Citizenship in the World Merit Badge Activity Planner

The second principal of the Scout Law is to do your duty to your country. A Scout is a Good Citizen.

'Patrol Leader Merit Badge Planning Guide for the Citizenship_in_the_World Merit Badge

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

Exploring Citizenship in the World 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.

A. Make Your Plan

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 4 meetings
Virtual Field Trip	GREAT	See Req 3a, 4c & 7
Family Activity	GREAT
Service Activity	POOR	Maybe during Reg #7d - optional
S.T.E.M. Activity	FAIR	Learn about Technology in the World
Field Trip	GREAT	Req #7d & #7e
Duty-to-God	GREAT	See Reg #7 : Learn about Faith Based Service groups in the World
MB Day	GREAT	Prequisites: Presentations Ready : 3,4&7
Overnighter	GREAT	Req #7d - International Jamboree
Summer Camp MB	FAIR	But Only if part of an International Jamboree - Lots of other Pre-requisites

Online Resources

• Citizenship in the World Merit Badge Requirements: BoyScoutTrial.com lists all requirements, additional resources, activity worksheet, etc.
• Citizenship in the World Merit Badge File Store: Online resources
• Citizenship in the World Merit Badge Worksheets: Worksheets are optional - but highly preferred by many MBC. When you find that many requirements say "discuss" - the worksheet can help you gather your thoughts beforehand. Blank Map in Workbook is required for Map Exercise - Req #5.
• Citizenship in the World Merit Badge Booklet: Everything thing you need to know about Citizenship is right here. Get this study guide from either Amazon or your Troop Library, Merit Badge Counselor or Scoutmaster to Learn More About this Subject.
• Citizenship in the World @ Simple-Wikipedia: Get the basics quickly.
• Teaching Citizenship in the World:by Bethanne Kim (Author) good knowledge everyone should have about how governments work and what the major international political organizations, such as the UN, are.
• World Map -

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 world 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.

• Required Reading: (Req #1 & #2)
  • Citizenship @ Simple-Wikipedia: Get the basics quickly.
• Req 3a: Research World Event
• Req 3b: Research a Country
• Req 4c: Research two world organizations
• Req 5: Map Exercise (See workbook for Blank Map)

D. Study Hall Patrol Night

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 2-4 separate patrol night meetings:

• Req #1: What is Citizenship?
• Req #2: How does one become a U.S.Citizen?
• Req 3a: World Event Discussion
• Req 3b: Foreign Country Discussion
• Req #4: International Affairs - (Include Req 4c)
• Req #5: Map Exercise
• Req #6: Diplomacy Discussion

Pre-Open Gathering Activity

A gathering activity before the official meeting start is a great way to set a fun theme for the meeting.

• Wall Map Game - Find that Country (or other geographic feature)

E. Field Trip

Req #7: Two International Engagements
"Do TWO of the following (with your parent's permission) and share with your counselor what you have learned:
A. Visit the Web site of the U.S. State Department. Learn more about an issue you find interesting that is discussed on this Web site.
B. Visit the Web site of an international news organization or foreign government, OR examine a foreign newspaper available at your local library, bookstore, or newsstand. Find a news story about a human right realized in the United States that is not recognized in another country.
C. Visit with a student or Scout from another country and discuss the typical values, holidays, ethnic foods, and traditions practiced or enjoyed there.
D. Attend a world Scout jamboree.
E. Participate in or attend an international event in your area, such as an ethnic festival, concert, or play.

Jamboree on the Air

• Jamboree on the Air [JOTA]
• Jamboree on the Internet [JOTI]
• JOTA Official Scout Website
• K2BSA Official Website

JOTA gives you the chance to experience the joys of amateur radio by conversing with other Scouts in your community, across the country, and, just maybe, around the world. Scouts of any age can participate, from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts and Venturers. Contact your local Scout council and see what may already be planned in your area.

Jamboree on the Air, known by its acronym JOTA, is an international Scouting and Guiding activity held annually; it is on the third full weekend in October. First held in conjunction with the fiftieth anniversary of Scouting in 1957, it was devised by Leslie R. Mitchell, a radio amateur with the callsign G3BHK. It is now considered the largest event scheduled by the World Organization of the Scout Movement annually.

Amateur radio operators from all over the world participate with over 500,000 Scouts and Guides to teach them about radio and to assist them to contact their fellow Scouts and Guides by means of amateur radio and since 2004, by the VOIP-based Echolink. This provides the Scouts and Guides with a means of learning about fellow Scouts and Guides from around the world. Scouts and Guides are also encouraged to send paper or electronic confirmations known as "QSL cards", or "eQSLs" when they are sent electronically. In recent years, a parallel Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI) has developed. It is an adjunct to the World Scout Jamboree.

The event is recognized as one of international participation by the various Scout and Guide organisations, and supports several awards which are a part of Scouting and Guiding programmes. The Boy Scouts of America recognizes this as an international Scouting event for Citizenship in the World Merit Badge.

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.

Related Merit Badges

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

• Citizenship in the Community
• Citizenship in the Nation
• Citizenship in the World
• Radio - Includes Jamboree on the Air and other activities for meeting scouts from around the world.