Re: Merit badge welfare
Scott Drown (scottdd@HALCYON.COM)
Wed, 30 Aug 1995 05:34:04 -0800
Our Troop has been accused by one parent who left the troop as being pretty
agressive about working on merit badges in the troop program and earning
many merit badges at camp. Last years camp was probably the highest with
many earning 5 - 6 merit badges.
One of the Scouters remarked when he came back to came back to camp at one
point that it was very strange - no one was sitting on a seat edge throwing
rocks at the ground saying I'M bored. All the Scouts were working on merit
badges. This is not to say they did not get into other mischief but the
group said they had a good time.
At the same time one of the Troop Guides noticed that a couple of the
Scouts had been signed off for merit badges by staff in error when the two
did not attend the merit badge sessions and acknowledged that the had not.
These merit badges were not awarded and the Scouts were told they would
have to finish the requirements before they would be. This has come up
from time to time and now there is a real understanding in the troop that
you have to earn - not be given merit badges.
Contrast this with the National Jamboree which my son and others
characterized as Merit Badge "Giveaway".
How Much of Your reality is imagination?
Scott Drown
ASM Troop 39, Maltby
Mt. Baker Council, Everett Wa.
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
