Our Advancement Co-chairs are Mrs. Rachel Sandman and Mr. Daniel James.  Questions about advancement can be directed to either one, however Mr. James is primarily responsible for Board of Reviews and Mrs. Sandman is responsible for Merit Badge management. Refer to the Troop Roster for their contact information.

General Information

• Scouts may work on advancements at their own pace. However, we recommend that Scouts who want to make First Class should consistently get one or two sign offs at most meetings or campouts.
• Scouts should remind their parents not to push them too hard to advance but to remain encouraging and supportive.
• Parents can encourage their scout to set a goal for when they would like to advance to the next rank (or complete that merit badge!). Setting small goals along the way is helpful to manage their time and to see results (e.g., complete first aid sign offs by a certain date, etc.).
• We recommend that scouts try to make Tenderfoot within the first 6 months of joining the troop and First Class within the first two years. Although some scouts may achieve ranks much more quickly and others may never make it to First Class.
• Ranks must be earned in order (Scout, Tenderfoot, 2^nd Class, 1^st Class, Star, Life, Eagle).
• The first four ranks focus on learning outdoor skills, becoming self-reliant, and providing community service. The last three focus on earning merit badges (including required ones that help the scout learn life skills and good citizenship), honing leadership skills, and service to others.
• Requirements may be earned in any order, unless they have prerequisites and time factors (e.g., While a First Class scout, participate in six hours of service)
• Requirements may not be altered, however there are alternative requirements that can satisfy rank advancement for the disabled.
• A Court of Honor is held quarterly, typically in August, November, February, and May/June. Scouts are recognized for their rank achievements and merit badges are awarded at these ceremonies. Families are invited to attend.

General Guidelines for Advancement

• Mrs. Julian will send out a sign-up sheet for Scouts to request a Board of Review for a rank advancements. We encourage the scout to take responsibility to sign up for themselves, rather than a parent do it for him. Board of Reviews are held monthly, typically during a Troop meeting.
• Requirements for advancement must be completed as written. They may not be amended or abridged.
• Scouts should be prepared to answer questions, demonstrate a skill, or otherwise perform the task when asking for a requirement to be signed-off.
• Scouts must allow time for these questions when asking for a sign-off.
• Scouts must schedule an appointment for Scoutmaster Conferences with the Scoutmaster or any trained Assistant Scoutmaster.  Conferences should be completed before the night of the Board of Review. Leadership time must be signed off by the Scoutmaster.
• Only registered and trained Scoutmasters (including assistants) and qualified senior Scouts may sign off on rank requirements.

General Guidelines for Merit Badges

• A scout should request a Blue Card from the Scoutmaster when they decide to begin work on a merit badge.
• The scout should contact the Merit Badge Counselor that was assigned to them to review requirements and to let them know that they will begin work on it.
• Once the Merit Badge Counselor has signed off on the completed requirements, the Scout should turn in the blue card to have it recorded and awarded.Only Registered Merit Badge Counselors may sign off on merit badge requirements.Blue Cards are the official record of merit badge requirement completion except for summer camps that send the Scoutmaster a list of merit badges completed and partially completed and the occasional class that may be offered through the troop.

• There is a short on-line training for registered adults who would like to be a Merit Badge Counselor. Forms indicating which merit badges they would like to register for must be completed annually. Please talk with the Scoutmaster if you would like to be a counselor.
• Merit badges are secondary priority to attaining First Class rank.
• Summer Camp is a great time to work on merit badges!

Frequently Asked Questions About Merit Badges

What is a Merit Badge?

A merit badge is an opportunity for scouts to learn skills and gain knowledge in a variety of subjects. There are currently 143 available merit badges which Scouts may select. Subjects range from animation, citizenship, crafts, robotics, science, sports, to trades. A Scout may earn a merit badge at any time but first year Scouts may want to wait until you are a little older (or bigger) to earn some merit badges (e.g., Personal Management, Shotgun, Climbing).

Why should I earn Merit Badges?

Beginning with the Star Rank, a Scout will need to complete a certain number of merit badges to earn that rank. To get to the rank of Eagle, a Scout will have had to complete 13 “Eagle-required” and an additional 8 other merit badges, for a total of 21. Merit badges earned beyond these may be counted toward Eagle Palms. Earning these merit badges gives Scouts a set of skills to carry through life, an opportunity to explore many fields, and introduces them to subjects that may become lifelong interests/hobbies or inspiration to pursue rewarding careers.

What are the Eagle-required Merit Badges?

The following are required for Eagle: Camping, Citizenship in the Community,

Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communication, Cooking,

Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, Environmental Science OR Sustainability, Family Life, First Aid, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling. First year scouts could consider earning Family Life and Swimming (if you are a strong swimmer) but you may want to wait at least a year before starting on the other Eagle-required ones.

How can I get a list of the Merit Badges?

The official and most current requirements can be found here:

http://www.scouting.org/meritbadges.aspx. There is also a Boy Scout Requirements Book that you can purchase at the Scout Shop or Scoutstuff.org for $5.99. It comes out annually and lists ALL the Merit Badges and requirements. For each merit badge, there is a Merit Badge Pamphlet that you can purchase at the scout shop or on Scoutstuff.org. The troop’s library may also have a copy available to check out and you may find relevant information on line. The pamphlets include useful information on the requirements and are designed to help a scout learn about a subject – they are a great resource! There are also worksheets available on line to help you track certain requirements and make notes for discussions as you work on the requirements. Here is a great resource for worksheets: http://usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/worksheets/list.asp

What if I am ready to learn/earn a Merit Badge?

1. Email or talk to the Scoutmaster about your interest in earning a merit badge and request a Blue Card. The Scoutmaster will help you identify a qualified merit badge counselor, typically an adult leader within our troop and give you a Blue Card (a tri-section card) with the Counselor’s name. Use the Troop Roster (if needed) to find the Counselor’s email address. Be sure to copy another adult on any emails that you send to a leader.
2. Obtain a copy of the merit badge pamphlet (check with our Troop Librarian or check on line before purchasing). Print a worksheet for the merit badge if there is one available.
3. Communicate with your Merit Badge Counselor before working on the requirements so that you can review the requirements together and be clear on expectations. It is up to the counselor whether he/she will accept work on the badge prior to getting a blue card.
4. Read the pamphlet and begin work on the requirements. You may meet with your counselor periodically to get requirements signed off as you complete them.
5. During the meetings with your counselor, you will be expected to know the information that is asked and demonstrate what is needed. The counselor will initial and sign the Blue Card once you have satisfied each of the requirements. The counselor will keep the Counselor’s Record section of the Blue Card and return the remaining 2 sections of the card to you.
6. Once the counselor has signed your Blue Card, give both sections to the Scoutmaster who will sign and return one section of the card back to you to keep (Applicant’s Record) and give one to the Advancement Chair to keep for Troop records (Application for MB).

When will I get my Merit Badge?

Merit badges are presented to scouts during the next Court of Honor.

What is a Blue Card?

The Blue Card is a two-sided, tri-section document also known as the Application for Merit Badge. Why is it called “blue”? Because it’s blue in color and it’s much easier to remember than its formal name! It’s an official document that serves as a record of progress toward completion of a merit badge. Until the Scout has completed all the requirements, keep the blue card in a safe place. It’s the only documentation showing evidence of what the merit badge counselor has signed off. The merit badge counselor will list and initial each completed requirement in the middle section. Once all of the requirements are completed, the merit badge counselor will sign the blue card. Remember, it is not fully completed until the Scoutmaster signs section 1 & 2 of the blue card.  Scoutmaster/Advancement Chair keeps Section 1; Scout keeps Section 2; MB Counselor keeps Section 3.

Is it necessary to keep the blue card once the merit badge is

earned/completed?

YES, in case Scoutmaster/Advancement Chair misplaced their portion (section 1). By saving the Applicant’s Record portion of the completed/counselor signed blue card (section 2), the scout has proof that he has completed the merit badge! Keep it in a special spot such as the clear plastic baseball card protector sheets in a binder.

Is a blue card always issued when I am working on a Merit Badge?

There are two occasions when blue cards are not issued.

1. At summer camps. Scouts do not need blue cards when signing up for merit

badges. The camp will send the Scoutmaster a list of all merit badges that were

completed as well as those that were started but not completed. We refer to the

incomplete merit badges as “Partials” since scouts have only “partially”

completed the merit badges. If you did not complete a merit badge at summer

camp and you want to continue to work on it then request a Blue Card from the

Scoutmaster. The card will already have the requirements that you have met

documented.

2. Troop offers a merit badge class. Merit badge counselor will keep track of the

scout’s progress on a spreadsheet. However, if the scout does not complete the

merit badge in a timely manner, then a blue card can be issued.

Is there a time limit for completing a Merit Badge?

There is NO time limit for completing a merit badge and the ‘partials’ do not expire until the Scout’s 18th birthday but why procrastinate! 

How long does it take to complete a merit badge?

Some merit badges do not take a lot of time and effort to complete while others could take weeks and months. Three of the Eagle-required merit badges, Family Life, Personal Fitness, and Personal Management, require 9 to 12 weeks of tracking. Try to get these three merit badges completed early on instead of waiting until the final stage of your trail to Eagle.

Will the Merit Badge requirements change from year-to-year?

Occasionally merit badges may get updated and requirements will change. If you

already began work on the merit badge prior to the changes, then you can follow the old requirements to complete the merit badge.

What should I do with all the Merit Badge patches?

The Merit Badge Sash (available at the Scout Shop) is a great place to permanently display the Merit Badge patches that you have earned. Buy the larger size so that you can grow into it and avoid having to resew the patches! It is worn during formal events and activities such as our Troop Court of Honor, your Eagle Board of Review, but not during regular Troop meetings or campouts. Important Note to Scout: The sash is worn over the RIGHT shoulder, down to the left hip so be sure to sew the patches on the correct side of the sash! Hint: Badge Magic (for purchase at the Scout store) is a great invention and does not require sewing. Great for merit badges since they do not need to be replaced, unlike rank badges!

Do the Eagle-required merit badges look different than the other merit

badges?

Yes! The Eagle-required merit badges have a silver border while the other merit

badges have a lime green border.

Who can be a Merit Badge Counselor?

ANY registered adults 18 or older from our Troop, who have some

knowledge, skills, and/or experience in that topic/subject could sign up to be a Merit Badge Counselor. He/she needs to complete a Merit Badge Counselor Orientation Training provided online. If you know someone who is interested ask them to talk to our Scoutmaster. It’s a fantastic and rewarding way to get to know scouts in the troop.

What if I still have questions?

Contact your Scoutmaster, an ASM, or either of the Advancement Co-Chairs (Mrs.

Sandman (rachelsandman3@gmail.com) or Mr. James(Daniel.james.scouting@gmail.com).