Merit Badge Clinic Organization

From: Jim Mills asmwest@cyberg8t.com
http://www.asmwest.com/scout588/troop588.html

Steve,

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to review the tremendous collection of Scouting Information at your site. In my short time of surfing the Web during the last couple of weeks, I find that your site was one of the best with regard to useful Scouting information.

With that in mind I would like to give something back. I've not yet gotten enough information of the proper software to set up a site of my own. If you have any suggestions along these lines, please send me a message through America On Line, jamwin@aol.com.

The one are that I can share useful information is regard to Merit Badge Clinics. While my son was moving toward Eagle, I became somewhat critical of the quality of information that the Scouts received when pursuing merit badges at the one-day clinics where several merit badges could be earned. So, I decided to do something about it in a small way.

My contention is that the merit badge should be fun, informative, and something the Scout will carry with him for the rest of his life.

Scouts tend to become bored and fidget during presentations in a classroom environment and can't even remember the content of the course after the receive their merit badges.

We selected two low-key merit badges (Metals Engineering and Home Repairs) to illustrate the value of quality merit badge program.. the Metals Badge was produced a little over two years ago and received accolades from the Scout Council, the community, the Scouts, the Leaders and the Parents. The second one with Home Repairs was produced last year with similar results..

The clinics work this way: We set up a round robin environment with the requirements of the merit badge divided into sections and set up at separate stations at the clinic location. Individual counselors man each station. The Scouts spend anywhere from 25 to 30 minutes at each station. Everyone rotates to their next station simultaneously on a given signal. They have 5 minutes to get to their next station. There are plenty of hands on activities.. the scouts are not sitting in one location for very long (they don't get bored)... the scouts do not lose interest from listening to the same voice over an extended period of time.

We provide a lunch break (can be sponsored through the Chartered Organization), and handouts with promotional items are given to the attendees at the conclusion of the Clinic.

The Metals Engineering Clinic was held at Don Bosco Technical Institute (A technical education high school with substantial laboratories and classrooms), and the Home Repairs Clinic was held at ACE Hardware (a large hardware store that sold all the components required to work the Merit Badge).

Included are a collection of the flyers (minus graphics), worksheets and guidelines for the Home Repairs Clinic. I hope this will be helpful and informative to someone. Our next intended clinic will be on Computers.

Thanks once again.

Jim Mills
jamwin@aol.com

Home Repairs Merit Badge Clinic

HOME IMPROVEMENT DAYS

You are invited to participate in a very unique Merit Badge Clinic for the Home Repairs Merit badge. This event is sponsored by Troop 567 of the Boy Scouts of America and the Exchange Club of Fontana. The clinic will be open to the first 100 Scouts contacting the Old Baldy Council of the Boy Scouts of America located 1047 W. 6th Street in Ontario, 909/983-4534. Any other information may contacting the Clinic Director, Jim Mills through the Old Baldy Council

This will be a hands-on clinic... Special guests will be announced... Lunch will be provided. A total of 6 counselors will we working with the Scouts and will provide them with the benefit of their knowledge.

Concurrent with the Merit Badge activities a class will be held on Youth Protection Training for the first 25 Adult leaders to sign-up. Coffee and Doughnuts will be provided.

We wish to thank Chuck Pagano, owner of Foothill Builders Mart for his help in setting up the clinic, coordinating the manpower, and for providing the location and materials.

LOCATION:

Ace Hardware (Foothill Builders Mart)
15825 Foothill Boulevard (Just West of Citrus)
Fontana, CA 92335
Phone: 909/829-2929

DATE: Saturday, October 15, 1994
TIME: 8:30 A.M. Registration (Please be prompt). Clinic starts at 9:00 A.M.
REQUIREMENTS: Cost is $5.00 per scout payable to the Boy Scouts of America.... Class A Uniform.
PREREQUISITES:

Bring signed Blue Cards...
and complete at least two of the requirements from the Merit Badge Booklet (All requirements are listed in front of the Merit Badge Booklet), except the following: 1, 2, 3,13,14,15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28...
Bring written descriptions of work completed which has been signed by their Scoutmaster.

8:30 Registration Opens

9:00 - 9:25 Introductions and preliminaries

PATROL NAMES
                HAMMER  POWER   WOOD    VOLTAGE  TOOL    CHISEL
9:30 - 9:55     Sta. 1  Sta. 2  Sta. 3  Sta. 4   Sta. 5  Sta. 6
10:00 - 10:25   Sta. 2  Sta. 3  Sta. 4  Sta. 5   Sta. 6  Sta. 1
10:30 - 10:55   Sta. 3  Sta. 4  Sta. 5  Sta. 6   Sta. 1  Sta. 2
11:00 - 11:25   Sta. 4  Sta. 5  Sta. 6  Sta. 1   Sta. 2  Sta. 3

11:30 - 12:00 Break for Lunch

12:05 - 12:30   Sta. 5  Sta. 6  Sta. 1  Sta. 2   Sta. 3  Sta. 4
12:35 - 1:00    Sta. 6  Sta. 1  Sta. 2  Sta. 3   Sta. 4  Sta. 5

1:05 - 1:45 Wrap Up Session

The following items were completed at the Home Repairs Merit Badge Clinic.

(Requirements as listed in the 1993-1995 Boy Scout Requirements Booklet)

STATION 1

4. Know where your main electric switch is. Replace a fuse or reset the circuit breaker in an electric entrance switch box
5. Repair an electric cord, plug, or lamp socket

STATION 2

6. Clean a clogged drain or trap.
8. Repair a flushing mechanism in a toilet.

STATION 3

9. Repair a leaky hose.
10. Clean or replace a grass sprinkler water head

STATION 4

12. Caulk cracks or joints open to the weather
11. Install insulation in attic, wall or crawl space.

STATION 5

17. Repair window screen or screen door
21. Repair or replace a sash cord.

STATION 6

7. Repair a leaky water faucet or valve.
24. Solder

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Troop 567
11883 Savona Drive
Fontana, Ca 92337

Scouts attending the merit badge clinic for Home Repairs, must complete 2 additional requirements from the list below prior to receiving the merit badge. (Requirements as listed in the 1993-1995 Boy Scout Requirements Booklet)

1. Install or build equipment for storing tools.
2. Build a workbench.
3. Maintain or recondition a garden tool.
13. Paint a wall or ceiling. Clean equipment.
14. Waterproof a basement.
15. Lay new tile or linoleum, or replace a worn spot.
16. Repair a break in a cement or asphalt surface.
18. Replace a pane of glass.
19. Repair or install drapery or curtain rods. Hang drapes or curtains.
20. Replace blind cords.
22. Repair a picture frame
23. Mend an object made of china, glass, or pottery.
25. Repair a piece of furniture.
26. Paint or varnish a piece of furniture, a door, or trim on a house. Clean the brush.
27. Repair a sagging door or gate.
28. Repair a fence.

Pre-Clinic Suggestions and Guidelines

All Scouts will wear a badge designating their designated patrol for the day
The clinic coordinator and his committee and his/her committee will make periodic rounds to check the needs of the counselors...
Place a sign at each station to indicate the name of the session, the counselors name, and the section callout in the Merit Badge booklet.
Select six patrol leaders from the attending Scouts... Each patrol leader will lead his group to each session utilizing the Patrol Method of Control.
Provide a sign-off sheet that can be carried from session to session... this would serve as a final confirmation of authorization to sign the merit badge card.
Establish a waiting room for the adults to congregate in during the event... coffee, soft drinks and doughnuts.
Establish location of the restrooms at registration.
Use a sign outside each room to not only indicate the name of the session... but also the section callout in the Merit Badge Booklet and the Counselor's name.
Set up 6 guide volunteers to direct the scouts to each session... we could use the adult scout leaders and other adults who bring the scouts to the session.
Provide a sign off sheet or card that can be routed from session to session... this would serve as a final confirmation of authorization to sign the Merit Badge card.
Need a waiting room for the adults to congregate in during the event... coffee, soft drinks, doughnuts.
Take a group photo.
Establish a route that would have the scouts all going in the same direction during each changeover in classrooms.
Scouting Magazine may want to be there to take pictures.
Expenses:
1. Badges
2. Coffee, Sodas and Doughnuts
3. Merit Badge Pamphlets
4. Lunch.
Where will everyone park? 50 Scouts (13 cars) 6 guest cars, 12 Clinic Staff cars... Expect approximately 21 cars.
Post volunteers in order to guide scouts and guest to registration.