Jump to content

Merit Badge Pamphlet accessibility - how does your Troop approach these?


Recommended Posts

As the dad of a First Class scout and myself now a Merit Badge Counselor for a couple of badges, I find the topic of Merit Badge Pamphlets a bit confusing from a BSA standpoint. When my son initially crossed-over, I had seen the term 'merit badge pamphlet' and read that you could purchase them but thought they were just printed versions of the Badge Requirements pdf found on Merit Badges | Boy Scouts of America (scouting.org), which had me questioning why an 8 page printed form cost $5 or $6. It wasn't until I was browsing the official BSA store when I found out about the full pamphlets. 

But the cost and overall accessibility of the pamphlets seems a bit off. They now run $6 per printed version OR online(pdf) version. While I don't have an issue with paying for physical things or the time it takes to research and build out the pdf, it seems anti-scouter friendly to charge the same amount for the printed version vs the pdf. And why not include the pdf version if you buy the printed version? I'd like to see our troop have current copies of all eagle-required badges (we used to many years ago), and that's around $100 or so out of our budget. Add more if want other popular badges. Buying every single badge pamphlet would be unrealistic (135 badges or so x $6 = no thank you). Why not make the pdf versions $1 or $2 to let scouts access their badge resources easier? Our local libraries stopped carrying these, so that avenue is no longer available.

How do other troops approach this? Do you try to buy a copy of all and loan out? Do you make scans and let scouts print out their own copies? Do you require troop counselors buy a copy for each badge their cover?

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • Replies 32
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Posts

I wish the MBP were rolled into scoutbook. Even if it were something like a subscription at the troop level to have them in a reasonable check out/in format, it would be better. The paper ones made se

I think an MBC should have the pamphlets for the MBs he or she covers.  This is especially true for technical subjects.  I'm an MBC for Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Pets, and Public Health.  T

^ I will say that the Scout Life website has a good set of pages set up for the Programming merit badge that speaks to the requirements much better than any pamphlet could. Includes a list of various

It used to be that the troop would have a library of pamphlets which the troop librarian would be in charge. The librarian would keep records of which scout borrowed which pamphlet, ensure the pamphlets were up to date, etc... A troop usually did not have all mBs in the library but would have multiple copies of the popular ones. 

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

It is, frankly, crass.  There are very few times when I buy into "they're just doing it for the money", but in this instance I can't really think of a different  explanation than that.  The pamphlets are written by volunteers, and the value added from BSA central is just about nil.  There's no good reason they couldn't make these available online for free.

In answer to your question what do troops do, we keep a lending library.  We have all the Eagle required and most of the more popular ones offered at summer camp.  The troop budgets for those, and they get supplemented by scouts who choose to buy their own, either duplicates of what we have or some of the many other badges.

Honestly, they don't get much use these days.  Kids are used to having their information, even school books, electronically, and almost any info in the pamphlet is easily found through Google. 

Edited by T2Eagle
  • Like 1
  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

@IndyDad

 

1. Welcome to the forums.

 

2. In regards to Merit Badge Pamphlets ( MBPs), BSA changes requirements so fast that I no longer recommend them. Seriously one MB had something like 5 requirement changes in a 8 year period. The information that is in the MBP is easily available via other sources: library books, online databases, Youtube videos, etc. I keep current with the requirement changes via www.macscouter.com.

3. good luck as a MBC.

 

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I wish the MBP were rolled into scoutbook. Even if it were something like a subscription at the troop level to have them in a reasonable check out/in format, it would be better. The paper ones made sense back in the day, but everything is moving electronic now.

  • Like 1
  • Upvote 3
Link to post
Share on other sites
Just now, mrjohns2 said:

Yes! Like an Apple Music subscription. All you can eat for $200/year. I assume it would have to be substantial like $200+

some price per youth in your troop would make sense. $10 per youth or something. Each youth can check out up to 3 titles at a time, etc. The current electronic options for merit badges suck.

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Troop stopped maintaining MB book library.  Extremely rarely used.  Just not worth the effort.  

I flip-flop.   Price is too much.  I fear inflation pushing price even higher.  It's not thifty.  Also, the MB book practice is anachronistic in an online society.  When scouts are driven and motivated, they won't pick up a physical book.  They go-online fast.  

On the flip side, there is something about a physical book.  Opening and seeing pictures and words with fixed locations on paper and the words will still be in that exact spot the next day.  I remember the eco building with their books where scouts would work.  Scouts did often open those books.   ... BUT ... they opened the books when idle and absorbing the eco center.  .... They never opened the books when pushed to earn a badge.  

As a MBC, I just can't honestly recommend the scouts get the MB book.  Scouts are to learn the topic; not pushed to spend money.

Edited by fred8033
  • Upvote 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

MBP costs started to climb rapidly once BSA began to print full color covers.

Still, the point of a troop librarian is to collect and organize MBPs and other literature for other scouts to use in ensuing years. It’s okay if the scout is reading a slightly older edition of a pamphlet, as long as he or she knows the current requirements. Thus, the web page on scouting.org.

Regarding being a counselor, it’s a good idea to keep up with training and to follow Advancement News.

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I hate to say this but few scouts are motivated to read the material. While I think the books are informative the scouts are focused on the few pages with the requirements. I can't blame them because that's how MBs work. Anyway, it seems to be easier for scouts to google or just guess how to explain, describe or discuss something than read the book.

If someone has an idea on how to motivate scouts to read the books I'm interested in hearing it. I think it would require really skilled counselors, which is along the lines of "just find more volunteers" - a simple idea that's very hard in practice.

  • Like 1
  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
37 minutes ago, MattR said:

If someone has an idea on how to motivate scouts to read the books I'm interested in hearing it. ...

Back to the heart of scouting.  Outings and social interactions. 

  • Canoeing MB?  Go canoeing.  Hold the paddle.  During the trip, show a j-stroke and how to properly enter and exit the canoe.   Discuss the names and parts of the canoe.
  • Bicycling MB?  Go biking and fix a tire and etc, etc.  
  • Camping MB?  Go camping.  Work thru the requirement details in a one-on-one basis.  
  • Citizen of the nation MB?  Have the conversations.  Go visit historical sites.  Have the discussions. 

MB pamphlets should be the fall back, but not the main path.  Scouting is not school with assigned text books and worksheets. 

MB pamphlets are better for the MBC than for the scout.  More like the teacher's answer guide.  

  • Upvote 2
Link to post
Share on other sites
4 hours ago, fred8033 said:

Back to the heart of scouting.  Outings and social interactions. 

  • Canoeing MB?  Go canoeing.  Hold the paddle.  During the trip, show a j-stroke and how to properly enter and exit the canoe.   Discuss the names and parts of the canoe.
  • Bicycling MB?  Go biking and fix a tire and etc, etc.  
  • Camping MB?  Go camping.  Work thru the requirement details in a one-on-one basis.  
  • Citizen of the nation MB?  Have the conversations.  Go visit historical sites.  Have the discussions. 

MB pamphlets should be the fall back, but not the main path.  Scouting is not school with assigned text books and worksheets. 

MB pamphlets are better for the MBC than for the scout.  More like the teacher's answer guide.  

Well, to a degree.

Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?

I lean toward education first, experience second.  (Though I can see some advantage in letting Scouts attempt and struggle, THEN get instruction, but that seems inefficient to me.)

Having recently counseled a Scout for Chess merit badge, I worked through the Merit Badge Book to make sure I was covering all the topics and issues included in the MBadge requirements, AND explaining them in the terms as the BSA presented them.  The Merit Badge Book served as a checklist with explanation-and it was helpful.  For me, personally, I generally whup all comers, but being an instructor is another matter.  It is not about me, but presenting a topic comprehensively.  As an instructor, your responsibility is to cover all the major topics-to place concepts before the Scout with explanation and explaining their significance.  Putting them into practice is another matter, and I think it is essential that putting principles into practice is critical.  Which merit badges are high on application or low, I do not know.

 

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...