Remember: These notes are relevant to working with me as your merit badge counselor. Another counselor may prefer something different!
When emailing your work, make sure you follow the rules in Email Notes, and follow the guidance in Work Format & Templates. It's a good idea to save your work in a way you can easily find it (see Organizing Your Files).
An old edition of the Merit Badge Booklet can be found here. The new requirements can be found here.
Other than the requirements, there aren't many differences between the old and new versions of the Merit Badge Pamphlet. If you absolutely want the latest edition of the merit badge booklet, you can purchase one from the Scout Store, or scoutshop.org.
Many Scouts are surprised at how academic this badge is. Most seem to think something along the lines of, "I've been camping. I know how to camp. This should be easy!" What they don't realize is that in Troop camping trips, a lot of the work is done behind the scenes without their knowledge. There's a whole set of requirements that must be met just to get to the camping part. Some of these include:
First Aid training.
Weather Hazard training.
Trip Planning & Navigation
Permissions & Permits.
Identifying expected weather.
How to get there and back.
Equipment needed specific to the event.
Emergency planning.
And so on.
General coordination of the group.
Informing of the trip.
Identifying roles and responsibilities.
Etc.
In this badge, you will get a taste of planning camping trips from the beginning! To that end, pay attention to the requirements and language: Some requirements say “Show”, some say “Explain” and others say “Do”, etc. Read each requirement carefully!
A “Show” requirement indicates demonstration; a write up will not suffice.
An “Explain” requirement can be verbal or written in the sheet.
A “Do” requirement is something that you must actually do and document proof of.
The date on your blue card dictates what revision of the requirements you’re eligible to use. If there is a newer revision of the requirements, and the date on your blue card is after that revision has been published, you must use the newer revision of requirements!
Below is a description of what I'm looking for in some of the Hiking requirments (2016 edition). These are the requirements I've noticed most struggle with. Please make sure your work for the requirement includes what I’m looking for!
A final note: Read the Merit Badge Pamphlet. It amazes me how many Scouts try to do work for this badge without reading it, and it shows. They often do work multiple times because they didn't take the time to read how to do it in the first place! There are plenty of examples in the booklet that you can follow to complete a requirement. There are examples in your Scout Handbook. Some requirements are lacking information in both; those are identified below and some suggestions made on where to start looking for the necessary information.
Hiking Hazards
Read your Merit Badge Booklet! These hazards include (but are not limited to): Unexpectedly Cold Weather Conditions, Insect Bites/Stings, Dangerous Wild Animals, Excessive rain/Flooding, Heat-Related Injuries, Accidental Injury From Knives or Fire
Notes:
"Heat-Related Injuries" include (but are not limited to) heat exhaustion, heatstroke, first-, second-, and third-degree burns.
If treatment for dehydration is drinking more water, what is hyponatremia?
Weather Conditions
We'll discuss this one. In preparation read your Merit Badge booklet making note of what it says about camping and weather.
First Aid
For each of the injuries or illnesses, “showing” that you know first aid should include prevention, recognition and treatment. This does not need to be very detailed! But you must show that you know the definition of the illness or injury, how to prevent the illness or injury, recognize it, and treat it.
Leave No Trace, Outdoor Code
LNT is in the Merit Badge Pamphlet and your Scout Handbook, also available on lnt.org/why/7-principles/.
The Outdoor Code is in the Merit Badge Pamphlet and your Scout Handbook.
Written Plan & Navigation
There is an example template of the Trip Plan in the Merit Badge Booklet. Read the booklet. Some things you may want to include in addition:
The intent of the Trip (optional, but very helpful).
The level of physical activity (optional, but very helpful).
Fun activities you want to do or sights you want to see along the way (optional, but very helpful).
For the Navigation Portion, you can find resources in the Navigation section of your Scout handbook. For GPS receivers and apps, consult the manufacturer's documentation.
Additional Map & Compass Resources:
Duty Roster
Duty Rosters are outlines in the Merit Badge Booklet. There is a Duty Roster Template available on the Troop Website (you should be familiar with this from previous campouts).
Once you've learned how to use a duty roster, you get to teach a group of other Scout how to do it!
List of Clothing, "Layering"
See the Merit Badge Pamphlet and your Scout Handbook.
Footwear
We'll discuss this one. In preparation read your Merit Badge booklet making note of what it says about footwear for camping.
Care of Camping Equipment
Some of this is in the Merit Badge Pamphlet, some in the Scout Handbook, some you'll have to do some research online for general practices on how to take care of the specified gear.
Oudoor Essentials
See the Merit Badge Pamphlet.
Pack Inspection
We'll discuss how to pack your backpack, but you have to pack it properly for an actual overnight.
Tents
See the Merit Badge Pamphlet.
In general tents are Freestanding, Non-Freestanding, and Semi-Freestanding. Common tent types are:
Ridgeline or A-Frame Tents,
Dome, Tunnel and Geodesic.
Cabin or Multi-Room Tents
Pop-up or Instant Tent
Bivy Tent
Tarp tents. Many different ways to pitch a tarp tent. If you pick a tarp, you will be asked about it!
Camp Sanitation
We'll discuss this one. In preparation read your Merit Badge booklet making note of what it says about camp sanitization.
Where to pitch a tent
See your merit badge booklet!
Internal vs. External-frame packs
You may have to do some research outside the Merit Badge booklet and Scout handbook for this one.
Sleeping Bags
We'll discuss different types of sleeping bags and what would be suitable for different conditions. In preparation, look up how to properly care for your bag and keep it dry. Hint: There may be some instructions from the manufacturer.
Overnight Campout Preparation
Checklist
This is where you get to demonstrate what you've learned!
Show your packing skills
This is where you get to demonstrate what you've learned!
Stove Safety
See the Merit Badge Pamphlet!
Advantages of different types of stoves.
We'll discuss this one. In preparation read your Merit Badge booklet making note of what it says about camp stoves and their advantages.
Camp Menu
In this requirement, you plan 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners. In 8d, you must cook one breakfast, lunch, and dinner from what you plan in this requirement. One of those meals must be a trail meal in which you use a lightweight stove. My recommendation is to plan a menu for a camping trip in which we have a day hike and can bring the lightweight stove with us.
Camp Cooking
Cook what you planned!
Get experience camping!
You'll probably get this one just by going on Troop activities. Some notes:
9a: A long-term camping experience is defined as a camping experience of 5 consecutive nights or more.
9b: The most common ways to satisfy this requirement are i and iv.
What you learned
This will be a 1-on-1 session at the end of the badge. You cannot complete this requirement until the end, because it’s specifically regarding what you’ve learned during this badge!