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For Rank and Merit Badge Requirements, check out the Requirements for Advancement links on the Links page.

Following is additional information specific to Troop 410.

Merit Badge Resources for Troop Advancement
Earning Merit Badges
On the Road to Star and Life
Star and Life Service Project
Past Star and Life Service Projects
How to Earn Your Eagle Rank
Study Questions for Eagle

Merit Badge Resources for Troop Advancement

Astronomy Merit Badge

Camping Merit Badge

Coin Collecting Merit Badge

How To Get Started On Merit Badges

1)       Need to buy or borrow the book “Boy Scout Requirements for 2002” or go on the internet to www.meritbadge.com (there is a link on the links page)

2)       Look through the book to see what merit badges you are interested in and write them down.

3)       Read each one carefully to know what the requirements are expecting and to know if this is an easy merit badge or hard one. Also to know if any of the requirements have a period of time that is required to complete a particular requirement (for example: Family Living has a requirement that you keep track of your chores for 90 days).

4)       Talk over with your parents or Scout leader to help you understand the merit badge and determine if this is a merit badge you want to do.

5)       What is your goal - wanting to become a Star or Life Scout or even work your way to Eagle Scout (the book shows the requirements of how many merit badges each rank requires).

A)      Merit badges are broken into 2 categories: Merit Badges & Eagle required Merit Badges. Each rank – Star, Life, and Eagle - requires a certain number of each. 

B)      If going for Eagle Scout you will need 9 merit badges and 12 of 15 Eagle required merit badges (note: the 15 Eagle required merit badges are broken into 10 merit badges that are required and there is a group of 3 merit badges and group of 2 merit badges of which you only need one from each group to equal your total of 12 Eagle required merit badges.)

      Now  the work begins:

6)       Plot your course: make a chart showing at least 9 merit badges; the more the better (just in case you decide you don’t like a particular merit badge you have an extra that can fill the spot) plus put the 12 Eagle required merit badges on the chart. Note: it may be helpful to make copy of the requirements for each merit badge and get a binder with some dividers and keep them separate.

7)       Plan of attack:

A)      Meet with the merit badge counselor assignor, find out who will be your counselor, and get a blue card.
What is a blue card? This is your record as you complete the Merit Badge. On one side is your personal information. On the other side is where the counselor records the information as the badge is completed. When complete, he will sign the card and you return it to the counselor assignor.

B)      Don’t focus on only one merit badge at a time. If you manage your time properly, you should be able to work on more than one merit badge.

C)      Look at your merit badges and see if they have restrictions: gardening during the springtime, motor boating during the spring or summer time. Mark the ones that don’t have a weather/or season restriction (these can be worked any time). Look at the ones that are restricted to a season so you know when to work on that merit badge. Know the limits of each merit badge.

8)    Keep on track

A)      At meetings and on outings, you may be completing work on the requirements for merit badges with out knowing it. Keep a log with dates, a description of tasks that are done, and who helped you. Later you can research to see if this qualifies as a requirement completed for a particular merit badge. (for example: back in April 2001 at the campout at the Roden’s property, we built a monkey bridge - this is a requirement for pioneering. This January, we went to space camp in Alabama and completed the requirements for Space Exploration Merit Badge

B)      Keep eyes and ears open to know when a merit badge class may be starting.

9)   Have Fun: remember, Scouts is fun. Earning Merit Badges should be fun. And remember, the leaders are here to help you. If you have problems or questions, please ask.

On the road to become a Star or Life Scout

Skill learning:

  1. Get started on your merit badges early, don’t miss an opportunity when a merit badge is offered.
  1. Be involved in the troop meetings, activities, and camp-outs. Try to make 3 out of 4 troop meetings and try to make half of the outings.
  1. Find out what positions are available in the troop, and have an understanding of the responsibilities for each position. Check the Troop Leadership Positions on the Forms/Files page. Make sure the SPL and SM know you are interested in a position. Elections are held in March and September.
  1. Show your ability to help in troop projects. This not only shows your ability, but allows you to demonstrate you leadership. A Star Scout should be able to lead a small group and a Life Scout should be able to lead the entire Troop.
  1. Show your ability to teach others. A Star scout should be able to teach one on one or up to a group of 6. A Life Scout should be able to hold a class teaching a large group of 15 or more.

Leadership ability:

Star Scout: 

A)      Leadership: take a role in the troop as Patrol Leader; Assistant Patrol Leader; Scribe; Den Chief; or one of the many other positions.

B)      Scout spirit: live it daily. You show it at meetings and outings by your participation, training, (are you listening or playing around), and when doing service projects (are you helping or not). This includes you participation in games, as the program or service patrol, and in patrol meetings. 

C)      How do you do helping other scouts one on one (go over to give a help, understand task or requirement they are working on)

D)      How well do you perform when given a task

Life Scout:

A)      Leadership: responsibility taken in the troop which now includes Senior Patrol Leader; Assistant Senior Patrol Leader; Troop Guide (for new scouts); Instructor; asking to take charge of a project through Scoutmaster approval and run it until it is completed (for example: highway clean up); and by demonstrating your ability to lead a large group.

B)      Scout spirit: live it daily. You show it at meetings and outings by your participation, training, (are you listening or playing around), and when doing service projects (are you helping or not). This includes you participation in games, as the program or service patrol, and in patrol meetings.

C)      How do you do helping other scouts in group training (help set up training class that you will do for the younger scouts) as well giving advice to Scouts on how to do things.

D)      How well do you perform when given a task. Do you involve the group to get task done.

Service Project

Troop 410 has special requirements on Service Projects. Be sure to read the section on Star and Life Service Projects.

 

Star and Life Service Project

To the New First Class Scout:

You have now passed a major step in Scouting - you have earned your First Class rank.  At this time, you will begin to give back to Scouting some of what it has given you.  One of your requirements for rank advancement is to perform a service project.  This project is done for the betterment of your community, faith, or school, or for a special project approved by the Scoutmaster.  The project will be done by you, after approval of the Scoutmaster, but adult guidance will be provided by your parents and the adult leaders of the Troop.  The requirements for the Star and Life Service Project as required by Troop 410 are outlined in the Star and Life Service Project Letter of Instruction as found on the Forms & Files page.  Read them over carefully, ask questions, plan your project, get it approved, carry out your project, prepare a report, and submit it.  When you are done, you will have completed another step on your trek to Eagle, you will have grown as a young man and leader in Scouting, and you will be better prepared for the planning and leadership requirements for the Eagle Project.

The Scoutmaster

Study Questions for Eagle

  1. What do you consider your greatest failure; how have you dealt with it; and what have you learned from it?
  2.