New Merit Badges on the Way

[NarragansettASM]

This is off the Narragansett Council website (actually one of the District sub pages). No further information given on requirements. Take it for what it's worth ... I'm curiuous to see what will be retired to make way for 4 new merit badges ...

MERIT BADGE UPDATE:

These merit badges have been approved and are in development with the following tentative launch dates.

Scuba: Q4 2009

Scouting Heritage: Q4 2009

GPS/GIS: Q1 2010

Robotics: Q2 2010

[jr56]

Sounds interesting.

[AquilaNegra2]

Question. My #1 is planning to earn all 121. Anyone know if earning 121 that were available when he started would qualify? Troy, are you on here?

Those badges look great. It's just that his plan has him finishing 18 y.o. - 2 weeks (he wants to do them thoroughly). Adding 5 probably won't be possible..

[AquilaNegra2]

Explanation of Scouting Heritage badge: http://www.melrosetroop68.org/2009/03/scouting-heritage-merit-badge.html

I don't like the last one.
10. Make a display of Scouting information and material for your community to be open to the public for at least one week.

A week? Better a one-day event where a large and informative display will be seen than having it watered down to a one-page flyer being stapled for a week buried on a bulletin board.

[lifescoutforlife]

Question. My #1 is planning to earn all 121. Anyone know if earning 121 that were available when he started would qualify? Troy, are you on here?

Those badges look great. It's just that his plan has him finishing 18 y.o. - 2 weeks (he wants to do them thoroughly). Adding 5 probably won't be possible..

My son is very close to earning them all, he has 114 as of now and will now have to add these to his total if he wants them all because he don't turn 15 till the end of this month. The 121 that your son started with have already changed Water Skiing / Water Sports, Atomic Energy / Nuclear Science. Some boys that earn them all somethings get a badge and if the # of the badge changes then they can actually earn a extra one when there was only ever 121 offered at any time but they end up with 122. I think to quailify as earning them all that any boy would have to earn all the badges that were offered at the time they were a scout under 18 years of age.

[RWSmith]

Just FYI...

1. If the MB number changes, it's a "new" badge and can be earned separate from the previous badge.

2. If the number does not change, no matter what else changed --name, reqs, whatever-- is moot... It's the SAME badge. So, don't worry about it and earn whichever ONE of them that you want/can.

So, the point is... If a Scout is going for ALL MBs, he only needs to get one from each number to consider himself accomplishing this goal. Point 1 above is the key; point 2 above is nothing more than a distraction and should not interfere with the Scout's goal.

P.S. I hate to say this... but, I think there's an exception to the exception... but, I can't remember which one (MB #) it is, right now. It that's the case, I'm sure somebody will jump in here and let us know.

[scoutaholic]

Question. My #1 is planning to earn all 121. Anyone know if earning 121 that were available when he started would qualify? Troy, are you on here?...

I'm not Troy, but I think to earn them all, you would have to earn all that are available at the end of your time earning them (your 18th birthday). Right now, that would mean the existing 121 regardless of whether you earned skiing before it was changed. The older skiing badge would make a total of 122 even if there are only 121 currently available.

For these 4 new badges, earning them all will mean all that are available. If 4 others are removed, then all badges will mean the 121 that still exist, the other 4 will be extras if you have already earned them. If they add these 4 without removing others, then earning them all will mean you have to earn all 125.

[wagionvigil]

Ok I have tried to stay away from this But here I go. Merit Badges can be taken by any scout Regardless of age we hear it constantly COS restricts Belaying without help to 14 and up bUt 11 year olds can take the Climbing MB Now we have SCUBA here is the SCUBA from G2SS

Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts
The use of scuba is not authorized for a BSA unit, except so that registered Boy Scout youth and leaders may participate in the Scuba BSA program conducted by a certified dive instructor in compliance with this policy. Scuba BSA is not a diver certification program.

Scuba training programs may be a part of troop/team activities for participants who are 14 years of age or older. Members who meet the age requirement and are properly certified may participate in group dives under the supervision of a responsible adult who is currently certified as a dive master, assistant instructor, or any higher rating from NAUI, PADI, or SSI. Student divers must be under the supervision of a currently certified NAUI, PADI, or SSI instructor. No exceptions to the BSA age requirement are permitted. Scouts with a junior diver certification may dive only when accompanied by a buddy who is a certified open-water diver at least 18 years old.

SO are they going rewrite the G2SS or say well they can take it but cannot complete it until 14. Come on lets put some age restriction on some MB to go along with the BSA Policies.

[FrankJ]

It will be interesting to see the requirements for the scuba merit badge when it comes out. I understand it will include certification. Of course that can change. You can get certified, outside of scouting way younger than 14. So it will be interesting to see what happens if a scout does the requirements outside of a scout venue and then asks for the merit badge.

I also understand the minimum scout age for scuba is going to be lowered. To what I do not know.

[wagionvigil]

So we change the G2SS to grease the squeeky wheel? AT least that is how I see it. We want to keep boys in the program lets have some merit badges that only the Older Boys can take. Sure you can take SCUBA/Climbing/Whitewater when you are 14. Put a red border on them to identify them as older Scout MB's.

[smtroop168]

Technically since you can earn every MB ever offered, you have to get 239 MBs to earn them ALL. So get hot on Fruit and Nut Culture MB and you will be eligible to join all the crazies on the Forum.

If you want a straight answer, you would earn all MBs available while you were an active scout to be considered to have them ALL. So if they add 4 and you are still an active scout, go get them.

[smtroop168]

Sure you can take SCUBA/Climbing/Whitewater when you are 14. Put a red border on them to identify them as older Scout MB's.

The red signifies the bloody knees I got climbing, falling out of the raft and dropping the scuba tank on my foot.

[AquilaNegra2]

Wagion, I like that idea (the red ring). There ARE badges that require strength or maturity that the overwhelming majority of 11 years olds don't have (I left room for the exceptional).

[wagionvigil]

But parents belive their kids are exceptional and SM will not say no.

[AquilaNegra2]

I'd like to see OJBECTIVE requirements needed to start some of the merit badges. Backpacking already does this -- Requires a hike of 2 miles (not much, but it weeds out the completely unfit.) Why not others? Require a Scout to have completed Pre-Algebra before starting Surveying. Make sure he can do 25 push-ups before beginning the Climbing badge. A mile swim before beginning Lifesaving. Correct pronunciation of 'nuclear' before Nuclear Science, etc, etc.

I doubt this will ever happen, but there is entirely too much emphasis placed on the "no more" and not enough on the "no less" of the merit badges.

[FieldSports]

I thinking the counselor just needs to stick to their guns on "no less". There are plenty of 14 years old that have not developed the body to handle some of the tougher MB's. There are also a lot of 11 years old that are very athletic and can easily do them. It is the counselor that needs to adjust.

I do have to say however, I was advanced openwater certified in Scuba at age of 12. Out swam almost all the adults in my class. (They use to require a one mile swim). It remains one of the sports I enjoy to this date (Lobster season soon).

I have told a couple a scouts in my time - "Here try holding the shotgun in place for 1 minute". If they can't do that, they are not going to be able to complete the MB. They understand. I tell them to work on the upper body strength and come back when they are ready. The scouts AND their parents understand if I explain the physical demands. If you put age limit on it, you are still going to have the same issue with some scouts - they have not developed yet.

[kwildman]

i like the idea of a red ring badge but only reservation is that somewhere/somehow you will get an ER merit badge with an age requirement just to appease those that don't want to see any 13 year old Eagles.

[alex gregory]

14 year age limitation for merit badges is completely arbitrary, and in my opinion kinda dumb (sorry Wagion). I personally like the age limitation for high adventure programs like Sea Base not because the program is beyond the abilities of boys under age 14, but because it is a carrot to keep the older guys involved.

Either the individual Scout is fit enough (physically, emotionally, academically, etc. etc. etc.) to complete a requirement or he ain't; that's between him and the MBC. The decision whether or not Junior should engage in a potentially dangerous activity like SCUBA or Whitewater(which are in fact potentially dangerous activities) is up to the child's parent/guardian.

I've seen lots of guys complete Climbing MB who were under 14. Heck, my 10-year old daughter can meet the Climbing requirements. My son got PADI certified for SCUBA before 14; it was not that hard.

[wagionvigil]

Why not have carrot MB's? Like you said to keep the older scout interested.

[alex gregory]

Why not have carrot MB's? Like you said to keep the older scout interested.

Because advancement is all about individual accomplishment. If the individual can do whatever at age 10 1/2, then more power to him. I've also seen so many boys age 11 to 14 who are more than capable to earn a merit badge, and I would hate telling them no just because they are not old enough.

Additionally, Venturing is the time and place for the more heroic stuff. Let the boys as Boy Scouts get a taste of the adventure thery can enjoy as a Venturer.