 14, that is a skill he needs to start developing so he can function as an adult. Even out-going kids need these experiences as teens to be ready to function away from their parents as adults.

If I were inclined to switch troops, I would see if any of my son's buddies in the troop were also frustrated with earning nothing and wanted to go along and woulf then arrange car pooling with the other family to make sure the boys get there each week.

[smtroop168]

Are other parents experiencing this advancement "pace"? Seems like they would be raising cain as well.

[ThunderingWind]

On the Merit Badge Counselor application/information form the would be counselor is supposed to list his qualifications for EACH specific badge he wants to be a counselor for.

I did this and still got an SM yelling at me for not having access to the any of the major telescopes on the east coast and not having a PhD in Astronomy.

My hobby skills and college Astronomy class were all the were needed to be approved by the council for Astronomy.

The SM called me first because I was first on the alphabetic list. He accused me of registering under false credentials.

[topshot]

Your SM may be a "nice guy" but he's totally ineffective from all you've written. I'd be going to the Troop Committee and asking why they aren't finding a replacement. Our Troop had been sort of like that. The original CO finally booted them and within 2 years the leadership had changed. 7 years later we're considered one of the best in the district. I understand advancement doesn't have to be a high priority for some Troops or Scouts, but your unit sounds ridiculous.

[Mrw]

Agreeing with Topshot here. Advancement may not be a focus, but in an effective troop, the first couple ranks should happen in the course of normal activities even without a focus on most of the requirements.

[ogunquitmaddy]

Just wanted to thank all of you for the help. I took some of the advice given and my son has been earning some badges and I have filed papers to be a MBC. I guess I will wait and see what happens there. I was off line for a month when my computer caught a virus. I just now noticed I had some replies that I had not responded to. Sorry about that. Someone my son should focus more on moving up in ranks instead of badges, but he can not swim and is afraid to learn, so he really can't move of in rank. All he can do is work on badges.

[smtroop168]

but he can not swim and is afraid to learn, so he really can't move of in rank. All he can do is work on badges.

Need to work on this...there are a huge number of options to help him.