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Tag Archives: Merit Badges

2023 Summer Camp – Class Registration for Early Birds

Upcoming Events

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Is there a merit badge class at camp that you really would like to take, but fills up quickly… like Cooking*, Fishing, or Welding?  Class registration for 2023 Summer Camp at Camp Davy Crockett is opening very early – now starting October 1, 2022.  Grab desirable classes by first checking the one-page worksheet and/or the class catalogue and then letting Mr. Hasler know by email or in writing (with your name!).  You’ll be informed when your schedule is entered.

Payment for Summer Camp (June 18-24, 2023) will be posted later once better information is available – likely after the Recharter effort is done.  One reported change is that there will not be class fees, but the base camp fee was increased to save time adjusting these for every scout participant.

Merit Badge Counselors for Troop 48

Administration, Adult Leaders and Parents

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In order to qualify as a merit badge counselor, prospective volunteers must have the education and skills needed to provide instruction and to evaluate performance.  They must be at least 18 years old, able to set a positive example through both good character and rapport.

Officially, certifying merit badge counselor (abbreviated MBC in this post) is the responsibility of the Sequoyah Council with annual certification for Youth Protection Training and which merit badges.  A BSA Adult Leader Application with position code 42 is required for new merit badge counselors, which can be completed for free or added to a recent (in current calendar year) application for Assistant Scoutmaster role.  In addition, Form 34405 Merit Badge Counselor Information must be completed every calendar year (really wish Scouting BSA would align with two-year Youth Protection Training cycle).  The trio of forms electronically (including downloading a Youth Protection Training certificate) were created in about half hour.

While national BSA has online training for this role available in My.Scouting.org, it is not consistent on which courses are needed – and frankly are really dry to listen to, thus our preference is for Troop 48 MBCs (current and new) to review this presentation for The Merit Badge Program which is also available by national BSA.

If interested in being a Merit Badge Counselor for Troop 48, then please complete the information form for your top eight merit badges.  If you really want to be able to counsel more, then recommend printing the form to allow a second page, and then scan and send as a PDF. If you are counseling for district or council events, then provide the Adult Leader Application and Youth Protection Certificate to have the complete set of paperwork.

This information is to be routed through our troop’s Advancement Coordinator, Mr. Hasler.

7 April 2021 update. Currently we need Merit Badge Counselors for Canoeing, Chess, Crime Prevention,
Exploration, Fish and Wildlife Management, Genealogy, Insect Study, Inventing, Metalwork, Model Design, Motorboating, Moviemaking, Oceanography, Search and Rescue, Signs, Signals & Codes, Small Boat Sailing, Water Sports, and Wood Carving.

2021 Troop 48 Annual Merit Badge Advancement Selection

Administration

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Please use the file below to fill out desired MB selection offerings at the troop level (monthly) over the course of 2021. Write the selections in the empty spaces and be sure to include your name (scout)s. If you are not present 12/15 please feel free to print scan and return this to Mr. Gould via email.

2021 Troop 48 Annual Merit Badge Advancement SelectionDownload

Trip Report: Conservation Project and Orienteering at WPSP

Trip Reports

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Saturday morning 9/19

The Conservation Project at Warriors Path State Park was first completed… including filling several bags with trash, finding a baby snapping turtle, a mouse and a lost dog that went to the local shelter.

Afterwards, many scouts stayed around to gain training and demonstration of Orienteering skills. We covered First Class requirement #4a: Using a map and compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/ or width of designated items (tree, tower, ditch, etc.). This skill demonstration was needed by 28 scouts in the troop. However, it will be staged again for the half that missed this opportunity.

Orienteering merit badge was also offered.
Req. 2 – What is Orienteering?
Req. 4 a.- 4 f. – Topographical Maps (terrain features, symbols, declination, orient map with compass).
Req. 5 – 100-Meter Pace Course
Req. 9 – Older Scouts working on merit badge, Act as an official during the event. Thank you Jack, Josh and Nathan B !!!

CDC 2020 Advancement

Miscellaneous

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Just a brief note about the excellent advancement gained at 2020’s Camp Davy Crockett.

116 Merit Badges were completed by 27 scouts or roughly four each.

Most popular were Mammal Study (substituted for Insect Study) and Wood Carving.

118 Incomplete Merit Badges.

Camping and Reptile/Amphibian Study was the most common started with more to go.

Nathan B. was the most efficient, completing eight merit badges including Swimming and Environmental Science.

Troop 48 Scouting from Home

Administration, Upcoming Events

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Troop 48 can be active during this time of social distancing. This post will be updated as new information is gathered.

First action for online interaction and use of the internet is to have a current Cyber Chip (new or refreshed in past year). Use this link (https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/cyber-chip/) to Scouting BSA website to select the grade-appropriate course.  For the requirement to “teach Internet safety rules, behavior, and “netiquette” to… your patrol”, a email to your patrol copying the adult advisers is appropriate while the troop is not formally meeting. (Jack C. did this for the Wolf patrol.)

Remember that all electronic communication from and with scouts must at at least two adult leaders in the session or on the email.

For lower ranks, requirements starting with Repeat, Explain, Describe, and Tell can be done with a conference call having the scout, a parent, and an adult advisers assigned to your patrol). Demonstrate and Show requirements will need pictures or short video clips. None of these items must be publicly shared – or will be posted without specific permission of the scout and a parent.

For merit badges, please contact Mr. Hasler before starting one as Troop 48 is moving to comply with the certification of merit badge counselors. Make sure that you are working on the latest requirements which can be found at https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges/ Not all requirements can be completed during social distancing, but many can be done at home in consultation with your merit badge counselor. (Avery is making a key lime pie – yum. Nathan B. completed Geocaching MB.)

Instructions for completing Citizenship in the Nation merit badge was distributed by Mr. Hasler to scouts who had started or were Life rank and still needed this Eagle-required MB.

Sequoyah Council is offering several advancement training opportunities at https://sequoyahcouncil.org/events/scouting-from-home/ I would highly recommend the Communications MB. The next cycle of three class sessions is to begin Monday, April 13. Registration has not yet been created.

Troop 48 uses the Troopmaster advancement tracking program instead of Scoutbook as stated by Sequoyah Council. Mr. Allen and Mr. Hasler are available to provide information and complete virtual book checks.

SUMMER CAMP 2020

Upcoming Events

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PLAN NOW FOR CAMP DAVY CROCKETT WITH TROOP 48 !!

Think of the great opportunities at summer camp from June 14-20, 2020.

  • You can take “Eagle-Bound” classes and finish one or parts of two of the Tenderfoot, 2nd Class and 1st Class ranks.
  • You can earn several merit badges toward your Star, Life, and Eagle ranks.
  • You can improve your archery, rifle, swimming, and boating skills.
  • You can earn your Totin’ Chip award by learning knife, axe, and saw skills.
  • You can help the Troop qualify for water sports (canoe trips, etc) by taking the BSA Lifeguard course (14 and above).
  • You can help Troop 48 win competitive pool, lakefront, and field events on Friday!
  • You will get to know other Troop 48 people better — many lasting friendships have been formed through camping.
  • Camp Davy Crockett and Cherokee Lake are beautiful in the summer, and we see deer, raccoons, turkeys, and other wildlife.
  • We have relaxation time for games, crafts, and lying in our hammocks.
  • IT’S FUN !!
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