eTrailToEagle Blog

2010 Historical Merit Badge Program

Merit badges have been a fixture of the Boy Scouts of America since its inception in 1910. The requirements that generations of boys have completed have taught lifetime citizenship lessons, personal fitness habits, and life skills. They have been the beginnings of countless careers and lifetime hobbies. In the last 99 years there have been many changes in the merit badge offerings. As society has changed, the Boy Scouts of America has adapted by revising the requirements, implementing name changes, and in some instances, eliminating some badges altogether.

For the 100th Anniversary celebration four vintage merit badges are being released for the Centennial Year only, giving Boy Scouts the hands-on opportunity to experience the exciting past of BSA.

Here are the basics of the 2010 Historical Merit Badge program:

• An overall goal of the program is for a majority of our registered members to earn one or more of the badges during the Centennial year.
• The merit badges closely resemble the original designs of the merit badges with the exception of the border which is a shiny gold thread that will be immediately identifiable as a 2010 Historical Merit Badge.
• The badges offered have a history that can be traced back to the origins of the BSA.
• The badges offered are not badges that have been morphed into a current merit badge.
• The original merit badge requirements are used wherever possible.
• Adaptations can be made for special needs Scouts.
• The historic merit badges count towards a boy’s rank advancement.
• Work on the badges is not to commence prior to January 1, 2010 and is to be finished no later than December 31, 2010.
• BSA will not create or reprint pamphlets for the merit badges. Instead all information is posted to a special section of the 100th Anniversary web site.
• Requirement can be found at www.scouting.org/100years
• Each unit, district, and council is encouraged to identify qualified counselors for the badges.
• Badges may be earned by individual Scouts, but districts and councils are encouraged to offer opportunities to work on at least some of these merit badges at summer camp or special Anniversary celebration

The 2010 Historical Merit Badges and their requirements are:

Carpentry — First offered in 1911. Discontinued in 1952.

1. Demonstrate the use of the rule, square, level, plumb-line, miter, chalk-line and bevel.
2. Demonstrate the proper way to drive, set, and clinch a nail, draw a spike with a claw-hammer, and to join two pieces of wood with screws.
3. Show correct use of the cross-cut saw and of the rip-saw.
4. Show how to plane the edge, end and the broad surface of a board.
5. Demonstrate how to lay shingles.
6. Make a simple article of furniture for practical use in the home or on the home grounds, finished in a workmanlike manner, all work to be done without assistance.

Pathfinding — First offered in 1911. Discontinued in 1952.

1. Demonstrate a general knowledge of the district within a three-mile radius of the local Scout Headquarters, or his house so as to be able to guide people at any time day or night to points within this area.
2. Know the population of the five principal neighboring towns and cities as selected by his Guide or Counselor. Demonstrate direction for reaching them from Scout Headquarters or his house.
3. If in the country, know the breeds of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs owned on the five neighboring farms; if in the city, demonstrate directions to tourist camp and to five places for purchasing food supplies.
4. Demonstrate how to direct tourists from his home to gas, oil, tire, and general auto repair.
5. Give telephone number, if any, and directions for reaching the nearest police station, fire- fighting apparatus, Court House or Municipal Building, the nearest Country Farm Agent’s office, doctor, veterinarian and hospital.
6. Know something of the history of his community and the location of its principal places of interest and public buildings.
7. Submit a scale map, not necessarily drawn by himself, upon which he has personally indicated as much of the above-required informatiion.

Signaller — First offered in 1910. Discontinued in 1992.

1. Make an electric buzzer outfit, wireless, blinker, or other signaling device. Send and receive in the International Morse Code, by buzzer or other sound device, a complete message of not less than 35 words, at a rate of not less than 35 letters per minute.
2. Demonstrate an ability to send and receive a message in the International Morse Code by wigwag and by blinker or other light signaling device at a rate of not less than 20 letters per minute.
3. Send and receive by Semaphore Code at the rate of not less than 30 letters per minute.
4. Know the proper application of the International Morse Code and Semaphore Codes; when, where, and how they can be used to best advantage.
5. Discuss briefly various other codes and methods of signaling which are in common use.

Tracking—First offered in 1911 as Stalker. Discontinued in 1952.

1. Demonstrate by means of a tracking game or otherwise, ability to track skillfully in shelter and wind, etc., when occasion demands.
2. Know and recognize the tracks of ten different kinds of animals or birds in his vicinity, three of which may be domestic.
3. Submit satisfactory evidence that he has trailed two different kinds of wild animals or birds on ordinary ground far enough to determine the direction in which they were going, and their gait or speed. Give names of animals or birds trailed, their direction of travel, and describe gait and speed; or submit satisfactory evidence that he has trailed six different kinds of wild animal or birds in snow, sand, dust or mud, far enough to determine the direction in which they were going, and their gait or speed. Give names of animals or birds trailed, their direction of travel, and describe gait and speed.
4. Submit evidence the he has scored at least 30 points from the following groups: [Group (f) and 4 of the 5 groups (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) must be represented in the score of 30 and at least 7 points must be scored from (a), (b), or (c)].

Make a clear photograph of:
(a) Live bird away from nest……………………………… 4 points
(b) Live woodchuck or smaller wild animal ………… 3 points
(c) Live wild animal larger than woodchuck ……….. 4 points
(d) Live bird on nest ………………………………………… 3 points
(e) Tracks of live wild animal or bird ………………….. 2 points
(f) Make satisfactory plaster cast of wild animal or bird tracks with identification imprint on back or each……………………………………………….. 2 points

Thanks!

The eTrailToEagle.com Team
http://www.eTrailToEagle.com