MERIT BADGE PROGRAM

 

The merit badges currently offered at Onteora include:

AMERICAN CULTURES, AMERICAN HERITAGE, ARCHERY, ART, ASTRONOMY, ATHLETICS, BASKETRY, BUGLING, CAMPING, CANOEING, CITIZENSHIP IN THE NATION,  EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, FIRST AID, FISH & WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, FISHING, FORESTRY, GEOLOGY, INDIAN LORE, JOURNALISM, LEATHERWORK, LIFESAVING, MAMMAL STUDY, NATURE, ORIENTEERING, PERSONAL FITNESS, PIONEERING, REPTILE & AMPHIBIAN STUDY, RIFLE SHOOTING, ROWING, SHOTGUN SHOOTING, SMALL BOAT SAILING, SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION, SPACE EXPLORATION, SPORTS, SWIMMING, THEATRE (new), WEATHER, WILDERNESS SURVIVAL, WOODCARVING

Scouts need to come to the first class of each Merit Badge they wish to work on with a completed “Blue Card” Application for Merit Badge filled out and signed by the Scoutmaster.

Blue Cards can be downloaded, or can be obtained in camp at the Leaders Meetings.

Click here for Merit Badges offered at Path to Eagle Camp (week 6 only)

Selecting Merit Badges

Scouts should work with their Troop Leadership before coming to camp to decide which badges they wish to work on and check the prerequisites listed below. Scoutmasters must approve every Merit Badge that a scout takes, and should be sure that they are taking age/experience appropriate badges.

The following Merit Badge requirements were changed January 2009

 Archery   Emergency Preparedness   Indian Lore   Lifesaving  Swimming

Prerequisites: Some Merit Badges require a scout to do requirements that cannot be completed at camp. These badges are listed below with the requirement needed to be done before camp (Scoutmaster must vouch) or after camp (scout will receive a Partial Completion card and can finish the badge at home); revised 6/13/2009.

These Merit Badges are marked with an asterisk (*) on the Merit Badge/Activity Schedule

  • American Cultures (Review Req.1 to see if options have to be completed at home where there are resources to do the options.)

  • American Heritage (Review Req.2 & 4 to see if options have to be completed at home where there are resources to do the options.)

  • Astronomy (Req. 5b, 6)

  • Bugling (Req. 6)

  • Camping (Req. 8c & 9)

  • Citizenship in the Nation (Req. 2, 3, 6 & 8)

  • Emergency Preparedness (Req. 2,8,9)

  • Environmental Science (Req. 4)

  • First Aid (Review Req. 6 to see if options have to be completed at home where there are resources to do the options.)

  • Fish & Wildlife Management (Review Req. 6,7 & 8 to see if options have to be completed at home where there are resources to do the options.)

  • Geology (Review Req. 4 and 5 to see if options have to be completed at home where there are resources to do the options.)

  • Indian Lore (Review Req.1 and 2 to see if options have to be completed at home where there are resources to do the options.)

  • Nature (Req. 5)

  • Reptile & Amphibian (Req. 8)

  • Space Exploration (Req.2)

  • Swimming and Lifesaving MB - Bring  long pants, long sleeve shirt, and old shoes or sneakers.

  • Theater (Review Req.1 and 3 to see if options have to be completed at home where there are resources to do the options.)

Links to the merit badge requirements can be found on the individual program area pages; click here to go their links.  Special attention needs to be paid to the locations of Merit Badge Sessions. Be sure that all scouts schedules take distance and terrain into account.

Partial Completions

If a scout is does not complete all of the requirements for a merit badge during his week, he will receive a “Partial Completion” and have his Blue Card returned to him indicating the requirements that he did complete. Scouts can earn the badge by completing the requirements with a counselor at home, or at camp next year. Scouts cannot “fail” Merit Badges; there are only different levels of completion.

Missing a Class:

If a Scout will miss a Merit Badge class to participate in another troop or camp program he needs to tell the counselor in the beginning of the week to work out a time that they can make up what was missed.

If a scouts schedule will require him to miss more than one session of a Merit Badge, it would be best not to take that Merit Badge.

Advancement Reports

All advancement (Rank AND Merit Badges) earned in camp must be reported on an Advancement Report. Give your Commissioner a copy at Saturday Checkout. All units earning advancement in camp must submit the report to their Council.