Wow, do I have a bunch of sharp-eyed readers! The other day, when I had a \u201cbrain hiccup\u201d and told a fellow Scouter that Camping merit badge doesn\u2019t require that the 20 days and nights be Scouting activity- or event-related, I was flat-out WRONG! You all wrote instantly! Thank you! Here\u2019s a sampling\u2026<\/p>\n
Dear Andy,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I love your column and look forward to it every month. I do have one comment regarding your last column regarding the Camping merit badge. The BSA revised the requirements in 2007 to state:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 9. Show experience in camping by doing the following: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n a. Camp a total of at least 20 days and 20 nights. Sleep each night under the sky or in a tent you have pitched. The 20 days and 20 nights must be at a designated Scouting activity or event. You may use a week of long-term camp toward this requirement. If the camp provides a tent that has already been pitched, you need not pitch your own tent. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Dear Andy,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n In reference to Bob Zink’s question (1\/10\/08) and your answer concerning the Camping merit badge and the counting of the 20 days\/nights camping, you said, \u201cSince requirement 9(a) doesn\u2019t stipulate that these nights must be done in a Scouting \u2018environment,\u2019 anyone insisting on this would be in violation of BSA policy, because this would constitute an addition to the requirement.” Your answer is incorrect: The requirements for the Camping merit badge were revised effective 1\/1\/2007. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The following sentence was added to requirement 9(a): “The 20 days and 20 nights must be at a designated Scouting activity or event.”<\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I greatly enjoy reading your columns. Thanks!<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Victor Stephenson, ASM, National Capital Area Council, VA<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Dear Andy,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Quick! Read the requirements for this badge… It does say that the 20 nights must be at a designated Scouting activity or event. The requirements were changed in 2007 to eliminate the family camping option.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Dear Andy,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I understand that Camping merit badge\u2019s requirement 9a was changed for 2007 to read in part: “Camp a total of at least 20 days and 20 nights. The 20 days and 20 nights must be at a designated Scouting activity or event\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Hi Andy, <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n As a Camping Merit Badge Counselor, I\u2019m writing to inform you that the 9a camping requirement has been changed. The old requirement read simply: “Camp a total of at least 20 days and 20 nights. Sleep each night under the sky or in a tent you have pitched. You may use a week of long-term camp toward this requirement.” As of January 1, 2007, that requirement now says: “Camp a total of at least 20 days and 20 nights. Sleep each night under the sky or in a tent you have pitched. The 20 days and 20 nights must be at a designated Scouting activity or event<\/span>. You may use a week of long-term camp toward this requirement.” <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n This used to be a big discussion not only in my troop but in other troops as well. I think that\u2019s why they clarified the requirement. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Dear Andy,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I continue to see many readers write to you asking clarification on the Camping merit badge requirement concerning the number of days camped and what qualifies as a camping trip. You said that requirement 9a doesn’t stipulate that the camping be done in a \u201cScouting environment.” But a look at the Camping merit badge requirements listed on the National Council website states: <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n 9. Show experience in camping by doing the following:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n a. Camp a total of at least 20 days and 20 nights. The 20 days and 20 nights must be at a designated Scouting activity or event.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019d interpret this as that all camping for the merit badge must be Scout-related. I\u2019m not sure if this is a recent correction or revision to the merit badge, but the wording in its present form should end any further debate on the subject.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \n John Walston, Unit Commissioner, Central NC Council<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n So I\u2019ll take my twenty lashes with a wet lanyard\u2014I sure deserve them!<\/p>\n But this raises another fundamental question that one might be inclined to ask, and it\u2019s this: \u201cBy insisting on camping only within a Scouting context, isn\u2019t Scouting discouraging boys from camping on their own, or with their families? This seems wrong!\u201d<\/em> To this argument, I\u2019d suggest that, by making this further camping stipulation, Scouting is in no way discouraging boys from camping, but is teaching, in fact, a larger life-lesson: You don\u2019t get a badge for everything you do<\/span>.<\/p>\n Too often, I\u2019ve seen zealot-Scoutmasters tell Scouts, \u201cShow up to help out our sponsor and you\u2019ll get service hour credit,\u201d or \u201cGo on this camping trip and you\u2019ll get credit for First Class requirement such-and-such,\u201d or \u201cTie these knots and I\u2019ll sign you off\u2026\u201d Scoutmasters don\u2019t hold exclusive rights on this: I\u2019ve equally seen Den Leaders charge through Cub Scout rank requirements in den meetings, which is equally misguided.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the point: We do our duty to our God and our country, we help others, we are trustworthy, loyal, courteous, kind, clean, reverent, and prepared not to \u201cget a badge\u201d but, much more importantly, because we\u2019ve come to adopt the foundational principles of Scouting as a daily way of life. This<\/span> is what Scouting\u2019s truly all about.<\/p>\n Happy Scouting!<\/p>\n Andy<\/p>\nBrian Chassells, Scoutmaster, South Texas Council<\/h4>\n
Martha Parks<\/h4>\n
\nJohn Shepard, Scoutmaster, Sioux Council, MN<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nAngela DeThomas, MBC, Greater Pittsburgh Council, PA<\/em><\/h4>\n