October 21, 2023  |  8:00 am - 3:30 pm

St Thomas High School
4500 Memorial Dr.
Houston, TX 77007

The Merit Badge Fair is an opportunity for Scouts in troops, crews or ships to work on requirements for one or two merit badges. These are not giveaway merit badges. Each Scout is expected to fulfill all the requirements by reading the merit badge book before the event, attending the class, completing prerequisites, and participating fully during the class in order to receive full credit for the requirements offered. Merit badge completion will be returned via email to the Scoutmaster or advancement chair submitted during registration. Please allow for two weeks for processing after the conclusion of the event. Additional merit badge class opportunities are listed on the council Scout Days webpage and Merit Badge Days.

Adult participation is needed to offer this event. Every unit with Scouts participating is expected to provide volunteers. Every unit must have a representative from the troop remain on campus during the event. Representatives can switch out during the day but must check in at headquarters.

Troops who provide merit badge counselors for the event will be given the opportunity to allow Scouts in their unit to register early before registration opens to other units.

Scouts of all ages can stop and visit Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) being held during the event between 11:30 am - 3:30 pm. JOTA is an annual Scouting event that uses amateur radio to link Scouts around the world, around the nation, and in your own community. Volunteers are going to set up a HAM radio so Scouts can meet Scouts around the world.

Registration

The registration fee is $25 per Scout and includes lunch and supply costs. Lunch will be a Chick-fil-a sandwich, a bottle of water, and chips. A vegetarian and gluten-free option is available. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Merit badge class sizes are limited.

Important: Before registering, read the prerequisites below. Check your Scout's school and troop calendar for conflicts. Check which merit badges the Scout has already completed. Have the Scout discuss which merit badges they should sign up for with their Scoutmaster or troop advancement chair. 

Registration is typically completed by parents, but can also be completed by the troop leadership (How to register or change a class selection). Registration is completed online with a credit card or electronic check. Council refund policy. 

Information needed to register: BSA ID number, Scout's rank, troop number, district name, Scoutmaster name and email, and troop advancement chair and email.

Register           What to Bring         Volunteer    Drop off     Event Feedback

The Scout's BSA member ID number is critical to identifying the Scouts in Scoutbook. 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. The BSA ID number is how the merit badge counselor will identify your Scout in Scoutbook to input advancements completed. 

Classes and Prerequisites

 

2022 Merit Badge Classes (click on class for requirements)	Morning	Afternoon	Full Day	2022 Prerequisites, Requirements Not Covered, Additional Items to Bring
American Business	♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book. • Requirements not covered: #6 • Bring internet device and research or interview #6 notes
Camping			♦	• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: #4, 5e, 7b, 8d, 9; prepare using the worksheet
Citizenship in the Community	♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: ​#3, 4, 7 • Bring #2 (community map and government chart), prepare using the worksheet
Citizenship in the Nation	♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book. Start watching the national news. • Requirements not covered: ​#2, 3, 6 • Bring #8  (letters); prepare using the worksheet
Citizenship in the World	♦	♦		• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book. Prepare a current world event or geography topic to discuss during class. • Requirements not covered: ​#3,4,7 - if you prepare ahead of class for presentation during class, it may be signed off - prepare using worksheet
Coin Collecting		♦		• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: ​#6 • Bring: 5 different state quarters plus 2 to trade
Communications	♦	♦		• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: ​#4,5,7,8 • Bring: prepare using workbook
Composite Materials		♦		• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: ​ TBD
Cooking	♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book, be prepared to discuss #7 • Requirements not covered: ​ #4-6, prepare #7 to complete in class • Bring: prepare using worksheet
Emergency Preparedness	♦	♦		• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book, #1 (First Aid Merit Badge) is a required prerequisite • Bring: Merit Badge card, proof of #1 (e.g., Scoutbook printout); prepare using worksheet
Family Life	♦	♦		• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: ​#3, 4, 5, 6b • Bring: prepare using worksheet
Fire Safety	♦	♦		• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: ​#6, do a home inspection
First Aid	♦	♦		• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book; #1 & 5b are required pre-requisites • Bring #5a (first aid kit); proof of #1 & 5b; prepare using worksheet
Indian Lore		♦		• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: ​#3, 4
Personal Fitness	♦	♦		• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: ​#1, 7, 8 • Bring: BSA Annual Health and Medical Record (Part A, B, C titled Are You Going to Camp?) which requires a physical. • Wear activity uniform (e.g., Scout shirt) and appropriate clothes for the fitness test including tennis shoes; prepare using worksheet
Photography			♦	• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: ​#7a & 7b • Bring a copy of Cyber Chip for #1a and camera or cell phone camera to complete #4,5,6 in class.
Radio	♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: ​#8, 9
Stamp Collecting	♦			• Prerequisite: Read merit badge book • Requirements not covered: ​#7b

*Classes that are full will not show up in the online registration.
 Classes will be added as additional merit badge counselors volunteer.
 = Eagle Scout required merit badges and require more preparation (e.g., completing the worksheet).

Schedule

Jamboree on the Air (JOTA)

Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) is an annual Scouting event that uses amateur radio to link Scouts around the world, around the nation, and in your own community. Held on the third full weekend of October each year, this worldwide jamboree requires no travel, other than to a nearby radio amateur’s ham shack. Many times the hams will agree to set up at a Scout event. There are many ways to get your Scouts involved in JOTA. 

Volunteers are going to set up a HAM radio. Scouts of all ages can stop by and participate and meet Scouts around the world.

What to Bring

Drop off / Pick up

Please enter on Memorial Dr. by the parking garage and proceed to the Main Building. Continue the flow to exit on Shepard. 
Parking: Participants can use the parking garage on the Memorial side. Incorrectly parked vehicles may be subject to St Thomas's regulations. Please park only in designated spaces.

• Bring a copy of BSA Annual Health and Medical Record. Forms will be shredded at the conclusion of the event. Do not bring originals. 
• Before leaving campus, let your troop representative know. In the event you cannot find them, please let the organizers know before leaving. 

Prerequisites, Requirements Not Covered and Partials

Attending a merit badge class does not guarantee that a Scout will complete the merit badge, but it is an opportunity for Scouts to meet with qualified counselors, to help them work on the requirements needed to complete a merit badge. The merit badge fair should not be considered another school where the pupils sit and stare for hours on end. Scouts should come prepared to participate. The counselor's job is to encourage self-discovery and then check that each Scout has the minimum knowledge and does the requirements. Scouts should be ready to take notes and come prepared with notetaking materials and writing utensils. Remember one goal of the merit badge advancement system is to develop individual growth and initiative. 

Prerequisites: All Scouts are to read the merit badge book prior to the Merit Badge Fair. Merit Badge books can be purchased at an area Scout Shop. Scouts are to be prepared to answer the questions to each of the requirements before the merit badge fair; completing worksheets available at http://usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/worksheets/list.asp can help Scouts prepare. Some merit badges require additional prerequisites to be must be completed before the merit badge fair.

Merit Badge Worksheets

Requirements not covered: Some of the requirements cannot be completed during the class. The Scout should bring documentation of requirements not covered. Scouts are encouraged to complete requirements not covered before the merit badge fair and bring proof of completion; otherwise, the Scout will receive a partial.

Partials: If the Scout does not complete the requirements not covered and bring documentation to the class, the Scout will receive a partial completion of the merit badge. Partials will be noted on the documentation provided after the course. Scouts will need to complete the badge with a registered merit badge counselor approved for that particular badge back with their unit. Merit badge counselors are not usually available to serve as a counselor after merit badge fair ends unless arrangements are made. Find a list of merit badge counselors by logging into http://scoutbook.scouting.org with your my.scouting userID and password, click on My Dashboard, Administration, your unit and scroll down the page. Remember that a youth member must not meet one-on-one with an adult. Sessions with counselors must take place where others can view the interaction, or the Scout must have a buddy: a friend, parent, guardian, brother, sister, or other relatives—or better yet, another Scout working on the same badge.

Advancements Completed

Blue cards are not issued at the event. Approximately two weeks after the event, a list of advancements completed will be sent to the Scoutmaster and advancement chair listed in the registration. Questions after the fair regarding the merit badge, contact the merit badge counselor who taught the class or the Merit Badge Day event chair. 

Event Volunteers

One adult volunteer per troop should remain on-site for the duration of the event. If you need to share this role with another adult, please let the check-In table know when you are switching. All adult volunteers should visit the check-in table upon arrival. 

How to Register or Update a Registration

Late-Breaking Information

For late-breaking news and announcements, join our district Facebook page and sign up for our district e-mail list.

Scouting Safely

Contacts

For questions, contact the Merit Badge Day chair or district activities chair.