Merit badge miscellany

7.0.4.0. A merit badge question the blue card process does not answer Milestone

The Guide collects these under one heading and gives no order between them. Each branch below is an independent answer to an independent question.

7.0.4.6. If a Scout ignored a procedure that had been made clear Approval

Then the unit leader may require the youth to work with another counselor who is properly documented and who will verify or ensure the requirements are met. The leader should discuss possible follow-up counselors with the Scout and provide the name of at least one.

7.0.4.7. Act within 30 days of discovery Often forgotten Event

Unit leaders who find it necessary to use this recourse must act quickly, and if possible within 30 days of discovery. It is inappropriate to delay a Scout's advancement with anything less than a prompt decision.

30 days from discovery, if possible. Beyond that, a Scout or family who has had no reasonable explanation for the delay may take it to the unit committee, so the deadline protects the Scout rather than the leader.

7.0.4.7. If the family disagrees, or 30 days pass without a decision Task

Scouts or their parents or guardians who believe a unit leader has wrongly decided a badge was not earned, or who have waited more than 30 days without a reasonable explanation, should address their concerns with the unit committee. The Guide asks them first to understand the requirements thoroughly, and that each must be passed exactly as written.

7.0.4.7. Report a merit badge program that does not uphold the standards Recommended Document

Unit leaders are strongly encouraged to report the incident to the council advancement committee, preferably on the form in the Guide's appendix, "Reporting Merit Badge Counseling Concerns".

7.0.4.1. Suggesting a new badge, or a change to one Optional Task

Suggestions for new merit badges, and comments on existing ones, go to merit.badge@scouting.org. Ideas are researched for relevance to the mission and to the needs of today's youth and families, and the process has often involved presenting submissions to a youth panel.

7.0.4.3. The requirements changed Decision

Two things decide the answer: whether the Scout had already begun, and where the change was published first.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.0. A merit badge question the blue card process does not answer.

7.0.4.4. The badge was discontinued Decision

A stricter rule than a changed requirement, and one that turns on how much work had genuinely been done before discontinuation took effect.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.0. A merit badge question the blue card process does not answer.

Discontinued is stricter than revised, and the two get confused. When Scouting America announces updated requirements for a badge, Scouts may carry on with the version they started unless the announcement says otherwise, for example because of a safety concern. When a badge is discontinued, nobody new may start it at all.

7.0.4.6. Once it is earned, it is earned Requirement

A Scout who has earned a badge from a registered and approved counselor by actually and personally fulfilling the requirements as written has met the purpose of the program. The badge is kept and counts toward advancement.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.0. A merit badge question the blue card process does not answer.

7.0.4.7. A badge that could not actually have been earned Decision

The Guide's own example: a Scout returning from summer camp or a merit badge fair with evidence for an extraordinary number of badges. This is the one procedure in the section, and the Guide fences it on every side.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.0. A merit badge question the blue card process does not answer.

Read the whole branch before starting it. The Guide surrounds this procedure with limits, and a unit leader who begins at the conversation without having consulted the camp or the counselor first has skipped the step that makes the rest legitimate.

7.0.4.8. Unofficial worksheets and learning aids Optional Requirement

Materials from unofficial sources are permissible as long as they can be correlated with the current requirements a Scout must fulfil.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.0. A merit badge question the blue card process does not answer.

7.0.4.9. Merit badges through an organisation that is not Scouting Decision

Zoos, museums, recreation centres, large home improvement stores, individuals. Whether council approval is needed turns on one distinction: is fulfilling merit badge requirements incidental to the programme, or is the programme largely for the purpose of offering merit badges?

Usually comes after 7.0.4.0. A merit badge question the blue card process does not answer.

7.0.4.11. Most "prerequisites" are not prerequisites Often forgotten Requirement

A requirement that names another merit badge is only a prerequisite if it says the other badge must be earned first. Otherwise it is just another requirement, and it may be fulfilled in any order.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.0. A merit badge question the blue card process does not answer.

7.0.4.5. Choosing Eagle-required badges for Star or Life Requirement

Candidates for Star and Life, selecting "any four" and "any three" respectively of the merit badges required for Eagle, may choose from all those listed, including where alternatives are available.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.0. A merit badge question the blue card process does not answer.

7.0.4.3. Requirements and their changes live on the Merit Badges web page Requirement

That page is the reference point for the whole topic. A change that has reached it is in force for anyone beginning work.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.3. The requirements changed.

7.0.4.4. Nobody may BEGIN a discontinued merit badge May not apply Requirement

Stated without qualification. Scouts are not allowed to begin work on discontinued merit badges.

You have not answered "Had the Scout already begun work on the badge?" yet.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.4. The badge was discontinued.

7.0.4.4. Actual and purposeful effort, more than incidental May not apply Often forgotten Requirement

The test for work already begun. Effort that is more than simply incidental to participation in Scouting activities must have started by the time discontinuation becomes effective, and work must actively continue.

You have not answered "Had the Scout already begun work on the badge?" yet.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.4. The badge was discontinued.

7.0.4.6. The same holds if the counselor turned out not to be registered Often forgotten Requirement

Where a Scout, without intent to violate procedure, fulfilled the requirements with someone not registered and approved, the badge still stands. The Guide gives the example: a counselor inadvertently dropped from a charter, or whose membership had expired, but who remained on an approved list.

This is the one that gets units into trouble both ways. A badge earned in good faith from someone who had quietly dropped off a charter still stands, and stripping it is not an available response. What is available is telling the council so the counselor list can be put right.

7.0.4.7. Reserved for clear and evident cases Requirement

The Guide asks that it be a rare occurrence, on the principle that Scouts are not penalised for the mistakes of adults. The procedure is limited to clear and evident cases of noncompletion or nonparticipation.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.7. A badge that could not actually have been earned.

7.0.4.9. Incidental: permitted, and not a Scouting activity Approval

A recreation centre or school may run a computer camp to teach coding, charge for it, and mention that participants may fulfil some Programming merit badge requirements. That some requirements might be met does not make it a Scouting activity, so it needs no Scouting America approval.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.9. Merit badges through an organisation that is not Scouting.

7.0.4.9. Largely for the purpose of offering merit badges: council approval Often forgotten Approval

Outside organisations and businesses may not present classes, events or similar activities largely for the purpose of offering merit badges, even where no fee is involved, without approval from the local council. The Guide's own example is that the recreation centre could not run a "Sports merit badge camp" without permission.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.9. Merit badges through an organisation that is not Scouting.

The same recreation centre may not run a "Sports merit badge camp" without permission from the local council. That is the Guide's own example of the line being crossed, and it is crossed even when nothing is charged.

7.0.4.11. One that really is: Swimming before Scuba Diving Requirement

Requirement 2 for Scuba Diving states that the Scout must earn the Swimming merit badge before completing the remaining requirements. That is the wording that makes a prerequisite.

7.0.4.3. Not begun: the new requirement applies May not apply Requirement

Once new or revised requirements appear on the web page, any Scout beginning work on that merit badge must use them.

You have not answered "Had the Scout already begun work on the badge?" yet.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.3. Requirements and their changes live on the Merit Badges web page.

7.0.4.3. Already begun: the old requirements may be finished May not apply Requirement

Scouts who have started work on a merit badge under the old requirements may finish using the old requirements.

You have not answered "Had the Scout already begun work on the badge?" yet.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.3. Requirements and their changes live on the Merit Badges web page.

7.0.4.3. Announced in a pamphlet or handbook first: there is a window May not apply Often forgotten Requirement

Changes may appear in a revised pamphlet, a youth handbook or another official release before reaching the web page. Unless official communications set a different procedure or a date, youth have through 31 December of that year to decide: carry on or begin under the old requirements, or switch to or begin under the new.

You have not answered "Where did the change appear first?" yet.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.3. Requirements and their changes live on the Merit Badges web page.

31 December of the year the change is announced. A Scout who has chosen the old requirements may keep using them until the badge is finished. A Scout who has not begun by that date must use the new ones. The window only exists where the change appeared outside the Merit Badges web page first, and only where official communications have not set a different date.

7.0.4.4. Then it may be completed, and it counts toward rank May not apply Approval

Where that test is met, the badge may be finished and can count toward rank advancement.

You have not answered "Had the Scout already begun work on the badge?" yet.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.4. Actual and purposeful effort, more than incidental.

7.0.4.6. Report unregistered sign-offs so they can be followed up Task

Where it is discovered that unregistered or unapproved individuals are signing off merit badges, that should go to the council or district advancement committee. Unit leaders also have a part in helping Scouts understand that only registered and approved counselors are to be used.

7.0.4.7. What this procedure is NOT for Often forgotten Requirement

Not an opportunity for retesting. Not for interjecting another set of standards over those of a merit badge counselor. Not for debating whether a Scout was strong enough, mature enough or old enough to have completed the requirements.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.7. Reserved for clear and evident cases.

Three things this cannot be used for, and all three happen. It is not retesting. It is not a chance to apply a stricter standard than the counselor did. And it is not a way to argue that a Scout was too young, too small or too immature to have done the work.

7.0.4.10. Fees may recover direct costs and nothing more Requirement

Charging for merit badge fairs, clinics or similar events is not prohibited, but any fee must be limited to recovering the direct costs of presenting the opportunity. Councils and districts may include a reasonable contribution to overhead and administrative costs.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.9. Largely for the purpose of offering merit badges: council approval.

7.0.4.4. A version that can no longer be recorded digitally is tracked by hand Task

Merit badge versions no longer available for advancement recording in Scoutbook Plus or the Scouting App have to be tracked independently. When every requirement from that version is complete, a final completion date may be recorded without recording the individual requirements.

7.0.4.7. Consult the people involved first Task

Before anything else, consult those involved in the merit badge program: an event coordinator, the camp director, or a merit badge counselor. The recourse below becomes available only if it then becomes plainly evident the youth could not have actually and personally fulfilled the requirements as written.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.7. What this procedure is NOT for.

7.0.4.7. The unit leader talks with the Scout, with an observer present Task

In a positive environment similar to that of a unit leader conference, the unit leader discusses the circumstances under which the badge was approved. A parent or an assistant unit leader should attend as an observer.

7.0.4.7. The Scout must NOT be retested Often forgotten Requirement

Stated plainly and it governs the whole conversation. What may be established is whether the Scout attended and actually and personally fulfilled the requirements, not whether they can perform them again now.

The single most commonly broken rule in this procedure. Asking a Scout to demonstrate the skill again is retesting, however it is framed. The permitted questions are about what happened at the class, not about what the Scout can do now.

7.0.4.7. If it remains clear the requirements could not have been met Approval

Then the merit badge is not reported and not awarded, and it does not count toward advancement. In most cases, the Guide says, a fair and friendly approach means a Scout who did not complete the requirements will say so.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.7. The Scout must NOT be retested.

7.0.4.7. Offer the name of at least one other counselor Task

The unit leader then offers the name of at least one other merit badge counselor through whom any incomplete requirements may be finished. The outcome is a route to completing the badge, not the end of it.

Usually comes after 7.0.4.7. If it remains clear the requirements could not have been met.