Materials:
- Troop Flag with Flagpole
- U.S. Flag with Flagpole
Personnel:
- Troop Committee Chairman Dave Holderread
Setting: A table is set at the front of the room. Two flagpoles are placed on either side of the table holding the U.S. flag and the troop flag. The troop flag is posted on the flagpole to the right end of the table (from the point of view of the audience). The U.S. flag is posted on the flagpole to the left end of the table (from the point of view of the audience).
Dave Holderread is standing in front of the table.
Merit Badge Ceremony
Dave Holderread says:
"We wish to recognize the Scouts of Troop 316 for the Merit Badges which they have earned since our last quarterly Court of Honor on March 19.Tonight, since we do not have any rank advancements to recognize, we will not be having our standard program for our quarterly Court of Honor. Instead, before I ask the Scouts to come forward, I would like to say a few words about the Merit Badge Program.
What Is a Merit Badge?
A merit badge is an award that is presented to a Scout when he completes the requirements for one of the merit badge subjects. The badge is a small piece of khaki cloth with a design embroidered in color.
Scouts can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as they earn these merit badges. There are more than 100 merit badges. Any Boy Scout may earn any merit badge at any time. You don't need to have had rank advancement to be eligible.
The steps that a Scout follows to earn a merit badge are summarized in the Boy Scout Handbook, on page 187 of the current edition. If you have your handbook with you now, turn to page 187 and follow along with me as I go over these steps.
- Pick a Subject.
- Obtain from your Scoutmaster a signed merit badge application (blue card) and the name of a qualified counselor for that merit badge.
- Along with another Scout, a relative, or a friend, set up and attend your first appointment with the merit badge counselor.
- Complete the requirements, meeting with your counselor whenever necessary until you have finished working on the badge.
Merit badge counselors are the key to success in the merit badge plan. They offer their time, experience, and knowledge to help guide Scouts in one or more of the merit badge subjects.
The counselor's responsibility is to
- Assist the Scout as he plans the assigned projects and activities to meet the merit badge requirements.
- Coach Scouts through interviews and demonstrations on how to do the required skills of the craft, business, or hobby.
- Certify the Scout after determining whether he is qualified for the merit badge.
It is in the career fields that adults can make a vital impact on the life of a Scout by helping him with merit badges. Badges such as Entrepreneurship, Graphic Arts, Engineering, Chemistry, and many others provide the finest kind of orientation toward a possible career for the Scout.
Merit badge counselors provide the means for Scouts to explore many subjects that may not be available to them otherwise. The Scout who has earned a number of merit badges gains confidence, finds greater purpose in life, and becomes a better person from his experience. This cannot happen without the service of thousands of merit badge counselors expert in particular subjects and interested in helping Scouts grow into men of character who are ready to take their place in the world of work as participating citizens."
Dave asks the following Scouts to come forward to stand next to him in front of the table:
Dave reviews the merit badges which each of these Scouts have earned.
The audience applauds each one of the Scouts for his achievements.
Dave says:
"Scouts, you may return to your seats."
Dave takes his seat in the audience.
Last revised 05/15/02