Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge Activity Planner

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The second principal of the Scout Law is to do your duty to your country. A Scout is a Good Citizen.
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'Patrol Leader Merit Badge Planning Guide for the Citizenship_in_the_Nation Merit Badge

*** Activities for the Youth Lead Patrol ***

Exploring Citizenship in the Nation can be a fascinating youth adventure when done right. Here are a few tips to help the patrol leader get started.

  • Scouts may never add or subtract from the actual merit badge requirements
  • This Planner is only a suggestion of different ideas to make working this Merit Badge both fun and easy.
  • While doing the Worksheet is not a requirement for earning this badge, in many cases it can help you learn key concepts and track your progress.
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A. Make Your Plan

Sample Patrol Activity Flyer
  1. Merit Badge Activity Planning Tips - 14 tips for a successful patrol activity. Read carefully before you start your plan!
  2. Share Your Plan - Meet ahead of time with your patrol, scout leaders, parents and especially with the Merit Badge Counselor. Make changes to the plan as needed.
  3. Prepare Activity Flyer - Keep your fellow scouts informed - events, activities, pre-requisites and more.
Patrol Activity GREAT Awesome MB to work as a patrol / Allow 3 meetings
Virtual Field Trip GREAT Req #2d - Virtual Tour
Family Activity GREAT See Req #3 - Evening Newswatch
Service Activity FAIR See Reg #2 : Cleanup project at Federal Facility?
S.T.E.M. Activity FAIR Learn about Technology in the Nation
Field Trip GREAT See Req #2
Duty-to-God GREAT Review National Motto
MB Day GREAT Prequisites: Federal Tour, Newswatch & Presentations Ready : 2,3,6&8,
Overnighter GREAT Awesome- Camp in a National Forest, Park or Monument to do Req #2. Tour the Ranger Station and do park cleanup service project
Summer Camp FAIR Best if Scout Camp is located in a National Park or Forest


Online Resources

B. Introduction Meeting

Most merit badge activities do best to have a "introduction" meeting where the patrol can discuss how to get started and to plan out their field trips. Send out the activity flyer in advance to use as an meeting agenda. Your scouts will then know what to expect.

News Flash

  • JOTA Video Tour
  • ORANGE PARK –The North Florida Council of the Boy Scouts is creating an amateur radio station, KB4SA. KB4SA encourages, equips and prepares young people to be vibrant citizens and dynamic national leaders through the use of amateur radio and the practice of emergency communication guided by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

C. Homework / Prerequisites

Assign one or more requirements that the scout can do at home, perhaps as a family activity.

  • Req #3 : Follow National News for 5 Days.

Famous National Speeches

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Req #6 : Research a Famous National Speech:

  • top 100 Speeches of America - American Rhetoric Master List.
  • Great Speeches of the 20th Century Audio - Archive.org
  • Patrick Henry: Addressing Colonial Virginia’s Delegates.
  • Abraham Lincoln: Gettysburg Address.
  • John F. Kennedy. Inaugural Address.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr: At the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
    • Read the speech, and listen to Martin Luther King, Jr. himself, giving the actual speech: AmericanRhetoric
  • See ALso -
    • FDR"s first Fireside Chat on March 12, 1933 describing how the banks will be reopened.
    • FDR"s December 8, 1941 address to Congress asking for war on Japan.

Letter to Congressman

Req #8 : "Name your two senators and the member of Congress from your congressional district. Write a letter about a national issue and send it to one of these elected officials, sharing your view with him or her. Show your letter and any response you receive to your counselor."

Make a copy of your letter before sending it. Be Kind and Polite - Please remember that you are a representative of Scouts BSA and therefore always keep your conversation polite and civil. Don't let the heated political attitudes of the current times marr your Scout Spirit.

D. Patrol Night Study Hall

While some scouts may be adept at self-study, others may do better in a small group setting and taking notes on worksheets. Make an agenda. You can facilitate discussion by asking them why each of the principles introduced here would be relevant. Schedule one or more patrol meetings to work this merit badge.

MBC Discussion Group

Your MBC will want to discuss several of the requirements with you in a face-to-face meeting, This is a lot and may best be done in two separate patrol night meetings

E. Field Trip : Double Header

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A related field trip with the MBC will be a great time to do the second half of this merit badge activity:

  • Req #2 : Do Two of the Following:
    • A. Visit National Historic Site
    • B. Tour Your State Capitol or the National Capitol
    • C. Tour Federal Facility
    • D. Virtual Tour - Research a National Monument

National Forest Camping

You may an overnight camping trip with any of the following to help your reach your destination. May scout patrols are able to arrange a camping trip to a National Forest or National Park and then hold a meeting/tour with the Forest ranger to satisfy Req #2c.

  • Req #2c: "Tour a federal facility. Explain to your counselor what you saw there and what you learned about its function in the local community and how it serves this nation."

Historic Site Campout

There may be a national historic site (Req #2a) that feature overnight camping tours; This is by far one of the funnest adventures associated with this merit badge. Here are a few examples:

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    USS Midway Museum - historic floating museum and national landmark, this famous aircraft carrier is docked in San Diego Harbor and regularly hosts overnight scout and family campouts. Many exhibits help visitors explore the development of science and technology in the military during the 20th Century. Explore aviation, citizenship and engineering activities onboard. Sleep overnight in the crew bunks onboard the ship!

Virtual Field Trip

No more than One of the two field trips may be a virtual tour :

  • Req #2d: "Choose a national monument that interests you. Using books, brochures, the Internet (with your parent's permission), and other resources, find out more about the monument. Tell your counselor what you learned, and explain why the monument is important to this country's citizens."

F. Extra Credit

While none of these are actual requirements for this merit badge - they are terrific opportunities to show Scout Spirit, Do A Good Turn Daily and to have FUN!

  1. Activity Reflection: Use this meeting for scouts to ask questions and to reflect on what they gained personally from this adventure. You can also have a discussion on what future opportunities are here.
  2. Court of Honor Exhibit: Pictures, handiwork and other memorabilia from this adventure will make for a great presentation at the next Scout Troop Court of Honor.

Field Trip Service Project

Whether camping in the National Forest or touring a Federal Facility - call ahead and ask for suggestions of a service project that your patrol can complete during your your. You may even get some really cool ideas for an Eagle Service Project for the future!

Related Merit Badges

Sometimes it is easier by doing two or more merit badges together as a joint activity: