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Merit Badge Workbook Merit Badge History

Requirements Only

Requirements

In-Person Class Prep Notes

In-Person Notes

Online Class Prep Notes

Online Notes

Reading - In-Person Class Notes

Please be courteous and arrive early for registration and instructions PRIOR to your scheduled class start time. Remember that your Scout uniform is required to be worn when attending.

It is NOT acceptable to come unprepared to a Scoutmaster Bucky event. You can (and should) use the Scoutmaster Bucky Reading Merit Badge Workbook to help organize your preparation work. Please note that the use of any workbook is merely for note taking and reference. Completion of any merit badge workbook does not warrant, guarantee, or confirm a Scout's completion of any merit badge requirements. Merit badge counselors may refuse to accept workbooks, but they are NEVER allowed to require their use.

The merit badge pamphlet has a wealth of information that provides valuable insight and clarification and can make earning any merit badge a lot easier. Doing preparation work and reviewing the merit badge pamphlet PRIOR to attending will ensure that Scouts get the most out of these class opportunities.

If you have any additional questions or need further clarification, please feel free to contact Brian Reiners (Scoutmaster Bucky) via email at scoutmasterbucky@yahoo.com or via cell phone at 612-483-0665.

Things to remember to bring for this merit badge class:

Your BSA ID # (not your Scoutbook ID #)
If you do not have your BSA ID # (or did not provide it with your online registration) you will need a Merit badge blue card properly filled out and signed off by your Scout Leader
Reading Merit Badge Pamphlet
Scout uniform
Supporting documentation or project work pertinent to the Reading merit badge, which may also include a merit badge workbook for reference with notes
A positive Scouting focus and attitude

If you are unfamiliar with the Blue Card Process, please read and understand the Scoutmaster Bucky Blue Card Process.

Reading - Online Class Notes

Scoutmaster Bucky Online Class links will be sent out 12 to 24 hours prior to the class start time. Notification will be sent to the email address provided in the registration, so please make sure your email is correctly entered.

Please be courteous and arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled class start time. Ensure that your internet connection, camera, microphone, and broadcasting environment are working and optimal for class participation. Remember that your Scout uniform is required to be worn when attending.

Reading Merit Badge
Current Scouts BSA Requirements
as of February 17, 2023

Please make sure you read the top portion of this page for general participation expectations in a Scoutmaster Bucky merit badge class.

Pay careful attention to the action verbs within the requirements. An example to note:

"Tell", "explain", "describe", and "discuss" are commonly used and will require the Scout to perform these actions during the class. When these action verbs are a part of any requirement, Scouts are expected to be prepared to share. Reading responses is not acceptable since it does not fulfill the requirement of showing the Scout's knowledge and understanding.

Do EACH of the following:

Take a tour of a library. Discuss with your counselor how the library is organized and what resources and/or services are offered in the library.

Learn how to search a library’s card catalog or computerized catalog by author, title, and subject.

In a library, search the card catalog or computerized catalog for six books of four different types, such as poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and biographies.

With the assistance of your merit badge counselor or the librarian, see if you can locate on the shelves the six books you selected.

Explain what is a library card, why it is needed, and how to get one.

Scouts will need to complete this requirement and it's components ahead of time in order to prepare for discussions with the merit badge counselor during the class. The intent of this requirement and its components is to help familiarize Scouts with their local public library or school library and the resources available to them at the facility.

It is strongly recommended to consider using the Scoutmaster Bucky Reading Merit Badge Workbook to aid in documenting progress while working on this requirement. Make notes and make sure you get your merit badge counselor's or the librarian's signature for proof of completion.

Do EACH of the following:

Identify a book you have enjoyed. Find out what other books the author has written.

Look at one or more “best books” lists. These can be based on year, subject, or even all time. Identify at least one book you would like to read.

Scouts should consider using a merit badge workbook or notebook to record their answers to the requirement components for easy reference when reviewing this requirement and its components with the merit badge counselor.

Read four different types of books, such as poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or biographies. Do any one of the following for each book you have read:

Write a review of the book. Include what you liked/didn’t like about the book. Include whether you would recommend this book, and if so, who might enjoy reading it.

Watch a movie based on the book. What was the same between the book and movie? What was different? Which did you enjoy more? Discuss this with your merit badge counselor.

Give a “book talk” to your class, troop, or patrol.

Scouts will find the use of the Scoutmaster Bucky Reading Merit Badge Workbook to be very helpful in documenting their work for this requirement. Scouts should consider using this workbook or their own notebook to record their work easy reference when reviewing with the merit badge counselor.

Read a nonfiction book or magazine that teaches you how to do something like cooking, wood-building projects, video game design, science experiments, knot-tying, etc. With your counselor’s and parent’s permission, complete a project from the book. Share your experience with your merit badge counselor. Reading a merit badge pamphlet will not count toward completing this requirement.

While it is encouraged that Scouts start reading ahead of time, it is at the discretion of the merit badge counselor as to whether your selected reading material meets the satisfaction of the requirements as interpreted by the merit badge counselor. Bring your selected reading to class for review and final approval. Scouts that can satisfactorily show their completed project AND share their expereince will have an opportunity to be reviewed by the counselor for credit of completion.

Read about the world around you from any two sources: books, magazines, newspapers, the internet (with your parent’s/guardian’s permission), field manuals, etc. Topics may include Scouting, sports, environmental problems, politics, social issues, current events, nature, religion, etc. Discuss what you have learned with your counselor.

Scouts should review this requirement and and be prepared to discuss. It is strongly recommended that Scouts bring any notes or supporting documents they may have to help show the counselor that they have prepared for discussion of these items. A portion of the class will be devoted to open group discussion on each of the Scouts' readings.

With your counselor’s and parent’s or guardian’s permission, choose ONE of the following activities and devote at least four hours of service to that activity. Discuss your participation with your counselor.

Read to a sick, blind, or homebound person in a hospital or in an extended-care facility.

Perform volunteer work at your school library or a public library.

Read stories to younger children, in a group or individually.

Organize a book swap in your troop, school, or place of worship.

Organize a book drive to collect books. Donate them to an organization in need.

This requirement will NOT be covered within the class, however Scouts wishing to be considered for completion of this requirement should bring adequate documentation to show that they have completed one of these requirement components. Adequate documentation is not a letter from your parent, but rather a letter or note on organizational letterhead from a representative of the organization where you performed your activity hours. Please remember that the merit badge counselor reserves the right to accept/reject your chosen activity for completion of this merit badge requirement. It is best not to stray too far from the stated requirement.

Reading - In-Person Class Notes

Reading - Online Class Notes

Reading Merit BadgeCurrent Scouts BSA Requirementsas of February 17, 2023

Reading Merit Badge
Current Scouts BSA Requirements
as of February 17, 2023