Update to the Hidden Valley merit badges - Welding Merit Badge.

This differs from the schedule and form handed out last Monday. Please take note when selecting your program.
  - Welding is available to Any Scout aged 13+ (was 14+)
  - Welding will be offered at 9am or 10am all-week long
  - Welding will no longer be offered through the SPOKE program

Do you know this gentleman is? A good way to find out is to earn the Scouting Heritage merit badge.  This merit badge focuses on the origins, traditions, famous figures and rich history of Scouting. 

The BSA just made this badge a little easier to earn.  Specifically, they added requirement 4.c.

"Visit an exhibit of Scouting memorabilia or a local museum with a Scouting history gallery, or (with your parent's permission and counselor's approval) visit with someone in your council who is recognized as a dedicated Scouting historian or memorabilia collector. Learn what you can about the history of Boy Scouting. Give a short report to your counselor on what you saw and learned."


Prior to the new requirement, you either had to write or visit (in Irving, Texas) the National Scouting Museum (& give a report), or attend either a BSA national jamboree, OR world Scout jamboree, OR a national BSA high-adventure base (i.e., Philmont, The Summit, Sea Base or Northern Tier).  

We have a great Scouting Museum not 1 hour from us.  The Lawrence L.Lee Scouting Museum & Max I. Silber Scouting Library are located at Camp Carpenter in NH (some in the Troop have already been there as Cub Scouts).  

You can read the full requirements for this merit badge here

Oh, the gentleman pictured is Daniel Carter Beard, one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America.  He founded the "Sons of Daniel Boone", a boy's organization, and later merged them into the BSA.  He was also the first National Commissioner, was editor for Boy's Life Magazine, and wrote dozens of articles for the magazine, and several books.  He was often referred to as "Uncle Dan", and was frequently seen in a traditional buckskin outfit -- a true woodsman. 
(His sister also help form the Camp Fire Girls) 

Is your merit badge sash looking a bit thin?  Didn't get enough merit badges at Summer camp? Need that last badge to get to that next rank?  Want to earn a few more? You can do just that at Annawon Council's Merit Badge Mania on August 16-18. 

40 merit badges are being offered at the event.  See them here. Scouts will camp the weekend at Camp Norse.  Meals will be provided (three meals on Saturday & two meals on Sunday). Merit Badges will be offered in either all day or half day sessions. SHOOTING SPORTS ARE AN EXCEPTION: Archery, Rifle  and Shotgun are either Saturday AND Sunday AM or Saturday AND Sunday PM.  If you register for a shooting sports Merit Badge be careful of what you sign up for on Sunday.

More info on the event and registration is available at the Annawon Council website for the event.   If you are interested in attending, you may sign up at that site. Please see Mr. Gillogly for any Blue cards or questions.

In a flurry of merit badge activity, the BSA released the requirements of a third merit badge today - the new Sustainability merit badge.  Sustainability will be an alternate Eagle-required merit badge to Environmental Science MB.

Scouts may begin working on Sustainability MB once pamphlets arrive in Scout Shops (or at scoutstuff.org) in early August

You can read the requirements at Scouting Magazine's blog.

Are you into computers?  Have you designed, or want to design,  an app, for your phone?  Well, the new Programming merit badge is for you!   

Scouts may begin working on Programming merit badge once the pamphlets arrive in Scout Shops (or scoutstuff.org) in early August.

You can read the requirements at Scouting magazine's blog.

The Cycling merit badge just got a little more interesting.  The BSA has expanded the requirements to include Mountain Biking. Now, you can choose between road bikes and mountain bikes to meet the requirement for this Eagle-required (alternate to Swimming or Hiking) merit Badge. 

Read about the change in Scouting Magazine's Blog post.