Discontinued Merit Badges

[AquilaNegra2]

#1 would like to earn a few of the discontinued Merit Badges. Not quite sure how he goes about this. Is it as simple as getting the old book, finding someone qualified and signing them up as counselor, then the same as a current badge? ScoutNet doesn't have a place to record other than current badges (and not even all of them yet). Suggestions?

Specifically, Masonry, Botany, and Cement Work.

[deweylure]

I believe once the badge is discontinued it can no longer be earned. I can not find the exact text at this time.

Dewey

[WeeWillie]

By definition deactive means no longer active, therefrore you can no longer earn the badges. The annual Requirements are the official list of ranks, badges and awards that scouts are eligible to earn. It says so on the inside front cover.

Because a badge is no longer active that doesn't mean that you can't perform the requirements, but not as a merit badge. I use my 1967 Edition of the Boy Scout Handbook for program ideas. For example, our troop did 2nd Class: Tracking, Trailing, and Stalking on one of our camping trips.

Many older Scout leaders still have their Scout Handbook and Field Book. I have mine. If you might ask you Scout leader to ask at Round Table if any other leaders have older versions. You might also try e-bay.

[AquilaNegra2]

Maybe my terminology is wrong. I mean those badges which still have a number, but are not part of the current 121...er, 122? 126? 128?

Thought I read (here?) that if a Scout could find a qualified counselor, they could still be earned.

[smtroop168]

This is from Steve Henning's Web site


"A director of the Boy Scout division of the BSA stated at a Boy Scout Program conference at Philmont that a merit badge is never officially dropped. They are just omitted from all literature, the cloth badge is not made, and there are no books published. Apparently someone that has the most recent set of requirements can use them. I am not sure how one goes about getting an approved counselor. That could be a problem, however that hasn't stopped some people. A case in point is the Rabbit Raising Merit Badge that was dropped in 1993. BSA records indicate that 49 Rabbit Raising Merit Badges were earned in 2003. Using a realistic approach, my definition for the final year for a merit badge is the last year it appears in BSA literature as a valid merit badge even though it may be earned many years after that."

My take is that councils would not want to go through the MBC approval process for discontinued MBs. Soem are probably trying to figure out how to get qualified counselors for some of the Historic ones just released.

[Quailman]

I thought you could only earn it if you had a partial when it was dropped.

[PaulSWolf]

You can earn any of the old, discontinued, merit badges, for the challenge, but, as far as I know, they DO NOT count toward advancement.

[AquilaNegra2]

This is from Steve Henning's Web site

"A director of the Boy Scout division of the BSA stated at a Boy Scout Program conference at Philmont that a merit badge is never officially dropped. They are just omitted from all literature, the cloth badge is not made, and there are no books published. Apparently someone that has the most recent set of requirements can use them. I am not sure how one goes about getting an approved counselor. That could be a problem, however that hasn't stopped some people. A case in point is the Rabbit Raising Merit Badge that was dropped in 1993. BSA records indicate that 49 Rabbit Raising Merit Badges were earned in 2003. Using a realistic approach, my definition for the final year for a merit badge is the last year it appears in BSA literature as a valid merit badge even though it may be earned many years after that."

My take is that councils would not want to go through the MBC approval process for discontinued MBs. Soem are probably trying to figure out how to get qualified counselors for some of the Historic ones just released.

We don't have that particular problem (hooray!), and could find qualified counselors, requirements, etc. #1 is on track to earn them all, and he wanted a round number

[alex gregory]

I understood that discontinued merit badges (like old soldiers) just fade away but can still be earned AND counted toward advancement.

[jr56]

You could probably earn them. You might have a hard time finding a Merit Badge patch for them however.

[smtroop168]

I'm glad your #1 is working on getting all the "Active" MBs. If he wants a real challenge vice old MBs, have him try to get the Hornaday Medal. More challenging than Cement Work.

Or get into Ventures and earn the Silver Award.

They used to call scouts who made Eagle and got the top Explorer Award "Double Eagles".

[AquilaNegra2]

I'm glad your #1 is working on getting all the "Active" MBs. If he wants a real challenge vice old MBs, have him try to get the Hornaday Medal. More challenging than Cement Work.

Or get into Ventures and earn the Silver Award.

They used to call scouts who made Eagle and got the top Explorer Award "Double Eagles".

After he gets all the badges . Frankly, we've sunk way too much effort and money into his completing them all to let him get sidetracked. But if there is still time, it would be a nice thing. He already has the plans to weatherproof a low-income house, but needs more hours in the day.

[smtroop168]

[quote="AquilaNegra2
After he gets all the badges . Frankly, we've sunk way too much effort and money into his completing them all to let him get sidetracked. But if there is still time, it would be a nice thing. He already has the plans to weatherproof a low-income house, but needs more hours in the day.[/quote]

Just MHO but I wouldn't put much effort in retired MB. Sounds like he's got enough on his plate. How many MBs does he have now?

[AquilaNegra2]

[quote="AquilaNegra2
After he gets all the badges . Frankly, we've sunk way too much effort and money into his completing them all to let him get sidetracked. But if there is still time, it would be a nice thing. He already has the plans to weatherproof a low-income house, but needs more hours in the day.

Just MHO but I wouldn't put much effort in retired MB. Sounds like he's got enough on his plate. How many MBs does he have now?[/quote]

Not sure, but I think it's about 85. He's finishing Scuba tomorrow (hardest one of them all and most expensive due to the certification), and has on his schedule 14 more before his next COH at the end of February. He has them planned out, and has a few weeks to spare. His brother's Eagle project is going to require masonry, so he thought he'd hit two birds...

[jr56]

Sounds like quite an impressive young man. My son earned 100. Some of the adult leaders spread the viscious rumor around the troop that he was too stupid to earn a merit badge (he has learning disabilities) and that I must have "given" them all to him. There are sad people out there. Good luck to your son,

[AquilaNegra2]

Sounds like quite an impressive young man. My son earned 100. Some of the adult leaders spread the viscious rumor around the troop that he was too stupid to earn a merit badge (he has learning disabilities) and that I must have "given" them all to him. There are sad people out there. Good luck to your son,

Thanks. Scouting is his "one thing", and he'll make it. His (former) SM had no confidence that he would; fortunately, that spurred him on even more. So far, he has had 50 or so different merit badge counselors. We try not to counsel his badges if there is a qualified [and convenient ] other counselor.

Congrats to your son. 100 is my #2's goal. He's afraid of Horses and doesn't like water, so he knows getting them all isn't practical for him. Different kids .

[Billiken]

My son earned 100. Some of the adult leaders spread the viscious rumor around the troop that he was too stupid to earn a merit badge (he has learning disabilities) and that I must have "given" them all to him.

Guess your son showed everyone who the stupid people are.

God bless him.