Program Areas, Merit Badge Program, and Advancement

Program Areas

These are links to the descriptions of the main program areas of Seven Mountains Scout Camp.  Scouts, patrols, and troops should know that each of these areas are unique and offer valuable opportunities to learn a new skill, practice some old knowledge, or test you.  Remember, part of Scouting means trying new things. 

Aquatics--Pool	Aquatics--Lake	Handicraft
Shooting Sports--Archery Range	Shooting Sports--Rifle Range	Shooting Sports--Shotgun Range
Netami Clan	American Heritage	Scoutcraft
	Nature and Conservation

Merit Badge Program

Purpose:  Any registered Scout, regardless of rank, may work on any merit badge and receive the award when he earns it.  The merit badge program is one of Scouting’s basic character-developing tools. Earning merit badges gives boys the kind of self-confidence that comes only from overcoming difficult obstacles to achieve a goal.

Through the merit badge program, boys learn career skills that might help them choose their lifework. Some merit badges help boys develop physical fitness and provide hobbies that give a lifetime of healthful recreation.

Pre-registration/Registration: In order to best accommodate the needs of each Scout, the Program Director needs to have all Merit Badge Registration Forms handed in at the Pre-camp meeting or before. Merit badge rosters can be mailed to the Camp Office in care of the Program Director. The address is:

Seven Mountains Scout Camp
c/o Program Director
227 Sand Mountain Road
Spring Mills, PA 16827
or
Email: cstyers@bsamail.org 

Class rosters will be compiled from the pre-registration forms so that when a Scout arrives at camp he will only need to turn in his Blue Card and make sure his name appears on the list at Merit Badge Registration on Sunday afternoon.  Preference for classes with size limits will be given to those units who have turned in their forms first. 

If a Scout chooses to change which Merit Badges he is taking, or did not pre-register he will need to meet with the Merit Badge Counselor during Merit Badge Registration.  The Seven Mountains Camp Staff will do their best to accommodate each Scout, but Scouts not pre-registering or registering late may be asked to move to a different session of a merit badge or to choose another merit badge based on class size and availability of equipment. 

Pre-requisites:  Some badge requirements cannot be completed at camp. A Scout may have to do the requirements before he arrives at camp. Remember that if a Scout does not complete all the requirements for a badge, he will receive a partial, and can complete it at any time with a certified counselor.

There are open times listed on the Merit Badge Schedule. These times are to give Scouts the opportunity to complete their badges and also for the first-year Scouts to take a beginner badge.

Supplies:  All supplies needed for certain badges can be purchased at the Trading Post and not at the Program Areas. The price list for these merit badges are available is included with the pre-requisite information.  Merit Badge books can be pre-ordered through the order sheet in the Forms Packet.

Blue Cards:  Only Scouts with Blue Cards filled-out and signed by the Scoutmaster or Unit Leader will be able to participate in merit badge classes. Make sure to bring all Blue Cards on Sunday to Merit Badge Registration.

Difficulty: The difficulty level of a badge is based on the skill and maturity required to complete it at camp.  “Scout” would be the easiest level and open to anyone, “Life” would be the most challenging and most suitable for older Scouts.  This is merely a guide to help you advise Scouts which badges to take.

Updated Merit Badges:  The following Merit Badge requirements were updated in 2008 and 2009.  Please make certain that you have the most up-to-date requirements for these merit badges.

2008: Backpacking, Sculpture, Wilderness Survival
2009: Archery, Collections, Emergency Preparedness, Indian Lore, Insect Study, Lifesaving, Painting, Pottery, Swimming

The 2010 Merit Badge Schedule is available here.

The 2010 Prerequisite Page and 2011 tentative Merit Badge Schedule is available here. 

Advancement at Seven Mountains

Advancement is a significant part of the Scouting and camp program.  It is a measure of a boy’s ability to mark the accomplishment of the troop’s success in carrying on the game of Scouting in the outdoors. Advancement is not an end in itself.  It is rather, a direct result of what happens at camp.  No boy can advance to the Tenderfoot Rank if he does not have a hiking and camp experience as a member of his patrol and a troop.  It is therefore, important that individual boys and their leaders know the method of Scout advancement as it applies in the home community and the camp.

The advancement procedure in camp conforms to National Boy Scout policy:

1. PREPARATION: By the Scout through participation in the troop program at camp.
2. EXAMINATION: Conducted by the Scoutmaster or his designee in the troop.
3. REVIEW: Conducted by members of the troop committee.
4. RECOGNITION: A troop Court of Honor held after the progress review.

Advancement Planning

Advancement Inventory: Prior to meeting with individual Scouts as to their interests in the Seven Mountains Merit Badge Program, the Scoutmaster or designee should review the advancement record for every Scout in the troop.

The Pre-camp Interview: Once an “inventory” of the Scout’s accomplishments has been completed, the Scoutmaster should hold an individual interview with each Scout.  The result of which should be the establishment of an individual achievement goal for each Scout for his stay at camp.  This can then be reviewed at camp. It is extremely difficult for even an advanced Scout to complete more than three or four merit badges in camp in their entirety, without extensive pre-camp preparation on specific requirements.  Disappointment may be avoided here by realistic counseling on the part of the leader.  However, all Scouts if so motivated can earn at least one merit badge during camp (even new Scouts).

Pre-camp Preparation:  After the advancement inventory, and the interview, the Scoutmaster should arrange and encourage the meeting of individual requirements that are not offered at camp, or are best accomplished in the home community.  This will clear the path for meeting the particular progress requirements in the outdoor phase.  Pre-requisites are listed in the merit badge section of this manual.  The Scoutmaster should examine specific merit badge requirements with the Scout to determine which of these can be met before the troop arrives in camp.