halfpint 10 Posted September 26, 2002 Share Posted September 26, 2002 Is there a time limit on the time that can be spent earning one merit badge? If there is, could you give me the scout reference material from which you got your information. I believe in our council that a boy not finishing a merit badge at camp has to complete that badge before going to camp the next summer. Otherwise, the camp staff will have the boy start the merit badge over. Link to post Share on other sites
Scoutmaster Ron 12 Posted September 26, 2002 Share Posted September 26, 2002 The only time limit that I am aware of is the scouts 18th bday. He can start a MB at age 11 and not finish until to be technical the day before his 18th bday regardless of where he started it. Sorry I cant quote book and page numbers. Link to post Share on other sites
benny 10 Posted September 26, 2002 Share Posted September 26, 2002 There is a one year time limit from the time of the receipt of the card and starting on the requirements to the completion of the merit badge. Link to post Share on other sites
Bob White 20 Posted September 26, 2002 Share Posted September 26, 2002 Sorry benny but Ron is closer. A Boy Scout can begin work on a merit badge at any age (not 11) and has until his 18th Birthday to complete it. See the Advancement Policies and Procedures manual, or attend Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training. Link to post Share on other sites
OldGreyEagle 5 Posted September 26, 2002 Share Posted September 26, 2002 Try this link, the last line states the only deadline for completion of a merit badge is before the scouts 18th birthday. BTW: It also says there is no rule against a counselor signing for a son, relative, ward, etc as well Now, this is not an "official" BSA site, but I find it accurate http://meritbadge.com/bsa/info/policy1.htm Link to post Share on other sites
firstpusk 10 Posted September 26, 2002 Share Posted September 26, 2002 Just trained merit badge counselors a few months ago - no time limit other than the 18th birthday. Link to post Share on other sites
rlculver415 10 Posted September 27, 2002 Share Posted September 27, 2002 The thing about the summer camp re-do is that most summer camps - at least the ones I know of personally - do not accept partially finished merit badges. The reason I was given is that the staff have no idea if or how well the scout actually did the work. The summer camps will send home a partial for the scout to finish at his own pace with a local MB counselor. Link to post Share on other sites
halfpint 10 Posted September 27, 2002 Author Share Posted September 27, 2002 Thank you all for your prompt responses. Link to post Share on other sites
red feather 10 Posted September 28, 2002 Share Posted September 28, 2002 Welcome, halfpint. Keep them coming.. 18 is the only limit I know of. YIS Link to post Share on other sites
evmori 11 Posted September 28, 2002 Share Posted September 28, 2002 rlculver415, I have a real issue with your post. If the counselors at summer camp won't accept partials, then I would take it to the program director. If you get no satisfaction there, then go to the camp director. I can understand if the counselor wants to go over the completed requirements on a partial merit badge but not accepting a partial is not in line with the merit badge program. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10 Link to post Share on other sites
yarrow 10 Posted September 29, 2002 Share Posted September 29, 2002 Pretty sure my boy earned merit badges at summer camp when he was 11. Must be able to. I know he was working on Eaglebound but also earned canoeing that summer. Our troop policy is a year, but it is unenforcible by BSA. We recommend a year because it is hard to imagine what a scout is doing not finishing a badge within a year (camping, cycling, hiking, backpacking notible exceptions). Link to post Share on other sites
KoreaScouter 13 Posted September 29, 2002 Share Posted September 29, 2002 Respectfully to Yarrow; There are probably as many circumstances that would require more than a year as there are Scouts. Here's a couple: where we live, private ownership of weapons such as rifles and bows/arrows is prohibited. Consequently, the only time our Scouts can earn Rifle Shooting & Archery is at Summer Camp. If there's more than a year between Summer Camps due to scheduling, and a Scout got a partial the first year, a one-year rule would force him to start over. I have a Scout who started Forestry early this year, and will finish it next year when we're scheduled to visit a public forest with an English-speaking ranger. Personally, I think the requirements, rules, etc., are complicated enough without having one-year requirements for some badges and not for others. I like the 18-year old rule... KS Link to post Share on other sites
rlculver415 10 Posted September 30, 2002 Share Posted September 30, 2002 Ed - I'll check into it, but understand the policy was the camp's not the counselor's. It's worth the investigation, though. Link to post Share on other sites
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