Signaling Merit Badge is Now Official!!
Yes, the BSA is officially offering the Signaling Merit Badge after all!!! During the next 9 months will be your only chance to get this merit badge.
In honor of the BSA’s 100th Anniversary today’s generation of Scouts will get the unique opportunity to experience some of the activities their predecessors enjoyed. That’s possible thanks to the BSA’s new Historical Merit Badge Program, a set of four discontinued merit badges that today’s Scouts can earn.
Mr. Wells has agreed to be a merit badge councilor for the Signaling Merit Badge. This merit badge can be considered the ultimate texting merit badge that does not even require an electronic device (but could also be done using such devices to create a secret code if two or more of you learned it). It is not an easy merit badge to get and you only have till December 31, 2010 to complete the requirements but it will count toward rank advancement just like any other merit badge. If at least two people get it in our troop we will use it at your camp site. All four historic merit badges will have a special gold emblem around them. The requirements are
1. Make an electric buzzer outfit, wireless, blinker, or other signaling device.
2. Send and receive in the International Morse Code, by buzzer or other sound device, a complete message of not less than 35 words, at a rate of not less than 35 letters per minute.
3. Demonstrate an ability to send and receive a message in the International Morse Code by wigwag and by blinker or other light signaling device at the rate of not less than 20 letters per minute.
4. Send and receive by Semaphore Code at the rate of not less than 30 letters per minute.
5. Know the proper application of the International Morse and Semaphore Codes; when, where, and how they can be used to best advantage.
6. Discuss briefly various other codes and methods of signaling which are in common use.
The good news is that computers can now be used to help you learn both the International Morse code and semaphore codes. If you are interested in completing this merit badge please sign up. Mr. Wells plans to begin with some regular classes in early April if there is enough interest.
More information about the signaling merit badge that includes a copy of the merit badge book is available from the official 100 year in scouting web site at
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/Merit...
How to sign up!!
Send an email to Mr. Wells at bewells@integrity.com. Include in the email your name and desire to earn the signaling merit badge. He will get back to you.
