Troop 111 SUMMER CAMP MERIT BADGE INFORMATION

2007 Merit Badge and Activity Selection for Camp Ockanickon

Summer camp sessions provide the single greatest chance for merit badge completion most Troop 111 scouts will have. Camp Ockanickon offers a large number of merit badges, including some not generally available elsewhere. Although we occasionally offer some of these merit badges at home throughout the year, summer camp provides an excellent chance to get “ahead of the curve” on merit badge completion, particularly for junior scouts.

Camp Ockanickon uses an ages-and-stages approach to merit badges and minimum age requirements are strictly enforced. They won’t be waived, even if you have the blessing of your scoutmaster. So please pay attention to which badges you are eligible for. The age determination is based on your age when you attend the camp. So if you are 13 now, but will be 14 on or before June 24, you can sign up for merit badges with an age limit of 14.

Please pay attention to prerequisites. In many cases if you have not completed the prerequisites before arrival at camp—bringing the required proof with you—you may not be allowed to take the merit badge. In nearly all cases, if you haven’t completed the prerequisites before camp, you won’t be able to earn the badge at camp.

Please use the merit badge and activity selection form to indicate which camp activities and badges you would like to pursue at camp. At this camp, not all badges require attending sessions each day. Some badges can be completed in just two days. In some cases, if you are already accomplished at some particular merit badge activity, such as golf, you may be able to complete the badge in a single session. In addition, some badges are offered in the evenings and some meet just on certain days. For now, don’t worry about scheduling conflicts or exactly how many merit badges you’ll end up with.Just list a whole bunch of badges and activities you want to do in the order of importance to you. We’ll work out the schedule to maximize your choices and still give you some free time. Before the schedules are finalized, we’ll check with each one of you individually to make sure you’re OK with the schedule. Most scouts should have enough time to take about four badges. Everyone needs to take at least three or sign up for a multi-day activity, such as the COPE or DROP course and a smaller number of merit badges. Otherwise, you’ll have too much free time. Taking five or more merit badges will leave you with little or no free time at camp, and will take some of the fun out of the experience.

At the bottom of the form, you will find a list of some Eagle required merit badges at Camp Ockanickon. It is strongly recommended that all scouts, whether working toward Eagle Scout or not consider taking the badge or badges checked off for you.

Please study the chart and decide which merit badges you would like to take at summer camp. List the merit badges or other activities you want to do in the order of your preference on the attached sign-up form and return it to Melissa Bristow or Pauline Clark by the regular meeting on Monday, April 2. No exceptions, no excuses. If we do not hear from you by then, merit badge selections will be made on your behalf and there may be no time for consultation with you to make changes.

Please contact Melissa Bristow (msbristow at verizon.net) if you have any questions about this year’s Summer Camp Merit Badge program.