pack54succasunna

Yeah, it wasn't like I was telling him which MBs to take, more like "Suggesting" certain ones.

CalicoPenn,

Thanks for all of the info, took your advise. We rearranged everything and he picked Kayaking, Lifesaving, Rifle, Woodcarving, Leatherwork, and Astronomy. (now we have no pre-req to worry about)

And as far as getting some other MBs done before Summer Camp, I have a hard enough time getting him to do his homework.....

I used to make suggestions like that to the new boys, but as a boy-led, patrol-method troop, it is entirely up to their PL and members to decide what's best for each boy.  The PL does try to get the new scouts to buddy up to take classes together but doesn't insist on it.  I do like it when the boys take at least one fun MB that is of interest to them besides the Eagle MB's.  As long as the boys are having fun and I don't have to listen to parents complain, I'm good with the program the boys are following.  

Unfortunately we're not at a level right now where the PL is able to do this.

 

Now - my question to you is:

 

Why are you starting to help Scouts with their summer camp merit badge requirements?  What exactly are you doing?  About the only thing that you folks should be doing is providing a list of merit badges offered at camp, strongly suggesting that certain merit badges not be pursued at camp that can easily be done back home (and I'm of a mind to not disagree with units stating outright that certain merit badges, like any of the citizenship badges, or any other non-outdoor badges, including first aid, will not be allowed to be earned at Summer Camp.  I'm also of a mind to not disagree with any unit that says their Scouts can not attend any T to FC classes at summer camp.  Once the lad chooses the merit badges they might want to take, the only other thing as an adult I would do is point them in the direction of the merit badge books, answer any question about pre-reqs and requirements that I can,  and suggest to any Scout that chooses one of the shooting sports badges to start saving up some money now because those badges can cost a bit of coinage to complete.   

Well the main reason I was asking this question was for my own son.

Our Scouts are very young at this point, there are only two (maybe 3) Scouts in High School.  So we are trying to provide extra quidance to our PL and SPLs.

I was also asking because of the couple old timer leaders that want everything done their way, sometimes even after we tell them we talked to someone at council and were told the correct way to do things.

Can you elaborate on why you would discourage the boys from taking certain MBs?  Is it because those you discourage are more of a "Classroom" type MB instead of utilizing the outdoors?  My train of thought for my son was that I spent $400 on Summer Camp and he needs 3 Eagle MB's and 1 Elective MB for Star and I want him to get these done.  I was going to have him do Camping, First Aid and Cooking.  It seems Cooking will not be a good choice because he won't be able to get all of the Pre-Reqs done.

IMHO, it only helps the Scout to do these requirements over and over again.  Now, I do think that the camping nights for camping merit badge should also count toward T-2-1 Advancement.

Well this is in the camping requirments: "*All campouts since becoming a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout may count toward this requirement"

Ah, perfect.  I missed that.  Thanks qwazse

The reason I'm asking is because we're starting to help the kids with summer camp merit badge requirements.  So Camping MB has requirements to make a menu and cook, and it matches one of the requirements in Cookig MB.

So what I'm getting from you guys is that they should be done over each time.

I'm sorry if this has been covered, but I couldn't readily find an answer.

How do we handle redundant requirements.  For exampe the First Class cooking requirements are the same as those in the Camping and Cooking MB.  Does the Scout need to repeat those three times?

I also need to find the answer in an official BSA book or document.  We have some old timers in the Troop (The ones that had their kids drop out 20 years ago) and they have there ways set.  If I need to challedge, I need an offical rule.

TIA, Chris