Raven District Merit Badge University

Merit Badge UniversityMay TBD, 2025  |  8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Lee College - John Britt Hall
511 S Whiting St.
Baytown, TX 77520

Latitude and Longitude: 29.732231, -94.977199

The Merit Badge University is an opportunity for Scouts in troops and crews to work towards one or two merit badges in person and one or two badges at home and have the requirements verified during the event. These are not giveaway merit badges, and this is not a merit badge factory. Each Scout is expected to fulfill all the requirements by attending classes and reading the merit badge book and preparing ahead of time. Scouts are expected to participate fully during the class in order to receive full credit for the requirements completed onsite.

Adult participation is required to offer this event. Every unit with Scouts participating is expected to provide volunteers.

Registration

The registration fee is $10.00 and includes all materials needed for the merit badge class unless otherwise stated. An optional lunch can be purchased for $10.00. Registration is typically completed by parents, but can also be completed by the troop leadership. Registration is done only online using a credit card or electronic check. There is no onsite registration. Council refund policy.

Class sizes are limited and fill up fast. Classes will be canceled if a counselor is not found. (How to RegisterHow to Change a Class)

          Register           Adult Volunteers

Important: Check the Scout's school and troop calendar for conflicts before registering. Check which merit badges the Scout has already completed. Have the Scout discuss which merit badges they should sign up for with their Scoutmaster or troop advancement chair. 

ID Number: Have the Scout's ID number ready before registering.  The ID number can be found: • Scoutbook (1. click on My Dashboard, 2. for a Scout - click on name of Scout, 3. select Edit Profile), • MyScouting.org (1. click on the upper right icon 2. select My Profile), • membership card, • ask the unit leader to check the unit roster.

merit badge sashMerit Badge Classes

When registering, if a class doesn't show up, then it's full. Some of the merit badges cannot be completed in the time we have which will result in a partial completion of the merit badge. Uncompleted requirements and/or prerequisites will be addressed by the respective Scouts and troops.  There may be some requirements in addition to the prerequisites that are not completed. For all merit badges, the Scout must read the merit badge book and bring it to class.

Changes: Merit badge class selections can be changed after registering. See the instructions below or in your email receipt. 

Merit Badge Classes
(click on course for requirements)
AM
PM
All
Day
*At Home
Prerequisites, Partials and Notes
(Learn more about partials)
Citizenship in the Community     • Prerequisite: Read merit badge book
• Not covered: #2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
• Bring #2 (community map and government chart), #2 (phone to map your area or a preprinted map of your community), #8 (presentation), completed worksheet
Citizenship in the Nation     • Prerequisite: Read merit badge book. Start watching the national news.
• N• Prerequisite: Read merit badge bookot covered: ​#5, 6, 7, 8
• Bring #8 (letters) and completed worksheet
Citizenship in the World     • Prerequisite: Read merit badge book. Prepare #3 (a current world event or geography topic to discuss during class).
• Not covered: ​3, 4, 7
• Bring completed worksheet
Communication       #1a, 1b, 4, 5, 6, 6, 8; bring #3 (pre-written speech); bring laptop or Chromebook to write and do research
• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book.
• Requirements not covered: #1a, 1b, 4, 5, 6, 8
• Bring #2#3 (5-minute speech which is typically ~800 words); laptop or Chromebook to write and do research; completed workbook;
Digital Technology       • Prerequisite: Read merit badge book; bring verification of completing the Cyber Chip
• Bring a tablet or laptop with wifi, merit badge book, email address
• Bring: completed worksheet
Family Life       • Prerequisite: Read merit badge book
• Not covered: ​#3, 4, 5, 6b
• Bring: completed worksheet
First Aid       • Prerequisite: Read merit badge book; must have completed all first aid requirements for Tenderfoot through First Class rank (refer to #1)
• Bring: #5a (first aid kit), #5b, 14, completed worksheet
Law        • Prerequisite: Read merit badge book
• Bring: completed worksheet
Personal Fitness     • Prerequisite: #1a, 1b; Read merit badge book
• #8 is not covered
• Bring: Annual Health and Medical Record (Part A, B, C entitled Are You Going to Camp?) which requires a physical signed by a health care provider, completed worksheet
• Wear activity uniform (e.g., Scout shirt) and appropriate clothes for the fitness test including tennis shoes
Salesmanship       • Prerequisite: Read merit badge book
• Not covered: #5, 6
• Bring: completed worksheet
Scouting Heritage       • Prerequisite: Read merit badge book
• Requirements not covered: #4,5,6,7,8
Textiles       • Prerequisite: Read merit badge book
• Bring: completed worksheet
Traffic Safety       • Prerequisite: Read merit badge book
• Bring: completed worksheet

At-Home Merit Badges

Reading       • Prerequisite: Read merit badge book
• Bring all requirements in an envelope, folder or notebook clearly marked with the Scout's name, including the completed worksheet
​• Special Instructions: Drop off requirements at check-in for review by the merit badge counselor and pick up after the event.
Scholarship       • Prerequisite: Read merit badge book
• Bring all requirements in an envelope, folder or notebook clearly marked with the Scout's name. Include: completed workbook#1 (copy of report card), #3 (letter from principal/counselor), #5 (report)
​• Special Instructions: Drop off requirements at check-in for review by the merit badge counselor and pick up after the event.

Classes that are full will not show up in the online registration.
Classes will be added as additional merit badge counselors volunteer.

What to Bring

what to bring

Schedule

8:00 am Check-in
8:00 am - 11:30 AM classes
11:30 - 12:00 pm Lunch
12:30 - 4:00 pm PM classes 

Merit Badges Completed at Home

Scouts can complete the Scholarship and Reading Merit Badges at home and drop off the completed requirement in a notebook, clearly marked with the Scout's name at check-in. A registered merit badge counselor will review the requirements. Scouts can pick up their notebook at the end of the day.

Scouts are encouraged to use the meritbadge.org worksheets to help organize their work. (Reading.pdf,  Scholarship.pdf; Word versions of these worksheets are also available.) 

Partials and Completions

partialsAttending a merit badge class does not guarantee that a Scout will complete the merit badge, but it is an opportunity for Scouts to meet with qualified counselors, to help them work on the requirements needed to complete a merit badge. The merit badge fair should not be considered another school where the pupils sit and stare for hours on end. Scouts should come prepared to participate. The counselor's job is to encourage self-discovery and then check that each Scout has the minimum knowledge and does the requirements. Scouts should be ready to take notes and come prepared with notetaking materials and writing utensils. Remember one goal of the merit badge advancement system is to develop individual growth and initiative. 

Prerequisites: All Scouts are to read the merit badge book prior to the Merit Badge Fair. Merit Badge books can be purchased at an area Scout Shop. Scouts are to be prepared to answer the questions to each of the requirements before the merit badge fair; completing worksheets available at http://usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/worksheets/list.asp can help Scouts prepare. Some merit badges require additional prerequisites to be must be completed before the merit badge fair.

                Merit Badge Worksheets

Requirements not covered: Some of the requirements cannot be completed during the class. The Scout should bring documentation of requirements not covered. Scouts are encouraged to complete requirements not covered before the merit badge fair and bring proof of completion; otherwise, the Scout will receive a partial.

Partials: If the Scout does not complete the requirements not covered and bring documentation to the class, the Scout will receive a partial completion of the merit badge. The partial completion will be noted on the blue card, given to the Scout at the completion of the class. Scouts will need to complete the badge with a registered merit badge counselor approved for that particular badge back with their unit. Merit badge counselors are not usually available to serve as a counselor after merit badge fair ends unless arrangements are made. Find a list of merit badge counselors by logging into http://scoutbook.scouting.org with your my.scouting userID and password, click on My Dashboard, Administration, your unit and scroll down the page. Remember that a youth member must not meet one-on-one with an adult. Sessions with counselors must take place where others can view the interaction, or the Scout must have a buddy: a friend, parent, guardian, brother, sister, or other relatives—or better yet, another Scout working on the same badge. 

Advancements Completed - New!

Blue cards are not issued at the event. A few weeks after the event, all of the completed requirements will be posted directly into Scoutbook.Blue cards are not needed; a few weeks after the event, all of the completed requirements will be posted directly into Scoutbook by the merit badge counselor.  If a parent doesn't enter the first and last name and membership ID correctly in the registration system, then the advancements won't upload into Scoutbook. A few weeks after the event, a parent can log in to Doubleknot and pull a report to provide to the Scoutmaster or unit advancement chair of advancements completed.      

General Rules

  1. Scouts need to be prepared for each of the requirements of the merit badge class including reading the merit badge pamphlet before the class.
  2. Scouts are expected to participate fully during the class in order to receive full credit for the requirements completed onsite. 
  3. Scouts that do not behave appropriately in class will be asked to leave.  
  4. If a Scout is unable to attend once registered, please use the link provided in the emailed receipt to delete the class so a spot can be opened up for another Scout. Council Refund Policy.    

How to Register or Update a Registration

Click on the registration link, then click Register. 

Step 1: Select a participant: Schedule For
Step 2: If applicable, select class
Step 3: Select a class add
Repeat step 2 and 3: afternoon class, if needed if more than one class is offered in a day.
Continue steps 1, 2 and 3 for additional participants

Step 4: Review the schedule.
Step 5:   continue
Step 6:  checkout
Step 7: Select payment type  payment
Step 8:  make payment

Classes that are full will not appear.

Change Classes

To modify your registration:

View Advancements Completed

A few weeks after the event, advancements completed will be entered into Doubleknot and then uploaded directly into Scoutbook. If a parent doesn't enter the first and last name and membership ID correctly in the registration system, then the advancements won't upload into Scoutbook. Some troops don't use Scoutbook. A parent can login to Doubleknot and pull a report to provide to the Scoutmaster or unit advancement chair.

  • Login to https://samhoustonbsa.doubleknot.com/signon/2563.
  • To obtain your User ID and Password, click on  You must use the same User ID that you used to initially register.
  • Click on My Account.   account
  • Click on the Registrations tab. 
  • Click on Reports.     report
  • Click on Class / Activity Compltion Award completion award

            Doubleknot Support.  

Adult Volunteers

Adult participation is required to offer this event. Every unit with Scouts participating is expected to provide at least one volunteer for every six Scouts attending. Additional volunteers are needed and appreciated. Adults can serve on event staff or as merit badge counselors.

Event Staff 

Successful Scouts have the support and guidance of parents. The parents are a treasure trove of information that can benefit every youth in our leadership program. The successful leader in Scouts learns quickly to be successful in everything they attempt.

Adults are needed to set up the facilities before the fair starts, handle registration, act as "roamers" to look out for issues that need to be resolved, assist the merit badge counselors, and to help clean-up after the event is over.  Volunteers who work directly with the youth must have current Youth Protection Training. YPT can be taken at www.myScouting.org

Volunteer for Staff

 Merit Badge Counselors

Merit Badge CounselorsMerit badge counselors are needed to run the merit badge classes. Merit badge counselors must be registered with the council and have up-to-date Youth Protection Training. YPT can be taken at www.myScouting.org. It is our goal for the Scouts to be afforded opportunities to share resources from other troops with diverse occupations and skills. The youth will be expected to complete all the requirements as indicated by Scouting America. Merit badge counselors should wear their Scout uniform if possible.  

Youth Protection Training

The merit badge counselor is a key player in the advancement program. Whatever your area of expertise or interest—whether it is a special craft or hobby (basketry, leatherwork, coin collecting), a profession (veterinary medicine, aviation, engineering), or perhaps a life skill (cooking, personal management, communications)—as a merit badge counselor, you can play a vital role in stirring a young man's curiosity about that particular topic. By serving as a merit badge counselor, you offer your time, knowledge, and other resources so that Scouts can explore a topic of interest.

Volunteer as a Merit Badge Counselor   

Scouting Safely

Safety is Your Responsibility posterScouting America's Commitment to Safety is ongoing, and the safety of our youth, volunteers, staff, and employees cannot be compromised. Scouting America puts the utmost importance on safe and healthy environments for its youth membership. The Sam Houston Area Council takes great strides to ensure the safety of its youth as well as the adult volunteer leadership that interacts with them. 

Guide to Safe Scouting policies must be followed. All participants must follow youth protection guidelines at all Scouting events. Highlights include:

  • Two-deep leadership on all outings is required.  
  • One-on-one contact between adults and youth members is prohibited. 
  • The buddy system should be used at all times. 
  • Discipline must be constructive.

Health and safety must be integrated into everything we do, to the point that no injuries are acceptable beyond those that are readily treatable by Scout-rendered first aid. As an aid in the continuing effort to protect participants in Scout activities, the National Health and Safety Committee and the Council Services Division of the National Council has developed the SAFE Checklist of safety procedures for physical activity. These points, which embody good judgment and common sense, are applicable to all activities. 

*About Medical Record: Scouting America requires all participants to bring an Annual Health and Medical Record to every Scouting event. The Scouting adventures, camping trips, and having fun are important to everyone in Scouting—and so is your safety and well-being. Completing the Annual Health and Medical Record is the first step in ensuring you have a great Scouting experience. Completing a health history promotes health awareness, collects necessary data, and provides medical professionals with critical information needed to treat a patient in the event of an illness or injury. It also provides emergency contact information. Please download the form and have it with you at all Scouting events for every member of your family.  

^Closed-toed shoes are highly recommended for all Scouting events. Many of our outdoor venues have snakes and sticks that can injure toes. Many of our activities include active games, so shoes that Scouts can run in (e.g., tennis shoes) are recommended.

Youth Protection Guidelines     Guide to Safe Scouting      SAFE Checklist      Enterprise Risk Management

Contacts

For questions, contact Rory Collins.