Aug. 15, 2008 - Stacking Badges
The troop's Court of Honor is tomorrow. S & S will be awarded about a dozen badges each. They have earned them all. One way they have been able to earn so many is by stacking badges.
AKA, derisively, as "Double-dipping."
Every MBC differs on their view of stacking badges. Most are pretty clear that the exact requirement must be fulfilled, and that "close enough" isn't. But just how many times does Senji need to take CPR?
The boys have gone to stacking. Different badges, but requirements that can be done at the same time.
Stacking (or integrating) badges is simply working on those that share requirements at the same time. I prefer to think of it as working on different parts of a tapestry. They're all woven together. Here are some of those Seijitsu and Soumei plan to or have stacked.
They recently worked on Archaeology. It stacks nicely with Indian Lore. Many of the requirements are very similar, especially if the dig they're working on is an Indian one. Choose American Indians as one of your three cultures for American Cultures, and have a head start on that badge.
Citizenship in the Community and American Labor both have a photo essay as an option. Photography fits well. Mail one of those photos to a friend and complete a Computers requirement.
Nature is one that can be stacked several ways. Think of Nature as the house, and these badges as rooms in the house: Bird Study, Mammal Study, Insect Study, Geology, Forestry. I'm not suggesting doing all of them at the same time; just opening the blue cards and documenting the work so that when your Scout IS working on Forestry, he can look back and see that he fulfilled requirement 1 with Nature requirement 4g.
American Labor is almost a sub-badge of American Business. While you're at it, plan out your business according to the Entrepreneurship guidelines.
Public Speaking requires several speeches. Make the best use of your time, and keep it interesting by fulfilling the speech requirements from the following badges: Citizenship in the Community (optional), Communications, or Oceanography (optional) .
Animal Science - Choose the Horse Option, and do the Horsemanship badge at the same time.
Crime Prevention - If you choose option 7c, visiting a detention facility, you should be able to easily arrange a long enough session to earn your Fingerprinting badge at the same time.
First Aid - Get this badge as soon as you can. Many counselors will simply accept that you've done the requirements for other badges because you've satisfied the First Aid requirements. Otherwise, you'll get to demonstrate over and over again (which may not be a bad thing, after all). Badges that require First Aid components include: Athletics, Camping, Canoeing, Climbing, Cycling, Emergency Preparedness, Hiking, Orienteering, Pioneering, Skating, Small-Boat Sailing, Snow Sports, Sports, Swimming, Waterskiing, Water Sports, and Wilderness Surivival.
Soil and Water Conservation - Req 4 (watershed) is closely related to Environmental Science req 2, and to Forestry req 3b. Req 7a6 is the same as Public Health req 5a, a visit to a wastewater treatment plant. Req 7a2 is the same as Forestry req 5a, a trip to a managed forest.
Home Repairs - This is a great one to do at the same time as Family Life Req 4, a project around the house that benefits your family. Req 5 is all about Plumbing, so do that badge at the same time.
What badges has your Scout stacked? |
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Nov. 8, 2008 - Stacking ideas
Painting and Family Life - try to plan a family project that includes painting. For the MB, the Scout only has to prep and paint one wall.
Plant Science and Gardening - be sure to plant flowers and/or veggies that will count for both
Drafting and Architecture - the same to-scale drawing of the bedroom and furnishings can be use for both
Reading and Oceanography - Chose a non-fiction book for one of the 6 books, and have it be about Oceanography and then use that option for that MB
Public Speaking and Disablity Awareness - Have the speech about disabilities count for Public Speakings 3-5 minute speech