Merit Badge Activity Planning Tips

Patrol Leader Merit Badge Planning Guide

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

Working on Merit Badge Activities 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.

Leadership Training

• Introduciton to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) - Lots of tips here for the new Patrol Leader to organize and lead his/her patrol to fun, adventure and success!
• Training: Talk to your Scoutmaster if you think more leadership training will be beneficial!

Have a Mentor

• Share Your Ideas - Ask your Scoutmaster, ASM, Parent or Troop Guide for their feedback and direction. They want you to succeed!
• Coordinate your Plans - You have some great ideas here - the tricky part may be how to work it into your troop calendar.

Consult the M.B.C.

• Call the Merit Badge Counselor (MBC) - before your start. He/she usually has some great activity ideas already to share.
• Your MBC also knows some of the best places in your community to help your group have fun.
• Some activities require advance approval by the MBC.
• The Scoutmaster should be able to recommend a MBC to you. Bring a buddy.

Read the M.B. Requirements First

• Read carefully each of the requirements of the merit badge.
• Note which are "homework" requirements that are to be done alone or with the scout's family.
• Note which are "activity" requirements. (Do you need to bring in materials like paper, rocks, scissors, etc?)
• Are there any "field trip" type requirements.
• Note which are "study hall" requirements. These are when you form your patrol as a study group and read together from a manual or video that explains the basic science of how this merit badge works.

Online M.B. Resources

• Merit Badge Requirements: BoyScoutTrial.com lists all requirements, additional resources, activity worksheet, etc.
• Merit Badge File Store: Online resources
• 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.
• The Scout Merit Badge Booklet: Everything thing you need to know about Genealogy 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.
• Meet the Merit Badge Counselor: Get more ideas for cool Genealogy activities in your community.

3. Sample Plan Outline: Note: This Plan is a Draft - Some dates, events and activities may change after reviewing it with your leaders. Ponder each of the sections below - what still study, where will you go, what will you do, when will you start and finish?

4. Prepare Draft of your Activity Flyer: The flyer will summarize all of your ideas on to one page in a colorful format.