Twin Bayou District Merit Badge Fair

October 18, 2025  |  8:00 am - 4:00 pm

St. Thomas High School, 4500 Memorial Dr., Houston

The Merit Badge Fair is an opportunity for Scouts in troops, crews or ships to work on requirements for one or two merit badges. These are not giveaway merit badges. Each Scout is expected to fulfill all the requirements by reading the merit badge book before the event, attending the class, completing prerequisites, and participating fully during the class to receive full credit for the requirements offered. For participants who provided accurate first and last names and member ID, the merit badge completion will be uploaded into Scoutbook a few weeks after the event. Additional merit badge class opportunities are listed on the Council Scout Days webpage and Merit Badge Days.

Adult participation is needed to offer this event. Every unit with Scouts participating is expected to provide volunteers. Every unit must have a representative from the troop remain on campus during the event. Representatives can switch out during the day but must check in at headquarters. Troops that have six Scouts attending must provide at least one merit badge counselor.

Troops who provide merit badge counselors for the event will be allowed to allow Scouts in their unit to register early, before registration opens to other units. Due to overwhelming popularity, registrations per troop are limited to allow all units the opportunity to register. 

Volunteer

Registration

The registration fee is $30 per Scout for the Merit Badge Fair and includes lunch and supply costs. Lunch will be a Chick-fil-A sandwich, a bottle of water, and chips. A vegetarian and gluten-free option is available. 

• Registration is completed by parents. Registration is completed online with a credit card or electronic check. Council refund policy. 
• Due to the high demand and limited 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. 
• Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. All class sizes are limited. Full classes will not show in the registration system.
• Important: Before registering, read the prerequisites below. Check your Scout's school and troop calendar for conflicts. Check which merit badges the Scout has already completed. 
• New:  Before attending a merit badge opportunity, "a Scout must meet with their unit leader or their delegate … this meeting is a required part of the merit badge process, and that it should be documented … in Scoutbook Plus or other method.” (Source, p.40, 7.0.0.3). Have the Scout discuss which merit badges they should sign up for with their Scoutmaster. 
• Member ID Number: Have the Scout's Member ID number ready before registering. The ID number can be found in Scoutbook (click on My Dashboard, then click on the name of Scout and select Edit Profile).
• Changes: Class changes can be made after registering by going to https://scoutingevent.com/000/Login (click on profile name at the top right) or using the link in the emailed receipt. See the instructions below.
• There is no onsite registration. You must register online before the event.

Register (opens Oct 1^st at 6:00 am)                 What to Bring         Volunteer         Drop off     

2025 Classes and Prerequisites 

*Classes and schedules will be finalized as the event approaches

Merit Badge Classes (click on class for requirements)	AM	PM	Full Day	Status (as of Oct 14)	Prerequisites, Requirements Not Covered, Additional Items to Bring
American Business	♦				• Prerequisite: Read merit badge pamphlet • Requirements not covered: TBD • Bring: prepare using American Business Workbook
Camping			♦		• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: #4b, 5e, 7b, 8c, 8d, 9a, 9b, 9c, 10; • Bring: prepare using the Camping Worksheet
Citizenship in the Community	♦	♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: #2, 3, 4, 7 • Bring #2 (community map and government chart) • Bring: prepare using the Citizenship in the Community Worksheet
Citizenship in the World	♦	♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge pamphlet. Prepare #3 (a current world event or geography topic to discuss during class). • Not covered: #7 (and #3, 4 if not prepared) • Bring #3, 4, 7 • Bring: prepare using Citizenship in the World Worksheet
Communication		♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Prerequisite: Prepare and practice #3 (800+ words depending on rate of speaking) • Requirements not covered: #6, 7, 8 • Bring: prepare using Communication Workbook
Entrepreneurship	♦				• Prerequisite: Read merit badge pamphlet. • Requirements not covered: #3, 4 • Bring: prepare using Entrepreneurship Workbook
Family Life	♦	♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge pamphlet • Requirements not covered: ​#3, 4, 5, 6b • Bring: prepare using Family LIfe Worksheet
Fishing	♦	♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Not covered:  #10 might not be completed if fish isn't caught
Genealogy	♦	♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge pamphlet. • Requirements not covered: #2, 4b, 5
Personal Fitness	♦	♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge pamphlet • Not covered #1, 7, 8 • Bring: highly recommend preparing & bringing completed worksheet • Bring: Annual Health and Medical Record (Part A, B, C entitled Are You Going to Camp?) which requires a physical signed by a physician • Wear activity uniform (e.g., Scout shirt) and appropriate clothes for the fitness test including tennis shoes; prepare using Personal Fitness Worksheet
Personal Management	♦	♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge pamphlet. • Requirements not covered: #2, 8 • Bring: highly recommend preparing & bringing completed worksheet
Textiles	♦				• Prerequisite: Read merit badge pamphlet • Bring: completed worksheet
Packet Drop Off (complete all requirements at home and drop them off at check-in for review)
Pets^					• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Bring all requirements in an envelope, folder or notebook clearly marked with the Scout's name. Please type answers; using the Pets Worksheet is encouraged. • Special Instructions: Drop off requirements at check-in before 9 am for review by the merit badge counselor and pick up after the event.
Scouting Heritage^					• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Bring all requirements in an envelope, folder or notebook clearly marked with the Scout's name. Please type answers; using the Scouting Heritage Worksheet is encouraged. • Special Instructions: Drop off requirements at check-in before 9 am 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 #1 (copy of report card), #3 (letter from principal/counselor), #5 (report). Please type answers; using the Scouting Heritage Worksheet is encouraged. • Special Instructions: Drop off requirements at check-in before 9 am for review by the merit badge counselor and pick up after the event.

^For the Packet Drop-off Merit Badge, complete all requirements at home and drop them off.
*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 required more preparation (e.g., completing the worksheet).

What to Bring

• Copy of the Annual Health and Medical Record* (Part A & B for any Scouting event) for every person attending. Do not bring originals.
• For every merit badge class:
  ⇒ Merit badge book, read each merit badge book
  ⇒ Proof of completed prerequisites and any items noted to bring
  ⇒ Documentation of any requirements not covered (optional, but highly recommended; learn more about partials)
  ⇒ Merit Badge Worksheets for each class (optional, but are highly recommended to help Scouts prepare)
  ⇒ Blue cards are not needed.
• Scouts are encouraged to wear their field uniform (Scout uniform)
• Note-taking materials and writing utensils
• Filled water bottle and snacks 

Drop off / Pick up

Please enter on Memorial Dr. by the parking garage and proceed to the Main Building. Continue the flow to exit on Shepard. 
Parking: Participants may be able to use the parking garage on the Memorial side. Incorrectly parked vehicles may be subject to St. Thomas's regulations. Please park only in designated spaces.

Before leaving campus, let your troop representative know. In the event you cannot find them, please let the organizers know before leaving. 

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 are available online or 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. Partials will be noted on the documentation provided after the course. 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. 

Event Volunteers

One adult volunteer per troop should remain on-site for the duration of the event. If you need to share this role with another adult, please let the check-In table know when you are switching. All adult volunteers need to visit the check-in table upon arrival and departure. 

Merit Badge Completions 

A few weeks after the event, all of the completed requirements will be posted in BlackPug, the registration site. The Scoutmaster, committee chair, or registrant contact (i.e., person who registered the unit for the event) can log in to BlackPug and view the reports.

How to Pull Advancement Reports

• Go to https://scoutingevent.com/000/Login/ 
• Click on profile name (top right)
• Click on View Activity (tabs: Summer Camp & Activities or Year Round Camping)
• Select the activity
• Click on Reports Tab (provide these reports to the unit advancement chair)
  ⇒ Unit Advancement Summary: summarizes all advancements completed at camp  (e.g., merit badges, rank advancements)
  ⇒ Unit Advancement Detail: list of all advancements completed at camp in a grid  (one page per Scout)
  ⇒ Scoutbook Export: is a report of all merit badge completions that can be uploaded into Scoutbook.  Note: rank advancements have to be entered manually. This report exports merit badge data in Scoutbook format using Scoutbook's "advancement.csv" template. Chrome Users - an extension is available that allows direct import of this data into Scoutbook. This extension can be obtained here: Feature Assistant Extension for Scoutbook. Firefox Users - a similar extension for Firefox can be obtained here: Feature Assistant - Scoutbook. A document describing the upload process can be found here: Importing Summer Camp Data from Black Pug Software
• Video: How to view Reports  

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 cause injury to 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 the Merit Badge Day chair or district activities chair.