TROOP 52 MERIT BADGE GUIDELINES

(10-10-03)

Before beginning work on any merit badge, a scout must first obtain the Scoutmaster’s advance consent to work on that merit badge.  After obtaining the Scoutmaster’s approval, the scout must then obtain a “blue card” from the advancement chairperson.  Scouts are not to work on more than three (3) merit badges simultaneously without advance consent of the Scoutmaster.  Failure to obtain advance consent may result in denial of the merit badge(s).

 
An exception to the 3 merit badge limit is the 20-night campout requirement for the Camping merit badge.  Scouts may begin tracking their completion of the campout requirement with their first campout.  (Note that staying in a cabin does not count towards the 20 nights of camping.) 

 
With the advance consent of the Committee, a scout may work on the long-term (30 days or more) requirements for other merit badges in addition to working on 3 merit badges simultaneously.

 
Troop 52 shall maintain a current list of available merit badge counselors associated with Troop 52 who will arrange to meet with scouts during or outside of troop meetings or other functions, to work with scouts on merit badges.  Scouts who are members of Troop 52 are expected to first contact a merit badge counselor associated with Troop 52.  If the Troop 52 counselor is not available to work on the merit badge, and with the advance consent of the Troop 52 Committee, the scout may work with a merit badge counselor selected from the Okaw Valley merit badge counselor list. 

 
The Scoutmaster, or any Troop 52 adult leader designated by the Scoutmaster, may test the scout on any merit badge requested to be awarded to the scout to verify the scout has learned the merit badge material.

 
A parent shall not serve as merit badge counselor with his or her son unless another leader or another scout is present during the merit badge counseling sessions, and with the advance consent of the Scoutmaster. 

 
A Troop 52 leader who is also a merit badge counselor planning to work with a scout on a merit badge shall make an announcement to the troop so that additional scouts may, on a first-come, first-served basis, work simultaneously on that merit badge.  The merit badge counselor may limit the number of scouts working simultaneously with that counselor.

 If merit badge instruction is offered as a troop activity during a troop meeting or troop function (for example, First Aid), all scouts will be expected to participate.  If the scout has already received the merit badge, that scout will be expected to assist in the instruction of other scouts.