Virtual Camping Merit Badge

What: Even amidst social distancing, Scouts can still experience the Great Outdoors in a variety of ways. Camping under the stars is a great way to beat the “quarantine blues.” During the Camping merit badge, Scouts will learn all the precautions and preparations necessary to make any Campout a “wicked awesome” experience! Taught by Eagle Scout and District Executive Matt Goudreau, topics will include everything from meal planning and duty rosters to the importance of proper sleeping equipment. No matter the elements, badge participants will have all the knowledge needed to brave whatever Mother Nature may throw.

 Meet your Counselor - Matt Goudreau is an Eagle Scout and currently serves as the Northwest District Executive at Narragansett Council. Matt is an avid camper who prefers the Fall as his ideal season to spend in the outdoors. His favorite campout locations as a Scout were Camp Yawgoog and Camp Champlin during his time as an NYLT participant and staff member.

WHO: Open to all Scouts BSA members.

HOW:  This Merit Badge will be taught in a virtual classroom. The class has a capacity of 15 Scouts. Small classroom size provides all students with the opportunity to share and interact with the counselors and other Scouts. Scouts should be prepared to be challenged and to join the conversation! Participants who do not engage with the class may not receive credit for the badge. Scouts must be prompt for all badge sessions. Late participants may not receive credit for all requirements. Scouts must use a device with video to access this class.

Before beginning work on any merit badge, scouts are to have a discussion with their unit leader regarding the specific badge and counselor.

WHEN: This class will be held virtually over two sessions:

June 9, 2020 3:00PM-5:00PM EST.

June 16, 2020 3:00PM-5:00PM EST.

Scouts must attend both sessions to complete the offered requirements.

After registering, Scouts will receive a link and login information via email the day of scheduled class. Scouts will also receive instructor details that can be used to connect to the counselor on Scoutbook. This assures that completed requirements are easily recorded. 

PREREQUISITES:  In order to complete the badge within the classes, Scouts must have completed requirements 9a and 9b as a prerequisite. These requirements can be verified with written confirmation from a unit leader. If a Scout has not met the requirements when taking the badge online, they can still take the online classes but will be given a partial. It will then be the responsibility of the Scout to fulfill it on their own and the unit leader can provide written confirmation when finished. 

9. Show experience in camping by doing the following:

1. Camp a total of at least 20 nights at designated Scouting activities or events. One long-term camping experience of up to six consecutive nights may be applied toward this requirement. Sleep each night under the sky or in a tent you have pitched. If the camp provides a tent that has already been pitched, you need not pitch your own tent.
2. On any of these camping experiences, you must do TWO of the following, only with proper preparation and under qualified supervision:
   1. Hike up a mountain where, at some point, you are at least 1,000 feet higher in elevation from where you started.
   2. Backpack, snowshoe, or cross-country ski for at least four miles.
   3. Take a bike trip of at least 15 miles or at least four hours.
   4. Take a non-motorized trip on the water of at least four hours or 5 miles.
   5. Plan and carry out an overnight snow camping experience.
   6. Rappel down a rappel route of 30 feet or more.

Suggested supplies/prep-work for students:

To most effectively participate in the class, Scouts should have basic knowledge of camping equipment. There will be a couple of requirements that involve properly preparing for a campout, such as assembling a backpack and cooking campout meals. Details will be discussed in the first class.