How many merit badges do your boys earn at summercamp

[wagionvigil]

When we attended Summer camp I had a couple rules.
Everyone is up for Polar Bear or Run for life at 6:00am
and No one was permitted in the camp site during session times Unkless you had a paper due. they were expected to find activities that kept them busy. Each boy would record in the Troop log book what they were working on at what time. If not taking a MB they were expected to be taking part in Swimming,open boating,shooting etc.
first year scouts took the Pathfinder Program which took them through most Second and First requirements. Pathfinder also included a swim time that if they were not a swimmer they learned how if they were a swimmer they took Swimming MB, pathfinder also offered First Aid MB. A busy scout is a Happy Scoumaster, I never had homesick boys as they wre busy and at night they were tired. In the evenings we worked on Camp wide events as wellas Fire Building and Starting,Lashing we all would go on hikes etc. The Eagles would help the younger boys and had more freedom Funny even after making Eagle they always attended camp until they were 18 and most came back after as ASM

[RMM]

After reading the posts and pondering the statements. I am unable to figure out why a scout should be limited on the number of merit badges he can attempt, within reason. If the scout wishes to complete 10, then a discussion needs to happen to make sure this is a reasonable number. If the scout wishes to complete 5, then the same discussion needs to occur. If the scout wishes to complete 2, then fantastic, and discuss why not three.

I struggle with scouts wanting to spend time in camp playing cards or just sitting in front of the trading post eating candy, drinking soda and cutting up. If it was not such a money maker for the camp which would need to be made up elswhere - reg fee?, I would rather see the candy and soda disappear.

If a scout is bored or homesick, the SPL and adult leaders should help find ways for the scout to engage with the camp opportunities.

For the adult leaders, we have worked at the last two summer camps on service projects. Lead by example by being actively engaged, not sitting around playing cards.

MY two cents, why place artificial limits on the fun and opportunities the scouts may participate in.

[jhawk]

Only the scout (and his parent) should determine how many merit badges to earn. I am surprised at the number of times I hear how camp should be fun, too, not just for merit badges.... For some scouts, earning the merit badges IS a big part of the fun. My son loves camping, canoeing, hiking, etc. but also loves earning merit badges. He has enjoyed some more than others, but he thinks merit badges are one of the best things about scouting.... Many boys don't share that opinion, and that is fine. There is room in scouting for a wide variety of boys and their personal desire should be the determining factor in how many badges a boy earns, whether at camp or in a a 7 year scouting career....

A troop committee, PLC, SM, etc. does not have the authority to decide to require or refuse marit badge opportunity. Any registered scout can work on any badge he wants to or to choose to do no badges at all.

[outfoxed86]

thank you all for your comments and insites. I know whats working well for my troop. My plc runs my troop not me. I advise. I dont tell them to do anything. I guess I just look at working together differently than most of you.
But hey thats cool. We all provide the best program we can for the boys. I know mine love it and have had some great well rounded young men come out of my troop. I still have contact with all of them. I havn't had one just leave and never heard from again.
thank you
Wayne

[ASM-142]

I understand that this works for your troop. However, have you ever advised the PLC that setting limits on Merit Badges does not follow the BSA program?

[WeeWillie]

You can not create a rule for every situation you will encounter in Scouts. Good leadership involves making sound judgements in the absence of specific rules. As SM you are the principle leader in your troop and you have the authority to impose limits and requirements that are not expressly prohibited and are consistant with the Aims and Methods of Scouting. How does that relate to merit badges?

Typically, a Scout should earn between 2-5 badges. There may be situations where less or more badges may be earned. BSA Lifeguard may be a situation where no merit badges are earned, and if a Scout completes requirements before camp, more may be earned. Summer camp is more than an opportunity to earn merit badges. Most camps have some honor program where patrols and troops particpate in Polar Bear Swims, Tenderfoot Runs, knots, camp service, campsite inspections, hikes.... Completing the 7th merit badge is no excuse for a Scout not to participate in patrol and troop activities, like it or not. That goes doublely so for Scouts who are PLs, ASPLs, and SPL.

The best way to head off problems is to have a SMC, with parents, and review merit badge choices. Have the SCOUT explain how he plans to complete the merit badges and still participate in patrol/troop activities. If the plan sounds reasonable, accept it, and make sure he follows it at camp. If the plan includes working on requirements before camp make sure he does them before camp. If camp allows late starts suggest having 1 or 2 badges in reserve.

The bottom line is, if he (or his parents) want him to attend camp with the troop, he must participate in patrol and troop activities, even if it means 1 or 2 less badges. Earning badges and attending camp are not entitlements.

Also, make sure your Scouts are signed up for enough activities. Scouts without enough to do, generally fill the void with problems.

If you are going to OSR, I'm sure there is plenty to do!

[WeeWillie]

I forgot to include something in my last post.

My 1st year as SM at camp, I came back Thursday night from Cracker Barrel after 10PM. I found all 5 of my Environmental Scientists asleep at the table. It didn't look like they were having fun.

[ASM-142]

... Have the SCOUT explain how he plans to complete the merit badges and still participate in patrol/troop activities. If the plan sounds reasonable, accept it, and make sure he follows it at camp.

Why does a scout need a plan to complete the MBs? Maybe he just wants to learn something new. A scout only has to complete the MB if he wants to even if this means that he has partials for every MB.

... The bottom line is, if he (or his parents) want him to attend camp with the troop, he must participate in patrol and troop activities, even if it means 1 or 2 less badges. Earning badges and attending camp are not entitlements. ...

Why must a scout participate in patrol and troop activities? Is the patrol and troop paying for summercamp.

[Lynda J]

There have been times that our PLC has wanted to set rules that were outside the guidelines of BSA. We have explained to them what these rules.
It is sad when boys are allowed to go outside what the rules are and even sadder when a SM allows it to happen and even encourages it.

So if your troop sees fit, it is OK to break any BSA ruleor go against any guideline they don't like.

Not a very Scouting group. Also not teaching boys to be honest, or trustworthy.

[WVBeaver05]

... The bottom line is, if he (or his parents) want him to attend camp with the troop, he must participate in patrol and troop activities, even if it means 1 or 2 less badges. Earning badges and attending camp are not entitlements. ...

Why must a scout participate in patrol and troop activities? Is the patrol and troop paying for summercamp.

I'm really torn on this subject.

I guess I would have to disagree with "he MUST participate..." (emphasis added). I would use SHOULD participate and would certainly encourage (strongly) that he participate. I would discuss the obligations of members of a group and hope that he had been guided to the right decision.

But if he didn't there wouldn't be much that could be done.

Still it bothers me when Scouts don't participate with their Patrol and Troop -- and even when Troops attend an event (like a Camporee) and don't participate in the scheduled events. I'm not sure that these kinds of things live up to the Scouting ideals. I am sure that when they don't they are not getting the full benefit of the Scouting program (IMHO).

YiS

[ASM-142]

What if the scout does not participate with his Patrol or Troop but is participating in MBs? Will this be held against him for Scout Spirit or his SMC?

[WeeWillie]

My troop does not pay for my Summer Camp either; I am not reimbursed for the 1 week vacation I contribute by my participation; nor do they pay me to babysit. Remember the old adage BSA does not mean Baby Sitters of America. Advancement is only one of the eight Methods of Scouting. It is no more or less important than the others.

Remember the slogan. Strong Values, Strong Leaders, Character Counts, or the bumper sticker "America is returning to the values Scouting never left." How about "7 Merit Badges or bust, It's all about me!"

Scouts are members of a patrol and troop. As such they are expected to contribute to the sucess of their unit. That means attending service project, camp fires, camp games, mess hall duty.... Scouts who forego these activities are displaying neither character nor Scout Spirit." Don't expect a SM or BOR to sign off on Scout Spirit.

ASM-142. I don't have a problem if a Scout is willing to accept partials on 7 merit badges as long as he participates in the patrol, troop and camp activities. However, the problem isn't with the Scouts, it's with their hype-achieving parents who are the real driving force behind 6-7 merit badges.

By the way, the issue isn't SMs adding advancement requirements. Scouts attending Summer Camp with provisional troops are limited to 3-5 badges depending on the number of merit badge sessions.

[scoutaholic]

... the problem isn't with the Scouts, it's with their hyper-achieving parents who are the real driving force behind 6-7 merit badges. ...

Sorry, but that isn't always true.
After my son finished all 20 Webelos Activity Badges (which he decided on his own), he decided ON HIS OWN that he wants ALL the MBs. That is entirely his choice. I will support him in that aggressive goal until he decides to change it. If he wants to earn 17 MBs every year from now until he is 18, I'm not going to stop him. I will do whatever I can to provide opportunities for him to accomplish his goal.
If that means registering in and attending a second troop, or multiple weeks of summer camp, or multiple Saturdays in MB colleges, I will support him in that as long as that is what he wants.