PowWow Purpose

The merit badge program is one of Boy Scouting’s basic character-developing tools. Earning merit badges gives a boy the confidence that comes from learning and developing skills to achieve a goal - while working through adult mentors. At the Council PowWow, our purpose is to facilite group instruction with approved merit badge counselors who will work with the Scouts during the PowWow sessions. However, this group experience should be accompanied by parent and local unit attention to each Scout’s projects and his ability to fulfill all merit badge requirements. Attending group instruction does not, by itself, qualify a Scout for any merit badge—he must complete all merit badge requirements!

Merit Badge Instruction

Merit badge instruction is available to a Scout for up to three merit different badges of his choice (with some exceptions).

Before You Register a Scout

Please review the requirements for each merit badge before registering your Scout. Some of the requirements will be completed at the PowWow, but Scouts will need to work on a majority of the requirements at home, either before the program or as homework between sessions. Please take the time to go over the merit badge worksheets with your Scout BEFORE the PowWow so he will be prepared. A significant amount of class time will be used by the merit badge counselors to review and pass off the requirements that have been completed outside of class. There is no guarantee that a Scout will complete all requirements for a merit badge during the PowWow. If he does not, additional follow-up with your local merit badge counselor will be required.

Materials Needed

Each Scout will need to obtain and bring the following to the PowWow (these are NOT supplied at the PowWow):

1. A Merit Badge Application Card (Blue Card) for each merit badge the Scout is pursuing (available at the Grand Teton Council Office, or possibly from your Scoutmaster). The Scoutmaster should sign these cards in advance of the PowWow.
2. A Merit Badge Worksheet (see right) for each merit badge the Scout is pursuing. Please print and use the merit badge worksheets from the Council PowWow site ONLY. If others are used, we cannot guarantee the requirements will be covered by the instructor during PowWow.
3. Bring Your Own Camp Chair - And take it with you when you rotate to your class.

Merit Badge Application Cards

In keeping with the BSA Grand Teton Council policy, merit badges may only be issued to those who use an official BSA Merit Badge Application Card.

PowWow Merit Badge Worksheets will not be accepted at the Council Office in place of the official Merit Badge Application Card. Each Scout will be responsible to obtain his own cards and have them signed by his Scoutmaster before the PowWow begins. Merit badge cards will be signed by PowWow merit badge counselors only if all merit badge requirements are completed. Scouts who do not complete all the requirements should take their partially completed Merit Badge Worksheets to their local leaders for completion, review, and signature.

MERIT BADGES PROVIDED AT THE POWWOW

Click the Merit Badge to download the worksheet that you MUST bring with you along with a blue card.

Worksheet Instructions

• Print the Merit Badge Worksheet for each class in which you enroll.
• Read the requirements listed on each worksheet. Some requirements need to be completed BEFORE the first day of PowWow, so we strongly recommend reviewing the worksheet at least two weeks before the program begins.
• Bring your worksheets to the PowWow classes—they will NOT be provided by the PowWow.
• Save your worksheets in case you need to complete any requirements after the program, or in case you misplace your merit badge card.