badges for new scouts

[diamondbackAPL]

what merit badges do you recommend for new scouts to take at camp?

[RWSmith]

How 'bout before we answer that, you tell us what you think? I'd like to know both... What do you want to take? And, what do you think your SM would recommend you take? And, if they are different, why?

I'm not being sarcastic here, I really want to know what you think.

[cballman]

swimming. basketry and the camp we go to also does fingerprinting one night.. I like to add that if they do these three then they will still have fun and get some of the req. for tenderfoot , second and first class signed off. and not be so overloaded they dont have fun.

[ASM-142]

The first year campers with my troop usually do Swimming, Basketry, and 1st Aid.

[Mrw]

Our summer camp does not offer first aid. We do offer the class once a year at troop meetings for those who are interested.

Our first year scouts take the First Year Emphasis program and then usually a handicraft in the afternoon. Basketry, art, leatherwork and weather are common. A few usually do fishing as well.

I would not recommend a scout who has earned Tenderfoot before camp to take the first year program as it is run where we go.

[ASM-142]

Our summer camp does not offer first aid. We do offer the class once a year at troop meetings for those who are interested.

Our first year scouts take the First Year Emphasis program and then usually a handicraft in the afternoon. Basketry, art, leatherwork and weather are common. A few usually do fishing as well.

I would not recommend a scout who has earned Tenderfoot before camp to take the first year program as it is run where we go.

I have gone to 5 different summercamps and they all offer 1st aid. Sorry that yours does not but it is good that you can get it done during troop meetings.

The first year emphasis program we handle as a troop during our weekly troop meetings and campouts leading up to summercamp.

[diamondbackAPL]

our camp only offers first aid for scouts first class and 13.

lots of our new scouts take the handicraft badges and swimming.

the specific handicraft badges are in a post under "our summer camp"

[Scouting179]

I've always said kids should get the MBs at camp that are hard to get at home and are available at camp: Swimming, Lifesaving, E Prep, Orienteering, etc. Throw in some fun ones too: Leatherwork, Basketry, etc.

I've also thought getting ones easy to do in the troop is a waste of choices at camp: Camping, Cooking, First Aid, etc.

Keep in mind, what's readily doable in one troop may be different from another troop.

[Mrw]

Environmental science is one I recommend for the boys to get at camp.

[Scouting179]

Environmental science is one I recommend for the boys to get at camp.

Me too.

[diamondbackAPL]

Environmental science is one I recommend for the boys to get at camp.

that's where I took it.

next year I'm going to try Pioneering and climbing, which I can't do anywhere else.

[wagionvigil]

E-Sci is great at camp BUT not for NEw Scouts!

[diamondbackAPL]

yes, I agree. it's not so much that it's hard, just boring for an 11 year old

[Scouting179]

E-Sci is great at camp BUT not for NEw Scouts!

Why? I know new Scouts who took it their first year, did fine, and learned A LOT. There is no age requirement for taking any MB, other than being 11-18.

[cballman]

at the there is no age or time req. but at summer camp they put age and rank req. on a lot of the merit badges because they have seen that sometimes having a age or rank req. to take the badge makes sense. also it seems to help get boys to come back year after year. and it makes a lot of sense to have some age and rank req. but that is in another thread and I know it is not allowed but.

[Chief J]

I usually recomend that new scouts take the Trail to First Class program. in the AM, and then take 2 or 3 of the following in their first year of camp.

Space Exploration, Mammel Study, Basketry, or leatherwork.

Second Year Scouts are encouraged to take Environmental Science and Swimming, and then round out the rest of their day with other badges/activities.

Sad to say, but our Summer Camp does not offer the First Aid Merit Badge either.

Chief J

[wagionvigil]

first Year at Eberly reservation get First Aid, Mammal Study, Swimming OR improve upon their swimming if not a swimmer.

[diamondbackAPL]

even though I am a third year scout I am taking mammal study this year because the only other badges at that time are basketry and wilderness survival, and I already have both of them.

as a side note, I just realized that this my 100th post. I think I have too much free time. probably because I am a kid and don't have a job to keep me occupied (sorry, I just felt like rubbing it in)

[optimist]

Summer camps that don't offer First Aid merit badge?

Summer camps that only offer First Aid to First Class Scouts age 13 or over?

I'll admit that First Aid isn't the easiest merit badge in the book but at one time it was the first merit badge most Scouts earned because back then you couldn't earn First Class without it.

Personally, I emphasize earning First Aid early in a Scout's Scouting career. After all, what do we do? We go out in the woods. We twist our ankles. We get splinters in our fingers. We get sun burned. We get branches snapped into our faces by the person in front of us. We get stung by insects. We get ticks. We get frost bite. We get hypothermia. It all adds up real quick and knowing what to do is very important.

[cballman]

back many years ago in a land far far away the first aid and Citizenship in the community were required for FIRST CLASS. so guess what I earned them both quickly.