New Merit Badges on the Way

[wagionvigil]

Ok I will go with on this But Only if ve make Venturing a mandatory move

[alex gregory]

I'd be fine with a mandatory transition to a Venturing program, as long as the older scouts remain somewhat active in the troop.

By the way, my 10-year old daughter can't really complete all the Climbing MB requirements; I was exagerrating a little bit. She's not strong or heavy enough to belay, and I doubt she knows any required knot other then a figure-8 follow through. Nevertheless, I suspect she's part spider-monkey because she can sprint up a climbing wall.

[wagionvigil]

I'd be fine with a mandatory transition to a Venturing program, as long as the older scouts remain somewhat active in the troop.

By the way, my 10-year old daughter can't really complete all the Climbing MB requirements; I was exagerrating a little bit. She's not strong or heavy enough to belay, and I doubt she knows any required knot other then a figure-8 follow through. Nevertheless, I suspect she's part spider-monkey because she can sprint up a climbing wall.

It has nothing to do with climbing ability it has to do with safety. IE: Belaying by themselves. This tends to be a problem with Most under 13 scouts. Knots are another issue. Most Non Rappellers 99% are under 13. Remember a new Scout is still considered a Webelos under COS Age Appropriate Guidelines if they are less than 11

[AquilaNegra2]

From ScoutingNews.org:

The National Council has been putting out the word to Councils about some new Merit Badges coming soon! Rumors of the majority of these being in developed starting surfacing back in March, but now they have been approved.

So far we’ve heard about the following merit badges:

– Robotics merit badge approved. Requirements under development. Debut expected spring 2010.

– GPS/GIS merit badge approved. Requirements under development. Debut expected early 2010.

– Scouting Heritage merit badge has been approved. Requirements under development. Debut expected later this year

– Scuba merit badge has been approved. Requirements under development. Debut expected late this year.

[biglou]

Here is my question, Which merit badges are going to go to the merit badge graveyard?

[smtroop168]

Here is my question, Which merit badges are going to go to the merit badge graveyard?

None from what I hear.

[alex gregory]

It'll be interesting to see whether or not the SCUBA merit badge includes an age-14 limitation for earning the merit badge (which I think would be the only merit badge with an age limit). Will Scouts who are already SCUBA trained have to wait until their 14th birthday to get the merit badge? I doubt it. My guess is the current SCUBA award will simply become a merit badge without significant changes. The Award has no age-14 requirement (in fact the award references a minimum age of "around" 10 1/2), but does require that only registered Scouts, Venturers and adults may earn the award. I suspect that the G2SS prohibition on under age-14 SCUBA troop and group activites will remain in force, but that individuals may earn the merit badge at any time after registering as a Scout.

What is current policy for teaching the SCUBA Award at summer camp? I seem to recall that the the few times I've seen SCUBA offered at summer camp it is limited to age 14 and up.

[PhilTully]

Scuba diving merit badge is here. You must obtain your Open Water (or Junior) certification outside of scouting.
Here are the requirements
1. Do the following:
a. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses
that could occur while scuba diving, including hypothermia,
hyperventilation, squeezes, decompression
illness, nitrogen narcosis, motion sickness, fatigue,
overexertion, heat reactions, dehydration, injuries by
aquatic life, and cuts and scrapes.
b. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing
CPR on a person, and explain how to recognize
such conditions. Demonstrate the proper technique
for performing CPR using a training device approved
by your counselor.
2. Before completing requirements 3 through 6, earn the
Swimming merit badge.
3. Discuss the Scuba Diver’s Code with your merit badge
counselor, and explain the importance of each guideline
to a scuba diver’s safety.
4. Earn an Open Water Diver Certification from a scuba
organization recognized by the Boy Scouts of America
scuba policy.
5. Explain what an ecosystem is, and describe four aquatic
ecosystems a diver might experience.
6. Find out about three career opportunities in the scuba
industry. Pick one and find out the education, training,
and experience required for this profession. Discuss this
with your counselor, and explain why this profession
might interest you.

And includes this statement:
The Boy Scouts of America is not a dive certification agency. Your merit badge counselor can help you find a
scuba agency recognized by the Boy Scouts of America scuba policy so that you can fulfill requirement 4.
Scouts who have already earned an Open Water Diver Certification outside of a BSA activity from a scuba agency recognized by the Boy Scouts of America scuba policy may still earn the Scuba Diving merit badge by earning the Swimming merit badge and completing all other listed requirements.

[wagionvigil]

wow theres a novel idea have this before that.
Lets do this in alot of merit badges
Before Taking this M you must Have Swimming MB
Before Taking any high adventuire MB you must have First Aid Mb
and CPR Certification

[Cowboy]

I agree with the pre-requesit (sp?) idea. There are a lot of MB's that a boy really does need to be older (usually). I have struggled through Personal Management with a couple of boys that really should not have taken it. Did they complete the requirements? Yes,.... maybe. Did Mom or Dad do the requirements? In one case I am just about certain that they did. Do I have the answer? Nope, I can not even define what a good pre-req would be for that one. Citizenship in the Nation or World: Should have at least US History or World History to really get a good grasp on these two. That would mean that (at least in WI) the boys would have to wait until they have completed 10th grade. That is nto the answer either.
My 2 pennies.

[SCscoutdad]

I attended a centennial celebration today in SC and a gentleman there was demonstrating Signaling. He said it was his understanding that BSA was going to offer that again for this year only as part of the centennial celebration. I did not ask where he obtained that information and I could not find anything to suggest that at the BSA site.

Is there any truth to this and, if so, where would one obtain the information?

[wagionvigil]

This is from another Thread

What razor_strop heard was basically correct, except the names will apparently be "Signaller" not "Signalling" and "Tracking" not "Stalking". Pathfinding and Carpentry should be the other two, as he heard, and the other info matches what I've seen. The 12/31/2010 date to complete is a fixed deadline - NO partials after that date. The badges WILL count toward advancement if earned during 2010.

I have seen the draft requirements and some preliminary flyers about the program, but have agreed not to post the details of the requirements until the official BSA Announcement is made, which should be any day now. As soon as the announcement is made, I'll post pages with the details on the USSSP, and make announcements on this discussion board, Scouts-L, rec.scouting.usa, the USSSP discussion board, TM-TUG, the USSSP Blog, an a couple of other yahoo groups, probably.

On a related side note,the 2010 BOY SCOUT REQUIREMENTS" booklet should be available at Scoutstuff.org on the 18th of January, and in the Scout Shops on or shortly after that date. The item number has changed again, and will apparently be 34765.

[biglou]

Just saw this on the Scouting Magazine Website. It was posted earlier today.
Here is the link:

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2010/0 ... -past.html