Posts Tagged ‘merit badge’
Merit Badge Clinic
Our Stake (LDS stake made up of LDS Wards) is sponsoring a Merit Badge Clinic this week. The Young Mens Presidency will be providing Merit Badge Counselors for the following merit badges. Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Family Life, Personal Management and Eagle Project Prep. I hope all goes well tonight and the scouts in our LDS Stake will get a change to earn some of these more difficult merit badges.
Required Merit Bages
Along with these merit badges, we are encouraging the young men to also pass of some of the Duty to God requirements. DTG should go hand in hand with the Scouting program. To demonstrate this, I have put together a list of “similar” requirements in each that match. Here is what I have put together.
Communications
Requirement #3 = Page 14 Deacons DTG #3 “Give a talk in Priesthood or Sacrament Meeting”
Requirement #5 = Page 21 Deacons DTG #3 “Visit a government office. After your visit, explain to a parent or priesthood leader the function of the office.”
Requirement #9 = Page 21 Deacons DTG #2 “Choose 2 careers you may be interested in doing someday. Find out what educational or other requirements you would need for them, and interview someone in each position to learn what you must do to prepare for these careers.”
Requirement #4= Page 24 Deacons DTG #3, “3. Show a parent or a priesthood leader that you know how to use proper manners while eating, greeting acquaintances in formal and informal settings, greeting a person of authority, and introducing a speaker at a public event”
Citizenship in the Community
Requirement #7 = Page 14 of Deacons DTG #2 “Participate in 2 Quorum Service Projects”
Requirement #1 = Page 24 Deacon DTG #5. “Explain to a parent or priesthood leader what it means to obey, honor, and sustain the law.”
Requirement #3 = Page 21 Deacons DTG #3 “Visit a government office. After your visit, explain to a parent or priesthood leader the function of the office.”
General information = Page 21 Deacons DTG #2 “Choose 2 careers you may be interested in doing someday. Find out what educational or other requirements you would need for them, and interview someone in each position to learn what you must do to prepare for these careers.”
Citizenship in the Nation
Requirement #1 = Page 24 Deacon DTG #5. “Explain to a parent or priesthood leader what it means to obey, honor, and sustain the law.”
Requirement #2b,c = Page 21 Deacons DTG #3 “Visit a government office. After your visit, explain to a parent or priesthood leader the function of the office.”
General information = Page 21 Deacons DTG #2 “Choose 2 careers you may be interested in doing someday. Find out what educational or other requirements you would need for them, and interview someone in each position to learn what you must do to prepare for these careers.”
Citizenship in the World
Requirement #1 = Page 24 Deacon DTG #5. “Explain to a parent or priesthood leader what it means to obey, honor, and sustain the law.”
Requirement #7e = Page 21 Deacons DTG #6 “Attend a cultural event such as a church, school, or community play, music program, or musical.”
General information = Page 21 Deacons DTG #2 “Choose 2 careers you may be interested in doing someday. Find out what educational or other requirements you would need for them, and interview someone in each position to learn what you must do to prepare for these careers.”
Family Life
Requirement #1 = Page 16 Deacons DTG #2, “Read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World, Review them with a parent or priesthood leader.”
Requirement #5 = Page 13 of Deacons DTG #7 ” Perform at least 2 service projects for your family each year.”
Requirement #3 = Page 13 Deacons DTG #5 “With the help and permission of a parent, prepare at least 2 meals for your family. Where possible, also wash and iron your clothes for 1 month.”
Requirement #6 = Page 13 Deacons DTG #3, “Under the direction of your parents, organize and teach at least 4 family home evening lessons each year. You may want to consider using topics from For the Strength of Youth.”
Requirement #7 = Page 16 Deacons DTG #2, “Read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World, Review them with a parent or priesthood leader.”
General information = Page 21 Deacons DTG #2 “Choose 2 careers you may be interested in doing someday. Find out what educational or other requirements you would need for them, and interview someone in each position to learn what you must do to prepare for these careers.”
Personal Management
Requirement #2 = Page 22 Deacons DTG #9, “Develop and follow a financial budget for 3 months.”
General Information = Page 17 Deacons DTG #9, “Set up a plan to be spiritually and financially prepared to go on a mission at age 19.”
Requirement #10 = Page 21 Deacons DTG #2 “Choose 2 careers you may be interested in doing someday. Find out what educational or other requirements you would need for them, and interview someone in each position to learn what you must do to prepare for these careers.
Merit Badges
This last spring, our stake held a merit badge clinic. This is where the scouts can come to the church and sign up for 2 merit badge. The first week, the scouts go over the requirements of each merit badge and start learning about the topic. Usually, these merit badges are the “required” merit badges.
Required Merit Bages
During this particular Clinic, Andy, my son, signed up for Communications and Personal Management. Fortunately, or unfortunatly, the merit badge counselor for PM was someone he knew very well. It happened to be his Dad, yep, me. We were able to get through most of the merit badge during the 2 sessions we had, however, there were 2 requirements the he could not finish in just 2 weeks. There is a section of this merit badge that requires scouts to record their financial information for 3 months. AARRGGHH! It is very hard to keep scouts focused that long to get that badge. So, I setup a plan for him. I created an excel spreadsheet that detailed each week of the 3 month period. Each Sunday, I told him to go down to the computer and record how much money he spent and how much money he earned. At the same time, I knew that he could work on another merit badge that required a 3 month record to be kept. “Family Life” is that badge. So, I created another tab and had him record his list of jobs and duties in our house and I had him record when and what he did each week. So, while he was recording one (Personal Management), he recorded the other (Family Life).
I am very happy to report that today, he finished! Great Job Andy. He is that much closer to getting the final goal which is the Eagle Scout Award.
Voices
I guess every family gets to this point at sometime in their family’s life cycle. Our kids are starting to sound like us, the parents. Let me explain.
Tonight, we went to my son’s Court of Honor where he earned 9 merit badges. We were all very proud of his accomplishment. He has now earned enough badges to advance to the rank of “Star“. Most of these Merit Badges came from his work up at Scout Camp (Camp Bradley to be specific). Although we are very excited about his progress, our discussions with friends in our lds ward was that our kids are starting to sound like us on the phone. One friend commented that when she would get on the phone, then immediately think they are talking to me or my wife and just rattle on about the events of the day and then notice that there isn’t an immediate response. The sheepish reply was, “I’ll get my Mom for you, just a sec.” Of course, the caller is embarrassed to have just assumed that they were talking to Deanna.
I guess everyone reaches that point, but I guess it has just become more and more noticeable these last few week. I guess our kids are growing up and now are starting to sound like us, for better or for worse.
