Merit Badge Clinics
What is a Merit Badge Clinic? A Merit Badge Clinic is a District (or Troop)-sponsored gathering of qualified Merit Badge Counselors who put on intensive training sessions.
How long is a Merit Badge Clinic? It varies, but most clinics are single day sessions. Many of the simpler badges are 3-hour sessions. Moderate-difficulty badges can often be completed in a 6-hour session. Some MBCs span the course of a couple or few days, weeks, or even months.
Which badges are offered? Each clinic offers the badges that they have qualified counselors for.
Which badges can I complete? You can complete any badge offered. However, your Scoutmaster may prefer that certain badges are completed with your own troop.
Can I complete an Eagle-required badge at a clinic? You *can*. However, some Scoutmasters do not recommend this. Scouts should be confident that they have learned the material, whether at a clinic, camp, their troop, or on their own.
Does work that I’ve done before opening the blue card for the clinic, but since I became a Scout, count? The way the official rules read, yes. But remember that final decisions are the counselor’s. They may not be apt to count a field trip from three years ago that is undocumented. If you have something done for the badge, bring documentation (photos are great!).
Will I get a completed blue card? That depends upon you and the counselor. In some cases, there are requirements that cannot be completed at a clinic, or there isn’t time to do it properly. The counselor may issue a “partial”. A partial can be completed through the counselor at another time to be arranged. Or, if your troop has a counselor for that badge, the counselor may choose to accept what you’ve done and finish it with you (or he may choose not to). Additionally, many clinics offer Merit Badge Midways with instructors who are qualified for most badges (generally Scoutmasters) and who will finish the badge with you.
What do I do afterward? Bring your completed Blue Card to the Scoutmaster who will sign it and turn it over to the Advancement Coordinator.
How can I find a Merit Badge Clinic in my area? See the section below. For out-of-area clinics, the best place to look is MeritBadge.info. (It’s also a great place to advertise YOUR clinic.)
Merit Badge Clinics are a great way to earn badges. Just be careful that they’re EARNED.
Merit Badge Clinics in the area
Held annually, unless otherwise noted:
January
Merit Badge Clinic – (Poulsbo) Hosted by Orca District of the Seattle Council.
March
Merit Badge Mania – (Chimakum) Hosted by Mt. Olympus District
Merit Badge Extravaganza – (Fire Mountain) Hosted by Fire Mtn. Scout Camp
May
Spring Merit Badge Jumboree – (Maple Valley) Hosted by the Aquila District of the Seattle Council. Contact Mr. Burrage for more information.
June
28 Merit Badge Clinic – (Sequim) Hosted by Mt. Olympus District
September
Spruce Goose Merit Badge University – (McMinnville, OR) Hosted by the Evergreen Aviation Museum. Yes, it’s a 4-hour drive. It is COMPLETELY WORTH IT. Sign up early, and make a weekend out of it.
October
Fall Merit Badge Jumboree – (Maple Valley) Hosted by the Aquila District of the Seattle Council.
December
Winter Break Merit Badge Clinic – (Bremerton) Hosted by the Bremerton LDS Stake.
Quarterly (scheduled – Jan 24 2009; April 18, 2009) – Merit Badge PowWow – (Lacey) Hosted by the Sasquatch District of PHC
December 30th, 2009 at 5:36 am
[...] taught at a Merit Badge Clinic this past weekend, and observed in a few other classes. While most Scouts practice what they [...]