Merit Badge Activity Planning Tips

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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

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.

Write up Your Activity Plan

  • Be Prepared - means planning ahead. It dramatically increases your opportunities for success.
  • It is a Draft - Plans are subject to many changes. Some dates, events and activities may change after reviewing it with your leaders. Ponder each of the sections - what can you study together on patrol night, where will you go, what will you do, when will you start and finish?
  • Resources - A big part of the plan is knowing what items to bring and delegating them to others.

Communicate Your Plan

  • Activity Flyer - A summary of dates, places and things to bring.
  • Reminder to bring uniform, worksheet, etc.
  • The flyer will summarize all of your ideas on to one page in a colorful format.


Homework / Pre-requisites

It is important for each scout to take responsibility in preparing for the success of this activity. Also - this free's up valuable time at the patrol meeting so there is more group time on fun interactive activities.

  • Delegate items/supplies/worksheets to bring
  • Assign topics for them to research and discuss with their parents
  • Select which requirement they should do at home.

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. You can facilitate discussion by asking them why each of the principles intruduced here would be relevant. Schedule one or more patrol meetings to work this merit badge.

  1. Prepare an agenda and make Assignments as needed.
  2. What learning materials are needed for this meeting? Who will bring them?
  3. Watch video, powerpoint or other online tutorial.
  4. Update one or more sections of the merit badge worksheet. (Ask the Merit Badge Counselor which requirements are relevant here.)
  5. Invite the Merit Badge Counselor to join your Study Hall.
  6. Plan and Prepare for the Patrol Field Trip Activities (see below).

Invite A Friend

  • Putting together a super fun activity is what draws others to become a scout.

The Next Activity

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