Texas Skies District Merit Badge Fair

Prerequisites, Requirements Not Covered and Partials

Attending a merit badge class does not guarantee that a Scout will complete the merit badge, but it is an opportunity for Scouts to meet with qualified counselors, to help them work on the requirements needed to complete a merit badge. The merit badge fair should not be considered another school where the pupils sit and stare for hours on end. Scouts should come prepared to participate. The counselor's job is to encourage self-discovery and then check that each Scout has the minimum knowledge and does the requirements. Scouts should be ready to take notes and come prepared with notetaking materials and writing utensils. Remember one goal of the merit badge advancement system is to develop individual growth and initiative. 

Prerequisites: All Scouts are to read the merit badge book prior to the Merit Badge Fair. Merit Badge books can be purchased at an area Scout Shop. Scouts are to be prepared to answer the questions to each of the requirements before the merit badge fair; Scouts are highly encouraged to print and complete the worksheets available at http://usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/worksheets/list.asp to help them prepare. Some merit badges require additional prerequisites to be must be completed before the merit badge fair.

Merit Badge Worksheets

Requirements not covered: Some of the requirements cannot be completed during the class. The Scout should bring documentation of requirements not covered. Scouts are encouraged to complete requirements not covered before the merit badge fair and bring proof of completion; otherwise, the Scout will receive a partial.

Partials: If the Scout does not complete the requirements not covered and bring documentation to the class, the Scout will receive a partial completion of the merit badge. The partial completion will be noted on the blue card, given to the Scout at the completion of the class. Scouts will need to complete the badge with a registered merit badge counselor approved for that particular badge back with their unit. Merit badge counselors are not usually available to serve as a counselor after merit badge fair ends unless arrangements are made. Find a list of merit badge counselors by logging into http://scoutbook.scouting.org with your my.scouting userID and password, click on My Dashboard, Administration, your unit and scroll down the page. Remember that a youth member must not meet one-on-one with an adult. Sessions with counselors must take place where others can view the interaction, or the Scout must have a buddy: a friend, parent, guardian, brother, sister, or other relatives—or better yet, another Scout working on the same badge.

Advancements Completed 

An Application for Merit Badges (blue cards) is not required.

A few weeks after the event, all of the completed requirements will be posted directly into Scoutbook by the merit badge counselor.  How to pull advancement reports.  

Conduct and Discipline

Scouts must:

• Observe the Scout Oath and the Scout Law.
• Attend the classes.
• Be personally responsible for breakage, damage, or loss of property.
• Be courteous to other students, counselors, and staff.
• Clean up classroom at the end of each session.
• Clean up trash after eating lunch.
• Keep cell phone in their pocket, unless for emergencies 

Health, Safety, and First Aid

• No running inside or outside the school.
• No roller blades, roller shoes, roller skates, or skateboards are allowed.
• No alcohol, illegal drugs, fireworks, firearms, slingshots, or anything else that might distract from the learning environment. No tobacco or coffee for Scouts.
• The first aid station location will be announced during the opening ceremony

Lost and Found

The lost and found will be located at the check-in tables.  

Event Volunteers

About Youth Protection Training

Youth Protection Training (YPT) is designed to help keep youth safe from abuse. During YPT, participants learn the Boy Scouts of America’s Youth Protection Guidelines, signs of abuse, and how to report suspected abuse. After each section of material, participants will answer questions about that section’s topic. All adults working with youth during the event are required to have current YPT training. To take the training, go to My.Scouting.org, click Menu then My Dashboard from the menu list. The My Training page displays to take Youth Protection training. 

How to print your Youth Protection training certificate

1. Log in to My.Scouting.org.
2. Click “Menu” at the top left.
3. Click “My Dashboard.”
4. Make sure you're under “My Training” and “YPT.”
5. Next to “YPT Status,” look for a small blue printer icon. ...
6. Your browser will open a PDF that you can print or save to your computer. 

How to Register or Update a Registration

Scouting Safely

The BSA's Commitment to Safety is ongoing and we want you to know that the safety of our youth, volunteers, staff, and employees cannot be compromised. The Boy Scouts of America puts the utmost importance on the safe and healthy environments for its youth membership. The Sam Houston Area Council takes great strides to ensure the safety of its youth as well as the adult volunteer leadership that interacts with them. 

BSA Guide to Safe Scouting policies must be followed. All participants must follow Youth Protection Guidelines at all Scouting events. Highlights include:

• Two-deep leadership on all outings is required.  
• One-on-one contact between adults and youth members is prohibited. 
• The buddy system should be used at all times. 
• Discipline must be constructive.

Health and safety must be integrated into everything we do, to the point that no injuries are acceptable beyond those that are readily treatable by Scout-rendered first aid. As an aid in the continuing effort to protect participants in a Scout activity, the BSA National Health and Safety Committee and the Council Services Division of the BSA National Council have developed the "Sweet Sixteen" of BSA safety procedures for physical activity. These 16 points, which embody good judgment and common sense, are applicable to all activities.

Youth Protection Guidelines     Guide to Safe Scouting      Sweet Sixteen      Enterprise Risk Management

Contact

For questions, contact your Scoutmaster, the merit badge fair chair or the district advancement chair.