Troop 4 - Grapevine, Texas

HOW TO EARN A MERIT BADGE IN TROOP 4

1. Select a merit badge you want to work on. Decide what rank (Star, Life, Eagle) it will go under. Merit badges can be earned at any lower rank (Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class) however, only Star, Life, and Eagle ranks each require a certain number of Eagle required and optional merit badges for advancement. Eagle required merit badges are listed in your Scout Handbook.

2. Get a blue card from Advancement Chairperson, John Flynn. Have either the Scoutmaster, Jeff Carter, or one of the Assistant Scoutmasters sign the card. THE BLUE CARD MUST BE FILLED OUT WITH YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND TROOP NUMBER BEFORE YOU START A MERIT BADGE. BLUE CARDS WILL NOT BE GIVEN OUT AFTER A MERIT BADGE HAS BEEN STARTED OR FINISHED. Blue cards are usually not normally needed in advance for merit badges earned at summer camp, however each camp has its own policy.

3. Select a merit badge counselor from the list on the Troop 4 website http://www.troop4grapevine.com/merit.badges , unless you know of a registered counselor beforehand you are going to work with. Remember the BSA requirement of working with another scout or making sure two adults are present.

4. Your merit badge counselor may decide to keep your card until you complete the merit badge, or he or she may give it back to you to keep. If you keep it, it is your responsibility to keep up with it and not leave it at a troop meeting or somewhere it might get lost.

5. Once the merit badge requirements are completed, RETURN the blue card to the Advancement Chairperson, John Flynn, so it may be entered into your troop records.

6. The merit badge will be added to your troop record as soon as it is finished and recorded, however the badge itself will usually be given to you at the next Troop 4 court of honor.

7. Parents wanting to volunteer as merit badge counselors may obtain a MB counselor and adult BSA application at a troop meeting. If you so desire, you may request to work only with scouts in Troop 4. The application process is very easy.