Check-in starts 1/2 hour prior to the start time of your class. You should bring a blue card filled out properly for this class. If you are not familiar with how to fill out a blue card, you should familiarize yourself with Scoutmaster Bucky's "How To Fill Out A Blue Card" document.  Click here for Scoutmaster Bucky's "How To Fill Out A Blue Card". Remember it is a Scout's responsibility to take care of their own blue card from beginning to end.


Your Scout Uniform is required to be worn for attending this Merit Badge session.   If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact Brian Reiners; Scoutmaster Bucky via email or on the phone at 612-483-0665.

Reviewing the merit badge pamphlet PRIOR to attending and doing preparation work will insure that Scouts get the most out of these class opportunities. The merit badge pamphlet is a wealth of information that can make earning a merit badge a lot easier. It contains many of the answers and solutions needed or can at least provide directions as to where one can find the answers.  It is NOT acceptable to come unprepared to a Scoutmaster Bucky event.

You can (and should) use the Scoutmaster Bucky Scouting Heritage Merit Badge Workbook to help get a head start and organize your preparation work. You can download the Scoutmaster Bucky Scouting Heritage Merit Badge Workbook by clicking here.

It should be noted that this merit badge class is not meant for those who just want to come and see what they can get done. It is possible to complete this merit badge by being properly prepared and having done the preparation work prior to the class. Preparation is a MUST.


Things to remember to bring for this Merit Badge Class:

1. Merit Badge Blue Card properly filled out and signed off by your Scoutmaster
2. Your Registration Receipt
3. Scout Uniform
4. Scoutmaster Bucky Merit Badge Workbook for this merit badge printed out and preparation work filled in
5. Any additional supporting documentation or project work pertinent to this merit badge 
6. A positive Scouting focus and attitude

1. Discuss with your counselor the life and times of Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell. Explain why he felt a program like Scouting would be good for the young men of his day. Include in your discussion how Scouting was introduced in the United States, and the origins of Boy Scouting and Cub Scouting under Baden-Powell

   Scouts should make notes to assist them and be prepared for discussion during the class.  Scouts will not automatically be signed off on this requirement just for attending as the requirement states that they must discuss and explain a number of items and will be required to actively and accurately partake in a group and/or individual discussion to obtain credit for this requirement

2. Do the following

   1. Give a short biographical sketch of any TWO of the following, and tell of their roles in how Scouting developed and grew in the United States prior to 1940

      1. Daniel Carter Beard

      2. William D. Boyce

      3. Waite Phillips

      4. Ernest Thompson Seton

      5. James E. West

   This portion of the requirement is a writing requirement.  A "biographical sketch" is a brief summary of someone's professional / educational accomplishments, publications, contributions, and affiliations meant to highlight important aspects of ones training, experience and areas of interest.  It is highly recommended that Scouts use the Scoutmaster Bucky Scouting Heritage Workbook to make their notes and prepare for class discussion and sharing.

2. Do the following

   2. Discuss the significance to Scouting of any TWO of the following

      1. Brownsea Island

      2. The First World Scout Jamboree

      3. Boy Scout Handbook

      4. Boys’ Life magazine

   This portion of requirement 2 is all about discussion.  Scouts should review this requirement and its components and be prepared to discuss.  It is strongly recommended that Scouts bring any notes or supporting documents they may have to help show the counselor that they have prepared for discussion of these items.

3. Discuss with your counselor how Scouting’s programs have developed over time and been adapted to fit different age groups and interests (Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Exploring, Venturing)

   This requirement will be covered in the class however Scouts should review the merit badge pamphlet so as to have a basic understanding of the components of this requirement and be prepared for discussion as the requirement states.

4. Do ONE of the following:

   1. Attend either a BSA national jamboree, OR world Scout jamboree, OR a national BSA high-adventure base. While there, keep a journal documenting your day-to-day experiences. Upon your return, report to your counselor what you did, saw, and learned. You may include photos, brochures, and other documents in your report

   2. Write or visit the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas. Obtain information about this facility. Give a short report on what you think the role of this museum is in the Scouting program      (NOTE: If you visited the BSA’s national traveling tour, Adventure Base 100, in 2010, you may use this experience to fulfill requirement 4b.)

   Scouts will have to perform on their own, either prior to or after the class, the visit and/or writing requirements in this requirement. Scouts will have an opportunity to share their work during the class if they choose to bring their preparation work with them.  In order to get signed of on this requirement at the class Scouts will need to do work ahead of time.

   4a - Scouts choosing to do this requirement should bring supporting documents, photos, memorabilia along with their completed journal in order to be considered for completing this requirement.  Scouts choosing this option will need to be prepared to share their items and journal with the class and counselor.

   4b - Scouts who attended the BSA's traveling tour called Adventure Base 100 (locally it was hosted at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota) may have received a card validating their participation in the event. If Scouts still have this card they must bring this with them and be prepared to share their report on the event during the class.

   Scouts who have visited the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas should also bring some sort of validation of their visit to the museum along with their report ready for presentation.

   Scouts who wish to have an opportunity to complete this requirement at the class but have not attended or were unable to attend any of the fore mentioned events or locations may write to the National Scouting Museum to obtain the required reference materials in order to complete this requirement.  According to the National Scouting Museum, here is their statement on their web site as to how to obtain this information.

Scouting Heritage Merit Badge Information

Inquires to the National Scouting Museum for requirement 4B of the Scouting Heritage Merit Badge should be directed to Joe Connole . Please include your name, rank, and mailing address so the information may be sent to you.

5. Learn about the history of your unit or Scouting in your area. Interview at least two people (one from the past and one from the present) associated with your troop. These individuals could be adult unit leaders, Scouts, troop committee members, or representatives of your troop’s chartered organization. Find out when your unit was originally chartered. Create a report of your findings on the history of your troop, and present it to your patrol or troop or at a court of honor, and then add it to the troop’s library. This presentation could be in the form of an oral/written report, an exhibit, a scrapbook, or a computer presentation such as a slide show

   Half of this requirement will need to be done prior to attending the class. Scouts will have an opportunity to present their work on this requirement in the class in order to potentially complete the other half of this requirement. Scouts should review this requirement completely and be prepared with and bring their presentation, report, exhibit, or scrapbook. Scouts will have an opportunity to share their work during the class. Only Scouts with the first part of this requirement completed PRIOR to the class and ready for presentation will have the opportunity of possibly finishing this requirement in the class.

6. Make a collection of some of your personal patches and other Scouting memorabilia. With their permission, you may include items borrowed from family members or friends who have been in Scouting in the past, or you may include photographs of these items. Show this collection to your counselor, and share what you have learned about items in the collection. (There is no requirement regarding how large or small this collection must be)

   Scouts desiring to get signed off on this requirement on the day of the class will need to prepare ahead of time their collection of Scouting patches or other Scouting memorabilia and bring their collection with them to class. Scouts should be ready to share with the class and counselor their collection.

7. Reproduce the equipment for an old-time Scouting game such as those played at Brownsea Island. You may find one on your own (with your counselor’s approval), or pick one from the Scouting Heritage merit badge pamphlet. Teach and play the game with other Scouts
   
   This requirement will be completed as a part of this class. Scouts should come prepared having reviewed the information in the merit badge pamphlet and be knowledgeable of the components of this requirement.

8. Interview at least three people (different from those you interviewed for requirement 5) over the age of 50 who were Scouts. Find out about their Scouting experiences. Ask about the impact that Scouting has had on their lives. Share what you learned with your counselor
   
   Scouts are strongly urged to complete as many of the three interviews as possible prior to the class.  There will more than likely not be enough time or people at the class in order for all Scouts to complete this requirement entirely at the class.  Check with your Scoutmaster for suggestions of local Scouters who might be willing to assist you over the phone or in person.  Your District's monthly Roundtable is another great opportunity to meet and interview older Scouters.
   
   All Scouts coming to the class with their interviews and notes completed will have an opportunity to share what they learned with the class and counselor.

this page last reviewed and updated - March 2011