November 23, 2024 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
The Merit Badge Fair is an opportunity for Scouts in troops, crews or ships to work towards one or two merit badges. These are not give-away merit badges, and this is not a merit badge factory. Each Scout is expected to fulfill all the requirements by reading the merit badge book ahead of time, attending classes and doing prerequisites. Scouts are expected to participate fully during the class in order to receive full credit for the requirements completed onsite.
Register for 1 or 2 classes. In addition, Scouts can work on Scholarship Merit Badge at home and a merit badge counselor will review the materials during the event. Check for additional merit badge class opportunities on the council Scout Days webpage and Merit Badge Days.
Adult volunteers are required to offer this event. Every unit with Scouts participating is expected to provide volunteers.
What to Bring
Registration
The registration fee is $16.50 for the first Scout and $16 for each additional Scout who registers at the same time. (How to register.)
Important: Before registering, check the school and troop calendar for conflicts. Check which merit badges the Scout has already completed. The Scout should discuss which merit badges they should sign up for with their Scoutmaster or troop advancement chair. Due to the popularity, and availability of counselors, some classes will fill up quickly. Scouts who register early have the best chance of getting the classes they want. Class sizes are limited.
Have the Scout's member ID number ready before registering. This number is critical to identifying the Scouts in Scoutbook to ensure the Scout gets credit for requirements completed. The member ID number can be found: • Scoutbook (click on My Dashboard ⇒ click on name of Scout ⇒ select Edit Profile), • MyScouting.org (click on the upper right icon ⇒ select My Profile), • membership card, • ask the unit leader to check the unit roster.
Changes: Class changes can be made after registering using the link provided in the emailed receipt.
Registration is completed online using credit card or electronic check. Registration closes 11/22/24. There is no onsite registration. Council refund policy.
Register (opens soon) Volunteer Sign-up
Merit Badges Classes
Fall 2024
Merit Badge Classes
Click on the class for requirements.
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AM
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PM
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Prerequisites and Partials
Learn about partials and requirements not covered.
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| American Business |
|
♦ |
• Not covered: #1, 2, 3, 4, 6
• Bring internet device and research or interview #6 notes |
| Citizenship in the Community |
♦ |
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• Requirements not covered: #2, 3, 4, 7, 8
• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book
• Not covered: 3, 4, 7, 8
• Bring #2 (community map and government chart), completed worksheet |
| Citizenship in the Nation |
♦ |
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• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book. Start watching the national news.
• Not covered: #2, 3, 6
• Bring #8 (letters) and completed worksheet |
| Communication |
♦ |
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• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book; prepare #2 (a 5-minute speech is ~750 words)
• Requirements not covered: #5, 8
• Bring #2, completed workbook |
| Entrepreneurship |
♦ |
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• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book.
• Requirements not covered: #3, 4 |
| Family Life |
♦ |
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Prerequisite: Read merit badge book
• Not covered: #3, 4, 5, 6, 11
• 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); complete #5b prior to fair.
• Not covered: #1, 5
• Bring: #5a (first aid kit), |
| Mining in Society |
♦ |
♦ |
• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book. |
| Nuclear Science |
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♦ |
• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book.
• Not covered: TBD |
| Personal Management |
♦ |
♦ |
• Prerequisites: #1, 2, 10
• Bring completed worksheet |
Classes that are full will not show up in the online registration.
*Classes will be added as additional merit badge counselors volunteer.
 = Eagle Scout required merit badges and require more preparation (e.g., completing the worksheet). |
What to Bring
Prerequisites, Requirements Not Covered and Partials
Attending 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; Scouts are highly encouraged to print and complete the worksheets available at http://usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/worksheets/list.asp to help them 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: An Application for Merit Badges (blue cards) is not required; a few weeks after the event, all of the completed requirements will be posted directly into Scoutbook by the merit badge counselor. Scouts will also receive a list of requirements completed before leaving the event.
Schedule
| Time |
Activity |
| 8:00 am |
Check-in |
| 8:25 am |
Opening ceremony |
| 8:30 am |
Morning classes begin |
| 11:30 pm |
Lunch |
| 12:00 pm |
Afternoon classes begin |
| 3:00 pm |
Cleanup |
| 3:30 pm |
Last pickup |
General Rules
- Scouts need to have read the merit badge pamphlet before Merit Badge Fair and be prepared for each of the requirements.
- Attendance in class does not mean a Scout will complete the merit badge.
- Scouts who do not complete all the requirements for a particular merit badge at Merit Badge Fair will need to complete the badge with a registered merit badge counselor approved for that particular badge back in their unit.
- Merit Badge Fair is not a program that guarantees advancement, but it is an opportunity for Scouts to meet with qualified counselors, to help them work on merit badges needed for advancement.
- Classes will not all end at the same time; therefore, Scouts will be required to go to a common activity area when their class concludes. Roaming of the halls and grounds will not be allowed.
- Scouts are not to leave the Merit Badge Fair without checking with the adult volunteer from their troop and the registration table.
- 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.
- Scouts who have not read the merit badge book and are not prepared for the class may be asked to leave the class.
- Scouts that do not behave appropriately in class will be asked to leave.
- There will be no refunds for those asked to leave a class because of failure to be prepared, wear their uniform, or because of behavior.
Event Volunteers
It is the purpose of the event to provide an exciting program for youth and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship and to develop personal fitness. Providing advancement opportunities is a primary part of this educational program. The Merit Badge Fair can only be offered to our Scouts if adults assist in running the event.
Volunteer
Unit Coordinator Each unit that sends Scouts
must have at least one adult on-site at all times to coordinate the unit's Scouts. The unit coordinators are encouraged to also help serve as event staff.
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. Your encouragement and occasional “refocusing of purpose” that Scouts your child’s age require will be invaluable. 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 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
myScouting.org.
Merit Badge Counselors 
Merit 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 with other troops with diverse occupations and skills. Participants will be expected to complete all the requirements as indicated by Scouting America. Merit badge counselors should wear their Scout uniform if possible.
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 Scout'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.
How to Register or Update a Registration
Scouting Safely
Scouting 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, please contact Merit Badge Day chair or the district activities chair