A compass is essential for earning the orienteering merit badge.
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest organizations for youth in the country. Their mission is to train young people in civil responsibility and teach them to make moral and ethical choices in the rest of their lives. Beyond the basic activities scouts enjoy through regular meetings and outings, the Merit Badge Program offers an avenue to experience and learn about new and unexplored subjects, occupations and activities.
The Merit Badge Program
One of several advancement programs within the Boy Scouts, this program offers scouts an opportunity to select a subject they wish to know more about, such as Astronomy or Orienteering, and then perform specific tasks pertaining to that subject to demonstrate their acquired knowledge. The requirements for each badge are very specific and scouts are expected to meet those requirements exactly as stated -- no more or no less. Scouts work at their own pace, with the oversight of a merit badge counselor. Successful completion of the requirements for each subject earns the scout a "badge" that is then worn and displayed on their uniform. Earning merit badges encourages scouts to identify goals and execute a well thought out plan to reach those goals. With each success, the scout gains in self-confidence and self-reliance.
Earning the Badge
Scouts select from a list of more than 100 different subjects. Once they have decided on a topic, they are instructed to seek the advice of a designated merit badge counselor, who is someone within their troop familiar with the subject. The scout is presented with the requirements to earn the badge and the counselor may then offer guidance, but the scout is encouraged to plan his "attack" on his own. Once the scout has completed the background research for his topic, he is required to prove his knowledge through a presentation to his group or other means of demonstrating his mastery of the topic.
Earning the Badge
Following the suggestions and requirements set forth in the specific merit badge pamphlet, the scout will thoroughly research his topic. He may seek out members of the local community with expertise on his subject for first person interviews or obtain information from the public library. Once the scout has completed the background research for his topic, he is required to prove his knowledge through a presentation to his group or other means of demonstrating his mastery of the topic. The merit badge requirements will also instruct the scout in how his information should be presented. Just telling about the topic is not acceptable. Language such as "make," "list," or "collect" in the guidelines indicate that the scout is expected to present his material in a active fashion. Doing so is a major part of earning the badge.
Merit Badges
American Business, American Cultures, American Heritage, American Labor, Animal Science Archaeology, Archery, Architecture, Art, Astronomy, Athletics, Automotive Maintenance, Aviation, Backpacking, Basketry, Bird Study, Camping, Canoeing, Carpentry, Chemistry, Cinematography, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Climbing, Coin Collecting, Collections, Communication, Composite Materials, Computers, Cooking, Crime Prevention, Cycling, Dentistry, Disabilities Awareness, Dog Care, Drafting, Electricity, Electronics, Emergency Preparedness, Energy, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Science, Family Life, Farm Mechanics, Fingerprinting, Fire Safety, First Aid, Fish and Wildlife Management, Fishing, Fly-Fishing, Forestry, Gardening, Genealogy, Geocaching, Geology, Golf, Graphic Arts, Hiking, Home Repairs, Horsemanship, Indian Lore, Insect Study, Inventing, Journalism, Landscape Architecture, Law, Leatherwork, Lifesaving, Mammal Study, Medicine, Metalwork, Model Design and Building, Motorboating, Music, Nature, Nuclear Science, Oceanography, Orienteering, Painting, Pathfinding, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Pets, Photography, Pioneering, Plant Science, Plumbing, Pottery, Public Health, Public Speaking, Pulp and Paper, Radio, Railroading, Reading, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Rifle Shooting, Rowing, Safety, Salesmanship, Scholarship, Scouting Heritage, Scuba Diving, Sculpture, Snow Sports, Shotgun Shooting, Skating, Signaling, Small-Boat Sailing, Soil and Water Conservation, Space Exploration, Sports, Stamp Collecting, Surveying, Swimming, Textile, Theater, Tracking, Traffic Safety, Veterinary Medicine, Truck Transportation, Water Sports, Weather, Whitewater, Wilderness Survival, Wood Carving and Woodwork.
Tags: badge counselor, merit badge, research topic, background research, background research topic, Badge Program
