Pushmataha District Merit Badge College
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERIT BADGE COLLEGE
Location, Dates, and Times
The Pushmataha District Merit Badge College is held at Mississippi State University (75 B. S. Hood Rd, Starkville MS 39762). The merit badge college will take place on Saturday, March 25, 2023, and units and individuals have the option to camp at Camp Seminole on Friday, March 24, 2023.
Scouts and leaders who are camping on Friday, March 24, 2023, should plan to arrive at Camp Seminole between 6:00-10:00 p.m. Camping check-in will be at the Admin building on Camp Seminole; leaders or families who need to pay the college fees or make registration adjustments may do so at the Admin Building that evening between 6:00-9:30
p.m. No dinner on Friday night will be provided.
Saturday registration begins at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering (ChE) at Mississippi State University (MSU); the opening ceremony will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering Building.
Merit badge classes will be offered over two periods, the first from 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and the second from 1:00-4:30 p.m. Some merit badges are offered in one period only, while others will meet the entire day, over both periods. Lunch break is from 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Registering for the Merit Badge College and Assistance
Units or individuals may register for the merit badge college. All registrations should be placed at natcheztracecouncil.org; merit badge selections and registrations options can be made through the online registration; please note that merit badge classes that are unlisted on the registration page are full. Please contact Merit Badge College Coordinator Gary Smith, at garyl.smith@scouting.org or 662-518-0723, for any general event questions. Please contact Natchez Trace Council, at 662-842-2871 if you need registration assistance.
Behavioral and Dress Expectations
Scouts are expected to attend and engage in the merit badge classes for which they have registered. All participants are expected to abide by the Scout Oath and Law during the merit badge college. Any participant whose conduct does not meet this standard may be asked to leave a merit badge class (without receiving credit) and/or the event. Scouts, with the assistance of their leaders or parent(s)/guardian(s), are responsible for arriving at their scheduled classes on time. Scouts should wear the BSA field (“Class A”) uniform at the event.
We ask adult leaders and parents to assist us in providing additional coverage for merit badge classes. All of our instructors are volunteering their time to provide a great program for our Scouts, so extra supervision and support are appreciated!
Merit Badge Scheduling, Details, and Required Waivers
Merit badges are scheduled for one (morning, 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., or afternoon, 1:00-4:30 p.m.) or both sessions (all day).
Merit badge instruction will follow the requirements listed by the Boy Scouts of America for each class. The merit badge matrix in this guide lists any prerequisites or requirements that cannot be completed at the merit badge college. While every effort will be made to help Scouts complete as much of each badge as possible, some requirements simply cannot be completed in a single day. Each Scout will receive a folder that contains merit badge workbooks for the merit badges for which he or she is registered.
Merit Badge Completion and Progress Reports
Merit badge requirement completion information will be entered in Tentaroo, the registration platform, and available for access by leaders or parents within seventy-two hours after the merit badge college concludes. Unit leaders are responsible for following up with Scouts/families on merit badge completions and award presentations.
Getting Around Campus and Starkville
All Scouts and leaders will be presented with a map of Mississippi State University at check-in at the merit badge college. Additionally, Scouts will receive a schedule with building and room numbers or meeting locations for each of the merit badges for which they are registered. The link for the interactive campus map is https://map.msstate.edu/
Participation Fees
Registration for the merit badge college is $15.00 per Scout for Saturday only; this fee includes a patch, and any course materials.
Camping at Camp Seminole on Friday night, March 24,2023. Sign up on the website; natcheztracecouncil.org.
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Pushmataha District Merit Badge College March 25, 2023
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