May 17, 2024 | 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Location TBD
The Merit Badge Fair is an opportunity for Scouts in troops, crews or ships to work towards one or two merit badges. These are not give-away merit badges, and this is not a merit badge factory. Each Scout is expected to fulfill all the requirements by reading the merit badge book ahead of time, attending classes and doing prerequisites. Scouts are expected to participate fully during the class in order to receive full credit for the requirements completed onsite.
Adult volunteers are required to offer this event. Every unit with Scouts participating is expected to provide volunteers.
What to Bring
Registration
The registration fee is $16.50 for the first Scout and $15 for each additional Scout who registers at the same time. Lunch is included. (How to register.)
Important: Before registering, check the school and troop calendar for conflicts. Check which merit badges the Scout has already completed. The Scout should discuss which merit badges they should sign up for with their Scoutmaster or troop advancement chair.
Have the Scout's BSA ID number ready before registering. The Scout is critical to identifying the Scouts in Scoutbook to ensure the Scout gets credit for requirements completed. The BSA ID number can be found: • Scoutbook (1. click on My Dashboard, 2. for a Scout - click on name of Scout, or for adult - click on My Account, 3. select Edit Profile), • MyScouting.org (1. click on the upper right icon 2. select My Profile), • BSA membership card, • ask the unit leader to check the unit roster
Changes: Class changes can be made after registering using the link provided in the emailed receipt.
Registration is completed online using credit card or electronic check. Registration closes 4/6/22. There is no onsite registration. Council refund policy.
Register Volunteer Sign-up Event Feedback
Merit Badges and Prerequisites
Some of the merit badges cannot be completed in the time we have which will result in a partial completion of the merit badge. Uncompleted requirements and/or prerequisites will be addressed by the respective Scouts and troops. There may be some requirements in addition to the prerequisites that are not completed. For all merit badges, the Scout must read the merit badge book prior to the event and take it to the class.
An Application for Merit Badges (blue cards) is not required; a few weeks after the event, all of the completed requirements will be posted directly into Scoutbook by the merit badge counselor. Scouts will also receive a list of requirements completed before leaving the event.
Merit Badges
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AM
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PM
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Prerequisites and Partials
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| TBD
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How to Register
Change Merit Badge Classes
To modify your registration:
- Logon to https://samhoustonbsa.doubleknot.com/signon/2561.
- To obtain your User ID and Password, select the Need help logging on? link.
- Follow the prompts to obtain the password and logon to Doubleknot.
- Logging in will bring you to the Summary tab showing your current registration, reservations and/or memberships.
- Click on the desired action button to make a payment or view the details and update the registration. Please note that changes to a registration may be restricted after a certain date, so the update action may not appear. Also, some classes might be full.
What to Bring
Schedule
| Time
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Activity
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| 8:00 am
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Check-in
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| 8:30 pm
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Morning classes
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| 12:00 pm
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Lunch (provided)
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| 1:00
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Afternoon classes
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| 4:30
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Cleanup
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General Rules
- Scouts need to have read the merit badge pamphlet before Merit Badge Fair and be prepared for each of the requirements.
- Attendance in class does not mean a Scout will complete the merit badge.
- Scouts who do not complete all the requirements for a particular merit badge at Merit Badge Fair will need to complete the badge with a registered merit badge counselor approved for that particular badge back in their unit.
- Merit Badge Fair is not a program that guarantees advancement, but it is an opportunity for Scouts to meet with qualified counselors, to help them work on merit badges needed for advancement.
- Classes will not all end at the same time; therefore, Scouts will be required to go to a common activity area when their class concludes. Roaming of the halls and grounds will not be allowed.
- Scouts are not to leave the Merit Badge Fair without checking with the adult volunteer from their troop and the registration table.
- If a Scout is unable to attend once registered, please use the link provided in the emailed receipt to delete the class so a spot can be opened up for another Scout. Council Refund Policy.
- Scouts who have not read the merit badge book and are not prepared for the class may be asked to leave the class.
- Scouts that do not behave appropriately in class will be asked to leave.
- There will be no refunds for those asked to leave a class because of failure to be prepared, wear their uniform, or because of behavior.
Event Volunteers
It is the purpose of the event to provide an exciting program for youth and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship and to develop personal fitness. Providing advancement opportunities is a primary part of this educational program. The Merit Badge Fair can only be offered to our Scouts if adults assist in running the event.
Volunteer
Unit Coordinator Each unit that sends Scouts
must have at least one adult on-site at all times to coordinate the unit's Scouts. The unit coordinators are encouraged to also help serve as event staff.
Event Staff Successful Scouts have the support and guidance of parents. The parents are a treasure trove of information that can benefit every youth in our leadership program. Your encouragement and occasional “refocusing of purpose” that Scouts your child’s age require will be invaluable. The successful leader in Scouts learns quickly to be successful in everything they attempt.
Adults are needed to set up the facilities before the fair starts, handle registration, act as "roamers" to look out for issues that need to be resolved, assist the merit badge counselors, and to help clean-up after the event is over. Volunteers who work directly with the youth must have current Youth Protection Training. YPT can be taken at
www.myScouting.org.
Merit Badge Counselors 
Merit badge counselors are needed to run the merit badge classes. Merit badge counselors must be registered with the council and have up to date Youth Protection Training. YPT can be taken at
www.myScouting.org. It is our goal for the Scouts to be afforded opportunities to share resources from other troops with diverse occupations and skills. Participants will be expected to complete all the requirements as indicated by the Boy Scouts of America. Merit badge counselors should wear their Scout uniform if possible.
The
merit badge counselor is a key player in the advancement program. Whatever your area of expertise or interest—whether it is a special craft or hobby (basketry, leatherwork, coin collecting), a profession (veterinary medicine, aviation, engineering), or perhaps a life skill (cooking, personal management, communications)—as a merit badge counselor, you can play a vital role in stirring a young Scout's curiosity about that particular topic. By serving as a merit badge counselor, you offer your time, knowledge, and other resources so that Scouts can explore a topic of interest
Scouting Safely
The BSA's Commitment to Safety is ongoing and we want you to know that the safety of our youth, volunteers, staff, and employees cannot be compromised. The Boy Scouts of America puts the utmost importance on the 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.
BSA 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 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 a Scout activity, the BSA National Health and Safety Committee and the Council Services Division of the BSA National Council have developed the "Sweet Sixteen" of BSA safety procedures for physical activity. These 16 points, which embody good judgment and common sense, are applicable to all activities.
Youth Protection Guidelines Guide to Safe Scouting Sweet Sixteen Enterprise Risk Management
Contacts
For questions, please contact TBD.