Troop 66 Merit Badges Counselors  Table of Contents

     To apply as a Merit Badge Counselor, click here to fill out the required form and submit it to the Scoutmaster at the next Troop Meeting! You will also need to complete an Boy Scouts of America Adult Registration Application (No Fee) (No. 28-501W) as a Merit Badge Counselor (Unit Position Code 42) (Available from the Scoutmaster or the Northeast Illinois Council Service Center).

NOTE: By submitting the Adult Registration Application you are authorizing a criminal background check of yourself. This check will be made from Public Record Sources. You will have an opportunity to review and challenge any adverse information disclosed by the check.

Advancement Opportunities at Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Summer Camp Program

Northeast Illinois Council's Camp Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Scout Reservation offers our Scouts many advancement opportunities, which are not readily available during troop meetings or campouts. The out-of-doors are a natural place for Scouts to develop skills and gain knowledge in areas not usually available in the regular meeting place.

Advancement at Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan is based on five general steps:

1. Preparation:    No better place than Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan.
2. Qualification.  Thorough examination by unit adult and youth leaders.
3. Review:            Camp staff can assist you with Boards of Review
4. Recognition:   A Court of Honor can be arranged at camp. Rank badges and merit badge patches are not available at camp. 
   
   There is a Scout Shop in Wausau. (Approx. 64 miles southwest of camp.)

   SAMOSET COUNCIL SHOP
   3713 Camp Phillips Road
   Weston, WI 54476
   Telephone: (715)355-1450

5. Recorded: Advancements are NOT recorded until the unit files an Advancement Report. Copies of merit badge records from camp are maintained at the Northeast Illinois Council Service Center.

RANK REQUIREMENTS
Each troop, in the course of regular patrol and troop activities at Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan should handle most of the rank requirements. The camp staff is available to provide special help through the Camp Commissioner Service. Example: Camp Staff could assist on a board of a review and help select service projects.

TRAILBLAZER PROGRAM
This program provides first and second year campers the opportunity to become familiar with the camp program while working on numerous advancement requirements from ranks Tenderfoot to First Class. This is a great way for Scouts new to Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan to get involved and decide what they want from camp next year while at the same time working on rank advancement. 

MERIT BADGES
Merit badge opportunities, while not the entire camp program, are an integral part of the Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan experience. It is the recommendation of the Council Boy Scout Outdoor Committee that no Scout come to camp exclusively to earn merit badges. There are just too many other experiences at Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan. For this reason and past experience, we recommend that Scouts should pursue no more than three or four merit badges during a one-week period. For some Scouts two merit badges are adequate. Scouts who are not able to complete a merit badge at camp may complete the remaining portion of a merit badge at home through the usual unit advancement program.

MERIT BADGE PROGRAM AT CAMP
Advancement Preparation: Each Scout should determine what merit badges he wants to work on before he goes to camp. Many merit badges cannot be completed at camp without some prior work or preparation. The Scout should bring a signed note from his home Merit Badge Counselor or Scoutmaster as evidence of work completed. Many merit badges do not have scheduled times. Waterfront, some Eco-Con, the Horse Ranch and Shooting Sports merit badges have regular sessions and a schedule will be available.
Offered and Requirements: Scouts should use the following information to select the merit badges they want to work on and for completing requirements before came. (Requirements are based on the current edition of the Merit Badge Requirement Book).
Must do Before Camp: These are requirements that cannot be completed at camp or are pre-requisites for working on the merit badge.
Can Do At Camp: These are requirements that can be done at camp without any problems. They involve doing, demonstrating or explaining.

ECOLOGY/CONSERVATION	MUST DO BEFORE CAMP	CAN DO AT CAMP
Astronomy	2, 3a, 3b	1, 3c-9
Bird Study		All
Energy	6	All
Environmental Science	Advance work on 1, 2, 3e, 3f(2), 6 & 7 is strongly recommended. Bring pen/paper and a clear 2-liter bottle to the 1st session.	All
Fishing		All
Fish/Wildlife Management		All
Forestry		All
Geology		All
Mammal Study		All
Nature	4 (Mollusks)   4b (Birds)     4b (Insects)	1-3, 4 (Fish) 4 (Rocks) 4 (Birds) 4 (Mammals) 4 (Reptiles) 4a (Insects) 4 (Plants)
Reptile and Amphibian Study	8	1-7,10
Soil/Water Conservation		All
Weather	8	1-7,9

SCOUTCRAFT AREA	MUST DO BEFORE CAMP	CAN DO AT CAMP
Backpacking	8c, 10, 11	1-9
Camping		All but 9a. Scoutmaster can sign-off this and 5e, 6a, 7c, 8c & 9b from past camping experiences
Cooking	7 (cooking at home)	All
Hiking	Requires 6 hikes totaling 70 miles	All
Orienteering	7	All but 7
Pioneering		All
Wilderness Survival		All

WATERFRONT AREA	MUST DO BEFORE CAMP	CAN DO AT CAMP
Canoeing		All
Lifesaving	1a	All
Motorboating	(Limited enrollment) Read up on rules & regulations for WI & IL	All
Rowing		All
Small Boat Sailing		All
Swimming		All
Whitewater	Canoeing	All - At Camp Admin
Note: Most waterfront badges require a high level of swimming proficiency: check requirements before coming to camp. Swimming, Lifesaving and BSA Lifeguard candidates should bring a long sleeve button shirt and long pants for use in the water. All waterfront merit badges have a CPR requirement - it is  recommended this be completed before coming to camp if at all possible. (See Training Note below)

- Eagle Scout required Merit Badge

| Home | Welcome | Calendar | MB Counselors List | Links | Places We Go |
| Troop Forms | Past Events | Eagles Nest | Order of the Arrow | Join Us! |