October 23, 2021 | 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 give-away 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 to participate 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.
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.
Event Feedback
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. Registration closes 10/15/21.
Information needed to register: BSA ID number, Scout's rank, troop number, district name, Scoutmaster name and email, and troop advancement chair and email.
Registration is Now Closed - Thank you for your interest. What to Bring
The Scout's BSA member ID number is critical to identifying the Scouts in Scoutbook. Find your Scout's BSA Member ID at the bottom-center of their BSA membership card, ask their unit leader, or look it up in my.scouting.org (under Menu, then My Profile) or Scoutbook (under My Profile, then Edit Profile). The BSA ID number is how the merit badge counselor will identify your Scout in Scoutbook to input advancements completed.
Classes and Prerequisites
All afternoon classes are full.
Merit Badge
(click on class for requirements)
|
Prerequisites
|
| Backpacking |
#6b, 8c, 8d, 9a, 9e, 10, 11. Bring a fully loaded backpack for #9c & 9d. (Maximum 10 Scouts per class) |
| Camping |
#3, 4b, 5e, 7b, 8d, 9 |
| Citizenship in the Community |
#2, 3, 4, 7 |
| Citizenship in the Nation |
#2, 3, 6, 8; Start watching the national news. |
| Coin Collecting |
#6 - Bring 5 different state quarters. |
| Emergency Preparedness |
#1 |
| Energy |
#4 |
| Entrepreneurship |
#3 |
| Family Life |
#3, 4, 5, 6b |
| Fire Safety |
#6, do a home inspection |
| First Aid |
#1 & 5b are required pre-requisites; Bring #5a (first aid kit) |
| Fishing |
#9 |
| Fly Fishing |
Partial |
| Game Design |
#5,6,7,8. Merit Badge focus will be on non-electronic/programmed games. |
| Medicine |
#10 (as part of this requirement, Scouts will need to arrive early to conduct temperature checks for attendees) |
| Music |
bring instrument; #1 (be prepared to play or sing a selection); #3 (complete two); #4 (choose one) |
| Personal Fitness |
#1, 7, 8; wear activity uniform (e.g., Scout shirt) and appropriate clothes for the fitness test including tennis shoes; bring BSA Annual Health and Medical Record (Part A, B, C entitled Are You Going to Camp?) which requires a physical. |
| Photography |
#7 |
| Scouting Heritage |
#4,5,6,7,8 |
| Stamp Collecting |
#7b - Visit a post office or a stamp show. |
*Classes that are full will not show up in the online registration.
Classes will be added as additional merit badge counselors volunteer.
Schedule
Time
|
Activity
|
| 8:00 am |
Troop check-in |
| 8:30 - 11:30 am |
Morning Session
Tours of the newly renovated St. Thomas High School available |
| 11:30 am - 12:30 pm |
Lunch |
| 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm |
Afternoon Session |
What to Bring
- Copy of the BSA Annual Health and Medical Record* (Part A & B for any Scouting event) for every person attending. Do not bring originals
- Mask
- Merit Badge book for each class (read before class)
- Proof of prerequisites completed before the event
- Youth Protection Training (YPT) Certificate* for any attendee 18 and older
- Scouts should wear their field uniform (Scout uniform)
- Notebook and writing utensil
- Filled water bottle
- Temperature checks will be conducted prior to admittance by Scouts working on Medicine MB for req. #10.
* BSA Medical forms and YPT certificates will be shredded at the end of the event.
Drop off / Pick up
Please enter on the Memorial side, 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.
- Upon arrival, everyone entering the building will have their temperature checked by the Scouts taking Medicine Merit Badge.
- Troops should designate a representative to receive check-in materials.
- 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.
Adult 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 Merit Badge/Volunteer Check-In table upon arrival.
How to Register
How to Register - Click on the Register button
Step 1: Select a participant
Step 2: Select a category
Step 3: Choose merit badge (click “+” sign)
Continue steps 1, 2 and 3 for additional participants
Step 4: Review the schedule at the bottom of the page
Step 5: Click continue at the bottom of the page
Step 6: Checkout
Step 7: Payment
Classes that are full will not appear.
Change Merit Badge Classes
To modify your registration:
- Go to https://samhoustonbsa.doubleknot.com/signon/2562 or logon to https://samhoustonbsa.doubleknot.com.
- 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.
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. A list of advancements completed will be entered into each Scout's Scoutbook account using the BSA ID provided during registration by the merit badge counselor. If advancements completed do not show in Scoutbook 30 days after the event, contact the merit badge counselor who taught the class or the Merit Badge Day event chair.
Event Volunteers
It is the purpose of the event to provide an exciting program for youth 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. This year, if you can volunteer to be a second adult in the video/teleconference meetings, please let us know. Parents are always welcome! Volunteers who work directly with the youth must have current Youth Protection Training. YPT can be taken at www.myScouting.org.
Volunteer
Event Staff
Successful Scouts have the support and guidance of parents. The parents are a treasure trove of information that can benefit every young man in our leadership program. Your encouragement and occasional refocusing of purpose that youth require will be invaluable. The successful leader in Scouts learns quickly to be successful in everything they attempt.
Adults are needed to set up 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. The Scouts 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 youth'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
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
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, contact the Merit Badge Day chair or district activities chair.