Pre Reqs lost at summer camp by counselor

[aflmom]

Last weekend during a camp-out, my son found out that he did not get the merit badge for traffic safety during summer camp. He had been told if the pre-reqs were done the badges could be completed at camp. He not only did the pre-reqs but most of the other requirements prior to camp and ended up completing 10 (well, maybe 9 merit badges). A couple were ones that he had not planned on doing but were 'easy'. He decided to do them rather than have free time.

Evidently, the counselor lost his pre-reqs so there's no proof. In hindsight he should have had his name and troop number on each individual page, but since this was his first summer camp he did not know that his notebook with the merit badge requirements would be taken.

Having said all that....he does have proof in the sense that he did the work on a computer and it's easy to print out the info. However, he did not make a copy of the newspaper articles. By now, his SM knows he's prepared for conferences and BOR's and that he doesn't do something halfway. They've praised him multiple times and the SM has told him that he wants to be like him when he grows up--organized, etc. During summer camp he was one of two boys praised for truly exemplifying scout behavior.

He'll find out the verdict tomorrow when he prints out the merit badge info as to whether or not that's acceptable. I didn't know if others had experienced similar problems or if anyone had suggestions to help minimize the potential of this happening again.

[Mrw]

If he needs to replace the news articles, that can be done in just a few days with a decent paper.

I would question why the notebook was taken at all. I would have expected the counselor to go over it during the badge sessions as the scout could easily have had stuff for other badges in there as well.

[Mick Scouter]

I have a number of questions on this one but I can't imagine it is a real big problem. The very worse case is he has to do a couple of things over again. This should not be a big problem for such an organized boy.

[aflmom]

He had all of his prereq and several of the badges completed in one notebook separated with dividers.

I wasn't there but it sounds like they did the other requirements at camp and then each merit badge counselor took the papers pertaining to the specific merit badge.

He emailed his previous work to his SM and took in a hard copy last night, but guess the assistant scout master that he needs to speak with wasn't there so he has to wait.

Like it was mentioned even if he has to do it over at least he has most of the work and I'm sure that next time he'll make note that his name and troop number is on each individual page.

A counselor looked over his work last night in Personal Fitness, Family Life, and Personal Management which he has been doing concurrently and wants to use him/the work as an example to other scouts starting those badges.

Hopefully, it won't create any resentment problems but I think he's been at the troop long enough--almost a year--that he is socially established. That probably sounds strange but he's always been homeschooled. He has taken numerous community and group classes, but commented once to me, "Mom, I don't know what it is. I do great with other kids in a "play" situation but whenever I'm in a classroom situation there's always problems."

This troop has been such a great fit for him though and if I was going to give one disadvantage to homeschooling it would be the lack of outside affirmation. That need (and confidence booster) is being met through scouts.