Orion District Merit Badge University

February TBD, 2025   |  9 am - 4 pm

Lone Star College - Beckendorf Conference Center
30555 Tomball Pkwy
Tomball, TX 77375

8:00 am (check-in)

Merit Badge University is an advancement opportunity open to Scouts in troops, crews or ships. A Scout has the opportunity to work on requirements for several 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.

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

        What to Bring        Prerequisites

Registration

The registration fee is $26.50 and covers an event patch and lunch. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Merit badge class sizes are limited. 

Due to the popularity and availability of counselors, some classes will fill up quickly. Scouts who register early have the best chance of getting their desired classes. Class sizes are limited. 

Important: Before registering, check your Scout's school and troop calendar for conflicts. 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.  

Registration is typically completed by parents but can also be completed by the troop leadership (how to register). Pay online with a credit card, or electronic check. Council refund policy.

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

Registration (postponed)       What to Bring  

Classes and Prerequisites

What to Bring

Check-in and Arrival

• Check-in will be held in the Beckendorf Conference center at Lonestar College (30555 Tomball Parkway, Tomball, 77375) between 8-8:45 am. Enter the North entrance at SH 249 and Zion Road.  Look for the flag poles to your left as you enter the campus.
• Check-in will start at 8 am and classes start at 9 am.  Scouts check in individually by last name, not by troop. Only Scouts should enter the check-in lines to avoid congestion.
• Lunches are scheduled at 11:00 am, 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm.  Scouts should pick up lunches in the conference center, behind the check-in area.
• Lost lunch tickets cannot be replaced.  Scouts should write their name on the back of their ticket after check-in.
• What to Bring 
• Prerequisites      

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. 

Blue Cards (Application For Merit Badge)

 The Application For Merit Badge or Blue card is a two-sided, tri-section document. It is a perforated trifold card with three distinct parts: the actual application, the applicant’s (Scout’s) record and the counselor’s record. The document serves as a sort of passport while a Scout is working on a badge and then later as a permanent record. Blue cards are an official document that serves as a record of progress toward completion of a merit badge. There are two official ways to complete blue cards: on paper and online utilizing Scoutbook.

Scouts must bring a blue card for each merit badge class signed by the Scoutmaster. Learn how to fill out a blue card. 

Advancements Completed: The merit badge counselor will document all requirements completed on the blue card and return it to the Scout before the Scout leaves the class; the Scout needs turns the blue card back to the unit leader after the event. If the Scout ends up with a partial and working with more than one counselor, multiple registered counselors can sign the card. Keeping up with the blue card helps the Scout learn personal responsibility.

Learn More about Blue Cards

What Are the STEM Nova Awards?

Scouting America developed the STEM Nova Awards program to excite and expand a sense of wonder in our Scouts. By working with an adult counselor or mentor, the various modules allow them to explore the basic principles of STEM and discover how fun and fascinating STEM can be. 

How to Register

How  to Change Merit Badge Classes

Event Volunteers

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

Late-Breaking Information

Late-breaking news and announcements will be emailed to those registered and posted on the Orion District Facebook page.

Please like our page at www.facebook.com/orionbsa. Invite parents and Scouters in the district to like our page. Units and Scouters can tag us (@orionbsa), and message pictures. To make sure you never miss a post, after liking the page, click on 'Following' and 'See First.' To help us promote Scouting, please engage with our content by liking, commenting and sharing our posts.

For additional district communications, sign up for the Orion District newsletter.

For additional council information, sign up for the eScouter and follow the Sam Houston Area Council Facebook page. Tag the council (@shac.bsa) and send them pics of your Scouting memories.

Orion District Facebook    Orion District Newsletter    SHAC Facebook    

Contacts

For questions, contact the event chair or district activities chair.