2010 Spring BYU Merit Badge PowWow General Information

Dates: March 6 and March 20, 2010
Registration begins January 27 at 9:00 a.m.

The BYU Spring Merit Badge PowWow began in 2009 and joins the BYU Fall PowWow as one of the largest Scout PowWows in the United States. It is held on the beautiful campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Last year, more than 1,000 Scouts from Utah and other areas attended the Spring PowWow.

PowWow Group Instruction Format and Individual Scout Support

The merit badge program is one of Boy Scouting’s basic character–developing tools. Earning merit badges gives a boy the kind of confidence that comes from learning and developing skills to achieve a goal. At this PowWow, the general format is group instruction with expert presenters accompanied by merit badge counselors who will work with the Scouts during the PowWow sessions; however, this group experience should be accompanied by parent and local unit attention to each Scout’s projects and his ability to fulfill all merit badge requirements. Attending group instruction does not, by itself, qualify a Scout for any merit badge—he must complete all merit badge requirements as well.

Merit Badge Instruction

Merit badge instruction is available to a Scout for up to three merit badges of his choice. The first merit badge classes begin at 9:00 a.m. on March 6 and March 20. Please note that there will not be an opening ceremony before the first class. The first class will last for 75 minutes (to allow for roll call and PowWow patch distribution), followed by two more classes lasting 65 minutes each (unless otherwise indicated). Class schedules will be the same for both Saturdays, with the last classes ending at 12:45 p.m. (refer to the Merit Badges link in the left column for details on particular merit badges).

Before You Register a Scout

Please review the requirements for each merit badge before registering your Scout. This can be done by selecting the “Merit Badges” link in the left column and then clicking on the specific merit badge. Some of the requirements will be completed at the PowWow, but Scouts will need to work on a majority of the requirements at home, either before the program or as homework between sessions. Please take the time to go over the merit badge worksheets with your Scout several weeks PRIOR to his attendance at the PowWow so that he will be prepared. A significant amount of class time will be used by the merit badge counselors to review and pass off the requirements that have been completed outside of class. There is no guarantee that a Scout will complete all requirements for a merit badge during the PowWow. In such a case, additional follow–up with your local merit badge counselor will be required. To register, select the “Registration” link in the left column and follow the directions provided.

Materials Needed

Each Scout will need to obtain and bring the following to the PowWow (these are NOT supplied at the PowWow):

1. The Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Pamphlet (booklet) for each merit badge he is pursuing (available at www.scoutstuff.org, or at the Utah National Parks Council Office, located at 748 North 1340 West, Orem, Utah).
2. A Merit Badge Application Card for each merit badge (available at the Utah National Parks Council Office, or possibly from your Scoutmaster). The Scoutmaster must sign these cards in advance of the PowWow.
3. A Merit Badge Worksheet for each merit badge the Scout is pursuing (select the “Merit Badges” link in the left column and print the needed worksheets).

Merit Badge Application Cards

In keeping with the BSA Utah National Parks Council policy, merit badges may only be issued using an official BSA Merit Badge Application Card. These cards will NOT be provided at the PowWow. PowWow Merit Badge Worksheets will not be accepted at the Council Office in place of the official Merit Badge Application Card. Each Scout will be responsible to obtain his own cards and have them signed by his Scoutmaster before the PowWow begins. Merit badge cards will be signed by PowWow merit badge counselors only if all merit badge requirements are completed; otherwise, Scouts who do not complete all the requirements should take their partially completed Merit Badge Worksheets to their local leaders for completion, review, and signature.