Merit Badge Weekend 2017 LEADER S GUIDE The 13 th Annual Version 1-4/27/2017 Merit Badge Weekend 2017 will take place April 28, 29 & 30 at beautiful Mountain Meadows near Duvall, WA. Mountain Meadows is a private campground made available through the generosity of the owners Dick (AKA "Ranger Rik") and Toni Monroe, who open it up for use by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and similar groups of youth. MBW is a gathering of like-minded Boy Scout troops and volunteers from around the Pacific Northwest to come together to introduce participating Scouts to new merit badges. Folks come from far away as Montana to attend this annual tradition! This is not a council or district organized event, it is organized by the attending troops which hail from various districts and locales around the area. Troops attend by invitation only - this helps keep it manageable and helps ensure that all attending troops are committed to its success and are able to contribute in supporting the event's needs. If every attending troop plays their own small part, it will help make the event successful, and not overwhelm any one group of volunteers. We would like to have as many interested troops as possible. Invitations are only extended to troops that are able to fully support the goals of the event, and based on availability and logistics.
Welcome to Merit BADGE Weekend Hello from the Host Troop: Troop 909 is excited to be the host troop for Merit Badge Weekend 2017. We want to thank Ranger Rik and Toni Monroe for their generosity and hospitality and for hosting this event for thirteen years. This is event is what we, the troops involved make of it. We have everything needed for a successful event: a bunch of troops, plenty of volunteers, many counselors offering over 25 courses, and over 100 Scouts. We also will have plenty of fun, competition, and Scouting spirit who will win this year s Mountain Man Relay Race? Paddle Boat Races? Patrol Dessert Competition? Rain? Sun? Mud certainly. Only time will tell. Thank you to everyone who is helping make MBW 2017 a success. Many hands make light work thank you for your generosity in helping with the leadership and service required to run this event. Gratitude is a theme we emphasize in our troop I highlight it here for the Scouts and adults: A Scout is courteous and cheerful. It is important to remember to show gratitude and appreciation to those who help you. Remember these generous volunteers your hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, Merit Badge Counselors, older Scouts, and Scoutmasters and other adult leaders. Look them in the eye and thank them for making time to help you and your friends enjoy the outdoors and learn new skills. Cheers and booyah! Paul George Host Troop Scoutmaster / Event Coordinator with Ann Eyeler Event Coordinator and Ranger Rik Host
EVENT COMMUNICATION & LEADERSHIP Event Coordinators and Committee The Event Coordinators this year are Paul George at paul@woodinvillegeorges.com / 206.819.3349 and Ann Eyler at parrotann@msn.com / 253.332.1779. Dick Monroe ("Ranger Rik") is the host of Mountain Meadows and Merit Badge Weekend, and our goodwill ambassador. Reach him at rangerrikmm@gmail.com / 206.730.6304. Dick, Paul and Ann make up the MBW 2017 Event Committee. Host Troop The Host Troop of MBW 2017 is Troop 909, with Scoutmaster Paul George, and Senior Patrol Leader Alex Nottingham. Work Party Coordinator Jean Seely of Troop 570 is our work party coordinator. Please contact Jean to schedule your work parties: jean@jeanseely.com Web Site Information Clearinghouse MBW 2017 has a web site used as an information clearinghouse, for communication and registration for the attending troops. It is located at tinyurl.com/mbw2017. It contains information such as: FOR SCOUTS List of Proposed Courses/Counselors Scout Merit Badge Course Registration Form Review Completed Scout Course Registration Report Course Schedule and Directory Scout Gear & Item Checklist FOR TROOPS & LEADERS MBW 2017 Schedule MBW 2017 Leaders Guide Review Completed Scout Course Registration Report Merit Badge Course Guidelines Course Schedule and Directory Work Party Scheduling Mountain Meadows Property Location FOR COUNSELORS Counselor & Course Info Registration Course Schedule and Directory Merit Badge Course Guidelines When you get close, follow the signs! Closest house address: 15008 304th Ave NE, Duvall, WA 98019 Questions or Feedback Questions, ideas or feedback are always welcome. Please direct any questions about the event to Event Coordinators Paul George at paul@woodinvillegeorges.com / 206.819.3349 or Ann Eyler at parrotann@msn.com / 253.332.1779. Dick Monroe ("Ranger Rik") is the host of Mountain Meadows and Merit Badge Weekend, and our goodwill ambassador. Reach him at rangerrikmm@gmail.com / 206.730.6304.
Expectations of participating troops Merit Badge Weekend is a cooperative event that needs help from the participating troops in order to be a success for all. In exchange for the privilege of attending, troops are asked to agree to live up to these expectations: 1. To keep in good communication with the event coordinators 2. To complete a Work Party prior to attending MBW 3. To contribute their share of Merit Badge Counselors (1 for every 5 Scout attendees) 4. To contribute to at least one leadership or service role for the event (see list) 5. To support their share of the expenses of the event (essentially, a nominal fee to cover the portable toilet services required for the event last year it was $60 per troop) 6. To pledge to participate in all three days of the event More information is provided on each of these items below. 1. Communication with Event Coordinators Good communication with the event coordinators means you are letting us know your plans (how many Scouts and counselors you intend to send) and when they might change. You also intend to get your Merit Badge Counselors signed up and prepared to support enrollment of the Scouts into their classes. If things change, no problem just let us know as soon as you can so we can ensure the event is running smooth. For more information on the event, visit http://tinyurl.com/mbw2017. 2. Complete a Work Party Mountain Meadows is made available through the generosity of the owners Dick (AKA "Ranger Rik") and Toni Monroe, who open it up for use by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Cub Scouts. The 60 acre property is a lot to keep up! If everyone that uses Mountain Meadows is able to roll up their sleeves and pitch in a bit, it does not have to become a burden to Ranger Rik and a few volunteers to do it all. For Work Party sign ups, visit the website or contact Work Party Coordinator Jean Seely at jean@jeanseely.com. 3. Contribute and Enroll Merit Badge Counselors In order to offer a good variety of Merit badges for the Scouts to choose from, we need a lot of Merit Badge Counselors about 1 for every 5 boys at a minimum. To do this, we need each troop to contribute their fair share of counselors. To figure out how many counselors you will need, estimate the number of Scouts that will attend, and divide by five, and round up for good measure. Counselors returning to teach the same courses as last year will be given priority where possible (assuming they sign up in a timely manner). Counselors will be asked to indicate other badges they would willing to do, in case there is already a counselor for their selected badge. Merit Badge Counselors will be asked to follow BSA guidance and ensure requirements that are completed live up to the spirit of the requirements as written. For Merit Badge Counselor Sign Ups, visit the website.
4. Take on an Event Leadership/Service Role Every troop is asked to take on a small part of the leadership and service for the event, so that no one set of volunteers is asked to do more than their share. We need volunteers to take on different jobs, such as Work Party Coordinator, Parking Coordinator, Movie Nite Coordinator, etc. For Event Leadership and Service Role sign ups please see the sign up document and contact the event coordinators. 5. Support Event Expenses MBW is a collaboration between like-minded troops that want to provide a fun atmosphere for Scouts to learn new merit badges in. The event has some hard costs associated with it, especially around portable toilet services needed to support the 100+ attendees each year. The fee is estimated to be about $60 per troop, or $3 per attendee. The troops attending will be asked to pay their fair share of these costs. Ranger Rik, nor anyone else, makes money at Mountain Meadows he simply asks that those attending and using the property cover their share, by passing on these expenses to the participants. Troops will be notified of their estimated share of the expenses prior to the event, and will need to be fully paid up before the event starts. 6. Please Stay for the Three Day Event Merit Badge Weekend is designed to be a three day event filled with fun, learning, and Scouting fellowship. Just as a guest for dinner should not eat and run right after dessert is served, troops should not attend MBW and leave early, once they have attended the courses and gotten the Blue Cards signed. Stay all three days to get to know your neighbor Scouts, Scouters and troops, enjoy each others company, and finish out the event strong. If a few Scouts need to leave early due to time conflicts, that is understandable, but your troop as a whole is asked to finish out the event, and do your share of the clean up too. Troops that are not able to commit to completing all three days of the event, are asked to please not attend.
MERIT BADGE COURSES - OVERVIEW & GUIDELINES Goals for Merit Badge Courses Merit Badge Weekend provides an energetic atmosphere for participating troops to come together and cooperate to provide 25+ merit badge and other advancement topics for Scouts to make progress towards. The goals for the merit badge courses at Merit Badge Weekend are to: Introduce Scouts to the subject of the badge, and an overview of the requirements. Engage the Scouts learning about the subject in a hands on way, to learn and practice in a fun environment where they enjoy learning about the topic. To leave with a Blue Card and having completed and signed off on several of the most important, interesting, or engaging requirements. Merit badges can rarely be earned in one day or several hours, even when Scouts complete the assigned pre reqs this is a good thing, they should take more effort than that. The Scout will have to spend a bit of time, effort and practice to fully earn the badge. In most cases, he will not receive instant gratification in completing the badge on site, but will feel more gratified at the end for working hard to do the badge right. The purpose is not to complete the badge, or even to complete as many requirements as possible in the time given, if that means sprinting through as quickly as possible, without enough regard to whether the Scouts are engaged or given time to fully understand the topics. Each requirement should be given the time necessary to complete the item fully and in an engaging, enjoyable manner. Partials: Many Scouts will leave MBW with several partially completed merit badges Partials. Troop leaders are encouraged to make plans within the troop setting to follow up with Scouts and match them up with counselors from the troop or local community to complete the badges after the event. Course Counselors Required ALL counselors (but not assistants) for Merit Badge Weekend must be registered with their local BSA District and Council for the badges they lead. All counselors and their adult assistants must take Youth Protection Training (YPT) EVERY YEAR (per Chief Seattle Council). If you have not completed this yet, please visit www.scouting.org/youthprotection ONLY USE THE CURRENT MERIT BADGE REQUIREMENTS - Get the latest from from the BSA or MeritBadge.org (just because the booklet is new, doesn t mean the requirements in it are up to date) Merit Badge Course Guidelines We are excited to offer Merit Badge instruction to Scouts, and we want to be clear that we will do it by following the standards set out by the BSA. 1. USE THE LATEST UP TO DATE REQUIREMENTS The Scouts and the BSA count on Counselors to know the latest requirements please don t teach to old requirements. Get the latest from from the BSA or MeritBadge.org 2. PARTIALS ARE EXPECTED - almost all badges are impossible to complete in a few hours. Scouts will work with their home troop to find counselors to complete the badge. 3. EACH SCOUT FULFILLS EACH REQUIREMENT Each Scout will be expected to actually and personally fulfill each requirement before being signed off on that requirement. 4. USE THE ACTUAL WORDS OF THE REQUIREMENTS - Each Scout will be expected to complete requirements as written - no more and no less. If it says, "Show or demonstrate," that is what the Scout must do; just "telling" isn't enough. The same holds for words like "make," "list," "in the field," "collect," "identify," and "label." If the requirement dictates a setting, it must be completed in that setting. Ex: "While on a trail hike or backpacking trip, do X", means just that.
5. GROUP INSTRUCTION - group instruction does not mean group testing. Each Scout must complete each requirement. 6. INSTRUCTION & LEARNING vs. COMPLETING REQUIREMENTS - most courses time for instruction and learning, and time for testing. Only when the testing is complete is the requirement done. 7. WORKSHEETS, WORKBOOKS AND NOTES - worksheets are to help the Scout stay organized with your notes to learn faster. They are NOT turned in for credit like a homework assignment. Credit toward a requirement is only given by doing what the written requirement says, which usually includes a discussion or demonstration. 8. CURRENT, REGISTERED COUNSELORS - The only persons authorized to sign off on a merit badge are adult members of the BSA who are registered as merit badge counselors, and approved for that specific badge. Additional experts or support volunteers may serve as instructors under the direction of the merit badge counselor. Course Counselor - Suggested Items Counselors are responsible for bringing EVERYTHING needed to teach their courses. Current Merit Badge Requirements - from the BSA or MeritBadge.org Merit Badge Pamplet/Booklet (highly recommended) Any equipment needed for the course Merit Badge Worksheets (if you have specific ones you like to teach with) Popup Canopy Camp Chairs Tarp for students to sit on Table, if needed (there are some on site near the permanent shelters please reserve these) Note Pad and Marker for Sketching Day Pack with 10 Essentials, water, snacks, etc. Personal First Aid Kit Course Locations Courses will be set up around Mountain Meadows, mostly around the pond in the lawn, or in some of the shelters. If you have a course that requires a shelter or table, or electricity access, please let the organizers know.
MBW EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Here are some of the activities held for Merit Badge Weekend. Please see the event schedule for specific times. Each of these activities require volunteers to lead and make them happen see the event SPL or the event coordinators to volunteer. Flag Ceremonies (Mandatory) Each morning and evening we will assemble at the flag pole to raise and lower the US flag. Please bring your Class A uniform for this. Troops that volunteer to lead the flag ceremony must be in Class A uniform and look sharp. To volunteer to sign up for flag ceremony duty, please see the MBW Senior Patrol Leader or the event coordinators. Movie Nite (Encouraged) Friday night we will have an All-Camp Outdoor Movie Nite a rated PG movie played onto a improvised movie screen. Weather and technology permitting! This event is encouraged for all Scouts but optional. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on. To volunteer to sign up for Movie Nite hosting, please see the event coordinators. All-Camp Campfire (Mandatory for Youth / Encouraged for All) Saturday night we hold an All-Camp Campfire, hosted by a selected Scout or two as Master of Ceremonies. Sign your patrol or troop up for a song or skit (Scoutmaster approved). To volunteer to host the campfire, please see the event coordinators. To sign up your patrol for song or skit please find the campfire host troop and the MC. Mountain Man Challenge Patrol Relay Race (Highly Encouraged) The Mountain Man Challenge is a relay race of patrol members, with a leg of the race followed by a Trail to First Class style Scout skill station to prove which patrol has got the skillz. Skills may include: First Aid, Knots, Plant ID, Flags, Scout Spirit, Lashings, Speed. It is Open Book use your handbook or other book if you want. WIN PRIZES!! 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Top Rookie Patrol (Below 1st Class Scouts) Friendship Dinners (Optional) Want to meet the neighbors? Invite a neighboring troop over to potluck for dinner. You could do this with patrols or troops, ffor the Scouts meals and/or just the adult leader meals. By planning a potluck with just two or three troops and self-organized, it is easier to pull off than the All-Camp Potlucks of the past. All-Camp Dessert Contest (Highly Encouraged) Get your award winning, made-at-camp dessert ready for our MBW All-Camp Dessert contest. All patrols (or adult groups) who enter a dessert will receive tickets for up to eight of their members to sample desserts from the buffet. You must enter a dessert in order to sample and vote for winners. WIN PRIZES!! Best Scout Recipe, Best Adult Recipe, Top Rookie Patrol (Below 1st Class Scouts) Scouts Own Service (Highly Encouraged) We will assemble Sunday to show our reverence to our Creator. Each troop will contribute a story or song. To volunteer to host Scouts Own, please see the event coordinators. Paddle Boat Races (Highly Encouraged) MBW s Great Paddle Boat Battle is a crowd favorite. Each troop (or patrols) races around the pond as fast as they can paddle. Who will be crowned the Paddle Kings? WIN PRIZES!! Mountainmaster Challenge Adult Relay Race (Highly Encouraged) Similar to the Mountain Man relay race but made just for Scoutmaster and adult volunteers. WIN PRIZES!! Scoutmaster Jousting (Optional/Encouraged) MBW s Scoutmaster Jousting is another crowd favorite. Each Scoutmaster or other adult volunteer mounts his trusty stead (a paddle boat powered by two Scouts) and attempts to tip his foe off another boat. Joust is a broom with some sort of padding such as duct-taped pad of cloths or an old boot. WIN PRIZES!!
TRoop LEADER S ChECkLISts Weeks before the event Register your troop for the event Recruit ONE merit badge course counselor for every FIVE Scouts estimated to attend Complete a work party at Mountain Meadows Sign up for Leadership and Service roles (flag ceremonies, host for campfire, parking, etc) for the event See Leadership & Service Roles Signup Sheet Get Scouts registered for courses Bring to the event Signed permission slips and medical forms per your troop policy Everything your troop needs for a two-night campout Pay your share of the event and site maintenance expenses (portable toilet rental and servicing, prizes, stocking the fish pond, etc.) Spiritual materials required for Scouts Own session For Scouts Make sure your Scouts have the MBW Scouts Gear & Item Checklist which includes Pen, Pencil, Chair, Ten Essentials, Merit Badge Booklet and Worksheets, etc Ensure Scouts have copies of their MB schedules Troop Merit Badge Booklet library for check out Signed Blue Cards For Patrols Each patrol has a Patrol Preparations Checklist MBW Patrol Dessert recipe and ingredients Geared up for Mountain Man Challenge Relay Race Skit or Song for Campfire (Scoutmaster approved) When Leaving Packed out all Troop garbage Packed out share of communal garbage Trash sweep of camp area better than you found it Check out completed by assigned event staff Gotchas (We Don t Have These Things) No potable water at the site bring your own (1 gallon per person suggested) Limited mobile phone coverage and mobile bandwidth No electricity (except a modest generator, by permission only)
APPENDIX EVENT COMMITTEE PLANNING & PREP Proposed Event Milestone & Schedules Prior to the event: DATE MILESTONE 2/1/2017 Save the Date message delivered to invited troops. 3/1/2017 Troops begin to register with contact info and estimated numbers. Troops sign up for Leadership & Service Roles, and Work Parties. 3/6/2017 Troops begin to register merit badge counselors. 3/24/2017 Final call for merit badge instructors. 4/1/2017 4/18/2017 Week of 4/23 Scouts enroll for merit badges. Troops are given Scout Merit Badge Course Schedules. At the event skeleton schedule: DATE DESCRIPTION 4/27/2017 Staff early arrival camping available 4/28/2017 Day 1: 4PM Troops begin to arrive. 4/29/2017 Day 2: Merit Badge Courses Held 4/30/2017 Day 3: Competitions, Thanks Yous, and Wrap Up - Clean up - Troop Competition - Scoutmaster Challenge - Head home (tentative 12PM)