Online Access to Merit Badge Pamphlets

[rkpeck]

E-books have gotten be quite prevalent. Have you heard of any movement to digitize the pamphlets at a reduced price (similar to e-content textbooks)? I am aware of the worksheets available in PDF / Word format, but I'm inquiring about the pamphlets themselves.

My son is currently the troop librarian, and is spending some time going through the out-dated collection of pamphlets the troop has. Typically the book remains good reading material regarding the subject matter, even if it is out of date. He's asking the Scoutmaster for direction with the troop's MB library. I'm reluctant to have him discard (for instance) 10 copies of the Swimming MB book just because they're 20 years old. I suspect the material in the book hasn't changed appreciably.

What about a program available to troops to have a complete library of MB books at half the price of a paper set, with annual revisions at half the cost of the updated books. The only difference would be they would in electronic format.

Any thoughts?

Roger

[wagionvigil]

There are no plans at this time to put them online.

[alex gregory]

I for one do not agree that "read the pamphlet" should be the first requirement of every merit badge, precisely because there is so much information available for free on-line. The merit badge pamphlets should be free and on-line, or at least available at a fraction of the cost required to buy the books and maintain a library.

Moreover, most merit badge requirments are not best taught or learned from reading a merit badge pamphlet or any other resource material - e.g. a scout can look at a picture of a figure 8 follow through knot, but that scout is not ready to climb until he can actually tie the knot. Significantly, from what I have seen, most summer camp programs do not have scouts use pamphlets at all to learn the material.

It's not like the pamphlets have super-duper information that is not available on-line for free. Admittedly the pamphlets present all or most of the resource material a scout needs to complete a badge in one convenient package - which is nice. But that alone does not convince me that merit badge pamphlets are so much better than free on-line resource material that I think scouts must read the pamphlets. I do agree that a MBC should thoroughly review the pamphlet and probably have a personal copy just to make sure that the requirements are being satisfied according to BSA standards.

Relying less on paper pamphlets has the added bonus of making scouts more conservation minded, and a simple step we can take to actually practice the Outdoor Code.

[wagionvigil]

I will argue the fact that there is information in the pamphlets that any scout taking a MB might be wise in taking a look at before taking said MB. A scout needs a working knowledge of say Climbing MB before taking it. What is a Figure 8 "a snow man" what is a carabiner that "clippy thing". When I get these answers I really want to remove those scouts as they have no idea what they are doing. But I donot an proceed but I usually have a leader discussion.

[mt_goodrich]

Wait a minute, you mean that "Clippy Thing" actually has a real name?

I for one, think that the merit badge book is a good reference, along with the internet. Almost like information overload.

But it does make it somewhat hard to keep up with certain requirements when they change.

[cballman]

Well if you print out the pamphlet using regular paper how long will it last? But if you purchase a pamphlet then it will last a whole lot longer. As a parent and ASM I understand about the cost but then you stop to think how much does you internet service cost? How much does the printer cartridges cost? how much does the paper cost? How much is your time worth when you have to research something that is already covered in th book? That dont even factor in the computer and printer cost. When you look at these cost the pamphlets then are very cheap including all the info that has been researched. Does every merit badge need to have each boy own a pamphlet? NO. But there is some that I would make sure that each and every boy has and has read.

[AquilaNegra2]

Many of them are already online: http://www.meritbadgeonline.com/

[alex gregory]

Well if you print out the pamphlet using regular paper how long will it last? But if you purchase a pamphlet then it will last a whole lot longer. As a parent and ASM I understand about the cost but then you stop to think how much does you internet service cost? How much does the printer cartridges cost? how much does the paper cost? How much is your time worth when you have to research something that is already covered in th book? That dont even factor in the computer and printer cost. When you look at these cost the pamphlets then are very cheap including all the info that has been researched. Does every merit badge need to have each boy own a pamphlet? NO. But there is some that I would make sure that each and every boy has and has read.

Why add the extra cost of pamphlets when you are already connected to the web? My son and I are perfectly capable of reading on screen without incurring any printing or paper costs. Remember also that the "cost" of a pamphlet is not just your out-of-pocket expense, but also the cost of the resources to manufacture and deliver the pamphlet. I personally think that BSA should be able to deliver the merit badge material electronically in order to reduce (if not eliminate) both the direct out-of-pocket expense but also reduce the environmental impact.

[AquilaNegra2]

We usually buy the MB books. I'm happily surprised at how attractive the color ones are. Yes, you can read them online. But most of us aren't taking our computers into the field, or to a visit, or in the tub (#2 son has probably read most of his there). For the MOST part, they are well written and full of good information. My own experience (yours may differ) is that the boys get more out of them when they read them in pieces and at their leisure.

[cballman]

Had an afterthought on this subject. Also when we purchase something from our local scout shop it helps to pay for the services that we as scouters have grown used to. Like purchasing new uniforms and also merit badges and other advancement items. no mail order just a sweet person to look at and talk to. HMMM sounds almost like some other people who do not support buying in the USA but lets go find the cheap crap so we dont have to spend and help keep our jobs over here.

[rkpeck]

I appreciate everyone's comments. Just wondering out loud; with many of the merit badge books available online, is it necessary for a troop to have a MB library? For our troop, the library of MB books is most frequently brought out at summer camp. They still need paper if they're going to be read at camp about the subject they're working on at camp.

I am also aware of the opportunities that may be indirectly benefiting the boys by purchasing the MB book at the local office (and, as an extension, at the trading post at camp). Is it really such a good thing to make the boys aware of the books being available online?

Interesting questions. Not sure there's a correct response; perhaps it depends on each troop and what the boys want.

Roger

[evmori]

Well if you print out the pamphlet using regular paper how long will it last? But if you purchase a pamphlet then it will last a whole lot longer. As a parent and ASM I understand about the cost but then you stop to think how much does you internet service cost? How much does the printer cartridges cost? how much does the paper cost? How much is your time worth when you have to research something that is already covered in th book? That dont even factor in the computer and printer cost. When you look at these cost the pamphlets then are very cheap including all the info that has been researched. Does every merit badge need to have each boy own a pamphlet? NO. But there is some that I would make sure that each and every boy has and has read.

How long do you need it to last? Paper placed in a binder will last a long time & is more cost effective.

[smtroop168]

National has other publications available online that you don't have to buy. This site has a ton of info available on line as a service to all of us. Paul Wolf is the guru of keeping the Advancement requirements current online on usscouts.org. I don't see the folks who put together their MB pamphlet site much differently.

I keep a library of those references I need when I'm nowhere near a computer.