August 2008 Merit Badge Changes

[PaulSWolf]

As many of you know, on August 1, 2008, BSA reissued the ENTIRE series of Merit Badge Pamphlets. The new pamphlets have full color covers and color pictures throughout the text. In addition, Auto Mechanics which was also renamed to Automotive Maintenance, and the Architecture and Landscape Architecture BOOKLETS have been combined, but without changes to the badge requirements, AFAIK. The price is now $4.49 per booklet. All of the new booklets have new stock numbers, which, from a very small sample, appear to be in the range 35850-35968, arranged alphabetically.

I've gotten word of around 15-16 badges with revised requirements. (Someone looked through all 119 booklets and the 2008 requirements book and compared the requirements, and sent me a list of ones with changes.) She sent me scans of the requirements pages for 3 of them (Insect Study, Coin Collecting, and Cinematography, and I've ordered 6 other booklets, for Farm Mechanics, Emergency Preparedness, Swimming, Drafting, and Automotive Maintenance (new name for Auto Mechanics), plus the new combined Architecture & Landscape Architecture booklet, which should arrive in a day or two.

Here's a list of the other badges that apparently have changed requirements (notes are from the Scouter that looked through the pamphlets):

Engineering (req 6-9 modified)
Radio
Motorboating
Collections - minor changes to 5 & 6
Painting - #2b added acrylic based paint
Pottery - #6-8 modified
Indian Lore - rewording, but reqs the same.
and possibly Lifesaving - copyright indicated changes, but must be super minor, as couldn't find them.

As soon as I can get copies of the changes to the other badges listed above, I'll update the USSSP (usscouts.org) web site accordingly, and make the information available to this site and to Craig Lincoln, who prepares the worksheets both sites have available. If Scouts or Scouters have copies of the new pamphlets listed, and can scan and forward that information, It would be very much appreciated. Just send the scans (pdf gif or jpg) to me at the address below.

BTW, other than the booklets mentioned above, the OLD booklets are still good, and BSA is selling them at $2.49 each, while they last.

[smtroop168]

Thanks Paul and special thanks to the lady who went through all 119 books! Now Craig has something to do.

Looks like these all have last update dates of 2002 or earlier.

One of the rumors was that Lifesaving was going to go back and require Swimming MB as a requirement. You didn't see that?

Maybe there are 2009 changes in the mill as well.

Keep us posted.

[alex gregory]

Wow! Color pictures . . . no way, you'd think it was the 21st century or something.

[AquilaNegra2]

I'd rather they stayed black and white -- and cheaper.

[Ursus Snorous Roarus]

Saw them a few weeks back at our Council's supply store. Very colorful, more current, more appealing. My guys loved to laugh at the short shorts we used to sport back in the 80s still used in many of the recent books (much like we used to laugh at scouts with greased hair from the 50s ) It may have been my imagination, but the books also looked much thicker, which if is the case I say wonderful! I cringe when boys try merit badges without the books. If there is more reason for them to have the book it will help them much more, and if there's more relevant and useful information within the book, then they learn more! Yahoo!

[wagionvigil]

ALl BSA would have to do is make the 1st REquirement for Each MB. Read the MR Pamphlet for the Merit Badge you are taking before contacting a counselor.

[alex gregory]

ALl BSA would have to do is make the 1st REquirement for Each MB. Read the MR Pamphlet for the Merit Badge you are taking before contacting a counselor.

[wagionvigil]

Make in Mandatory. If you do not read the book you cannot take the MB.

[smtroop168]

Paul...did you get all the info you needed?

Also..echo the comment on the old books. Great way to expand your troop library for a lower cost. Our Scout shop told me they will sell the old ones until 1 October.

[PaulSWolf]

Paul...did you get all the info you needed?

Also..echo the comment on the old books. Great way to expand your troop library for a lower cost. Our Scout shop told me they will sell the old ones until 1 October.

I have the requirements done for Engineering, Lifesaving (yes, there was a minor change), Coin Collecting, Cinematography, Insect Study, Automotive Maintenance, Architecture, Drafting, Farm Mechanics, Emergency Preparedness, and Swimming. Most of those are already posted on the USSSP, and the rest should be posted tonight, if my connection works.

I've also updated the list of pamphlet dates, stock numbers and last change to the requirements at http://usscouts.org/mb/mbbooks.asp to show the new stock numbers. If the copyright date of the new pamphlet is NOT 2008, there was no change to the pamphlet text.

I still need copies of the requirements (and jpg copies of the booklet covers) for Collections, Indian Lore, Motorboating, Radio, Painting, and Pottery.

Plus I could use jpg copies of the covers for Insect Study, Cinematography, and any other merit badge not listed here.

AFAIK, Any merit badge not listed above (including Landscape Architecture) has had no changes to the requirements and pamphlets except for the color covers and color illustrations, so the old booklets for those badges are NOT obsolete. (There actually were a few insignificant words changed in the Landscape Architecture text, but nothing that would make the old booklet obsolete.)

Craig has started working on the worksheets, too, but none are done yet.

[RWSmith]

As always... Thanks, Paul.

[smtroop168]

Looks like Paul has completed updating all the MB changes. Another great job.

[scoutaholic]

Is this editing error at usscouts, or printed in the book?

Learn in English (or the language you commonly speak at home or in the troop) an Indian story of at least 25 words, or any number of shorter ones adding up to 300 words. Tell the story or stories at a Scout meeting or campfire.

It used to be a 300 word story of shorter stories totalling 300 words. Now it is 25 words or totalling 300?

[PaulSWolf]

Is this editing error at usscouts, or printed in the book?

Learn in English (or the language you commonly speak at home or in the troop) an Indian story of at least 25 words, or any number of shorter ones adding up to 300 words. Tell the story or stories at a Scout meeting or campfire.

It used to be a 300 word story of shorter stories totalling 300 words. Now it is 25 words or totalling 300?

It's NOT an editing error I made (at usscouts.org). I saw the inconsistency, but copied it exactly as the book states it.

It's probably an editing error by BSA, that will get fixed in the next printing. But for now, my page duplicates wat the merit badge pamphlet says.

and

Looks like Paul has completed updating all the MB changes. Another great job.

Thanks. Yes, I was just about to post here that I've gotten everything done. Craig is working on the worksheets.

The summary and links to all 17 of the changed badges is at http://usscouts.org/advance/changes/advchanges09.asp