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Frequently
Asked Questions by Parents and Scout Leaders
What is the
purpose of the Scoutmaster’s signature on the Registration Form?
This question is listed first because it is the most important item
that determines the success of a Scout at the Merit Badge Challenge.
This event has been conducted in at least
one district for the past 11 years.
The average success rate for a Scout is about 50-60% with
younger scouts having a lower success rate.
“Not all merit badges are created
equal.” Our staff
fully recognizes this fact and recommends an age appropriateness or
additional class time for others in structuring the event.
But there is only so much the Merit Badge Challenge staff can
do to help the Scout select badges appropriate to his maturity,
attitude, interest, and ability.
This
is where the Scoutmaster is the key, and parents can
certainly help as well. A
completed Registration Form requires the signature of the
Scoutmaster attesting the Scout can handle the work required to
complete the selected badges.
To sign the Registration form for a badge(s) that is not appropriate for
the Scout’s mental and physical abilities is probably dooming him
to failure.
Once
the Registration form is received at Council, the youth remains in
that class.
Scoutmasters,
please take the time to ensure the right badges for your youth.
We both want them to be successful and it starts with you.
Where
can I get a Registration Form to sign up for the event?
Both
the Scoutmaster and Committee Chair for each Troop were mailed a
packet in early September. One
of the items in the packet was a blank Registration form that can be
copied for each Scout.
A
common Registration form for all schools is also available on the
Dan Beard Council Website.
Look under ‘Program’ and then ‘Advancement’ to find
this form and associated information.
Alternatively,
the youth may use the On-line Registration method found on the DB
Council website to register for one of the MBC events. A
credit card is required.
Which
location for the Merit Badge Challenge should I attend?
A Scout may attend any of the high schools for Merit
Badge Challenge. Troops
usually attend one of the Merit Badge Challenge as a unit.
If you do not know which school your unit normally attends,
you may want to contact a member of your unit before completing your
Registration. A Scout
may attend only one Merit Badge Challenge annually.
Merit badges offered vary from location to location.
Does a Scout
have to do the Prework?
Only if
he wants to earn the merit badge!
Parent and Scoutmasters:
The second discriminator for the successful earning of a
merit badge at the Challenge is the completion of the Prework
required by most badges. The
Prework consists of one or more of the requirements for the badge.
Lack of timely completion of this Prework is the number
one complaint by our counselors.
As the time for the first Saturday approaches, please verify
your Scouts are prepared.
How is the
Merit Badge Challenge structured?
Each Merit Badge Challenge follows a
standard format and offers counseling for 30-50 merit badges.
The event is held at four high schools
(Dixie Heights, Fairfield, Sycamore, and Williamsburg) with varying
dates in January February and March.
The event is structured for a Scout to have the opportunity
to earn up to 3 merit badges by:
1.
Attending the event held on all 3 Saturdays
2.
Completing the Prework and Homework between sessions
3.
Passing a written exam on the last Saturday.
What is
the schedule at the Challenge?
The Merit Badge Challenge is divided into 3
sessions on each of the 3 scheduled Saturdays.
All sessions are 75 minutes in duration.
First Session (A)
8:30 am to
9:45 am
Second Session (B)
10:00 am to 11:15 am
Third Session (C)
11:30 am to 12:45 pm
Are all merit
badges the same time duration at the Challenge?
Most of the badges offered are for a single
session on each of the 3 Saturdays.
Here are the exceptions.
The
following merit badges are scheduled for all three sessions.
If a scout is assigned this merit badge, it will be the only
badge he will have the opportunity to earn.
First Aid
Emergency Preparedness
The following merit
badges are scheduled for 2 of the 3 sessions.
Astronomy
Railroading
Aviation
Electronics
What
determines what merit badge a Scout is assigned?
First, a Scout
selects a 1st choice for each of the three sessions, and
provides an alternate badge for each session.
His 1st choice indicates to the Registrar those
badges that he most wants to earn, and the Registrar uses this fact
to first determine if this badge is still available.
If the class is filled, the Registrar moves to the second
choice and attempts to give him this badge.
If both are filled for a given session, the Register will
contact the scout via email or phone to determine a satisfactory
badge based on availability.
Remember merit badge
assignments are made on a first come, first serve basis.
Therefore, the earlier the Registration form is received at
Council, the greater the probability the Scout will receive his 1st
Choice. Scouts
registering in September and early October generally have no problem
getting the badges of their choice.
New
this year, Scouts attending at
Fairfield
will be able to register and schedule their sessions online with the
knowledge as to whether a merit badge class has been filled and no
longer available. The
process is similar to that used at summer camp.
Net,
register early.
How
many Eagle required merit badges may a scout take?
If
a scout has not attained the rank of First Class at the time
of sending in his Registration, he may take up to one Eagle required
badge. He should list no
more than one Eagle badge on his Registration Form as his 1st
choice, and no more than one Eagle badge as an Alternate.
If
a scout has attained the rank of First Class at the time of
registration, he may take up to two Eagle required badges. He should
list no more than two Eagle badges on his Registration Form as his
1st choice, and no more than two Eagle badges as an Alternate.
No
scout may take three Eagle required badges.
What
are the key dates associated with the event?
·
REGISTRATIONS OPEN FOR
THE MBC EVENTS: SEPT. 15, 2008
·
NORMAL REGISTRATIONS
CLOSE NOVEMBER 14, 2008
·
UNIT PACKETS MAIL ON
DECEMBER 1, 2008
·
COUNSELOR INFO MAILS ON
DECEMBER 1, 2008
What
are the dates of the Merit Badge Challenge for 2009?
·
Fairfield High School
o
Jan. 24, Feb. 14, Feb.
21, (snow date is April 25, 2009)
·
Sycamore High School
o
Feb. 14, Feb. 21, and
March 14 (snow date is
April 4, 2009)
·
Williamsburg High School
o
Feb. 14, Feb. 28, and
March 14 (snow date is March 21, 2009)
·
Dixie Heights
High School
o
Jan. 31, Feb. 14, and Feb.
28 (snow date is March 7, 2009)
Can I change
my merit badge selection after completing my Registration?
Generally not, but here are two exceptions that
can be discussed with the MBC Event
Registrar.
·
If the Scout completes a merit badge that he signed up
to take, he will be granted a change provided an alternate badge can
be found at the same time.
·
An extenuating circumstance dictates a change.
For example, the Scout has signed up for Dog Care and his dog
died since sending in the form, then efforts will be made to provide
an alternate badge.
How do I
contact the MBC Event Registrar about my class?
Fairfield
High School: Mary Beth
Vogerl (513) 931 5811 or
mbyrne1@nuvox.net
Sycamore
High School: Hal Wood
(513) 677 2870 or halwoodmbc@yahoo.com
Williamsburg
H.S.: Nancie
Lizakowski (513)
752 5963 rlizakowski@fuse.net
Dixie
Heights H.S.: Mary
Beth Vogerl (513) 931 5811 or
mbyrne1@nuvox.net
Does a Scout
have to take a merit badge all three sessions?
Our policy
with the high schools is that a Scout participating in the event is
to be in class all three sessions.
They are not permitted to be wandering around the school or
pass the time in the lunchroom.
By pre-arrangement with the Registrar they may attend fewer
than 3 sessions, but must leave the school property when not
attending class.
Who do I
contact to find out the name of one of my Counselors?
This information is not available till
mid-December, 2008.
Fairfield:
Tom Montgomery (513)
844 8930 montgota@fuse.net
Sycamore:
Bill Flodder (513)
459-9083 uflodwl@ix.netcom.com
Williamsburg:
Reg Lizakowski
(513) 752 5963
rlizakowski@fuse.net
Dixie Heights:
Diane Skinner (859) 341 8445 or dianeskinner@catholichealth.net
Can a Scout
register after the Council deadline?
Limited late Registrations will
be accepted by Council based on the following:
- Registrations
must be made in person by the youth or parent at the
Victory Parkway Council office with the MBC Council Registrar.
On-line Registration closes at end of business on
November 14, 2008.
- The
Paper Registration form must be complete with required signature
and legible.
- Event
fee will be $25 (vs. the standard $12)
- The
Event can not guarantee the youth a patch
- The
Event cannot guarantee the youth his selections in merit badges,
but the MBC Event Registrar will work with the youth to find
appropriate badges.
- No Late
Registrations can be accepted by Council three (3) weeks prior
to the scheduled event at a school.
(This date then "floats" based on the first
Saturday for each of the events).
- No
"walk-ins" allowed at the events.
Special note
on Music and Bugling Merit Badges
MUSIC
Merit Badge: The playing
and reading skills needed for the Music Merit Badge would suggest at
least two years of playing with individual lessons.
You must be able to sight read a song chosen by the
counselor, therefore if you can't read music you can not pass.
You must also demonstrate good technique, phrasing, tone,
rhythm and dynamics which all are not normally acquired by beginners
(those with less than 2 years experience).
BUGLING Merit Badge:
This is a merit badge for a more experienced player.
You need to have developed above average articulation skills.
If you can't triple tongue you won't pass as this merit badge
as this articulation is required in several of the calls.
You also must also have sufficient stamina and playing range.
If you can't easily play the "G" above the treble staff,
you won't pass. These
skills are typically not demonstrated in Junior High players.
Net,
musical training is not provided at the Merit Badge
Challenge. A Scout
should register for one of these badges only if adequate musical
proficiency can be demonstrated.
The Merit Badge Challenge staff and the music counselors
strongly suggest the Scout first review the requirements with an
adult knowledgeable in his musical abilities before committing to
either of these badges.
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