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Merit Badge Universities

 

Will the Troop Be Offering Merit Badges?

Yes. Click here.

What are Merit Badge Universities?

Merit badge Universities are put on by Scout Leaders around the Middle Tennessee area to give scouts the opportunity to earn Merit Badges. Some of the Merit Badges (MB) are rarely taught and this gives the scout an excellent opportunity to earn those MB's.

Who do I contact about upcoming Merit Badge Universities?

Dr. Lisa Langenbach- Click on her name to email her or go to the Adult Roster for additional contact information. All MBUs will be announcened at Troop meetings and via Troop email. READ the Troop email regularly!

Why are they taught at Universities?

The MB's are taught at Universities to give scouts an opportunity to visit the different universities around the state. The faculty and facilites of these univeristes are great resources for many merit badges.

Which Merit Badge Universities does our Troop attend and when are they?

  -Troop 137 puts on its own Merit Badge University called the Barn MBU, in Janaury of each year. This is open to all scouts and gives the boys the opportunity to start and sometimes finish two merit badges in one day..
  - Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN is offered in mid-February and is open ONLY to First Class scouts and above or those who are at least 13.
- Cumberland University in Lebanon is offered in mid-March and is open to all scouts.
  - Cogioba University in Clarksville, TN is offered in late October and is open to all scouts.

How do I signup for a Merit Badge University ?

An email will be sent to the Troop email list a week or so before signups begin. All signups will be taken at the barn and the fee must accompany signups. Merit Badge Universities usually cost around $12-15 dollars and include lunch and a patch, and all instruction and materials for the badge. VOLUNTEER parent drivers are NEEDED for every MBU. Please volunteer to drive! The Bulletin Board in the Barn will show the merit badges offered and the cost for the MBU. You will typically need to select the top 3 MB's that you want to attend. SIGNUP EARLY. There is no guarantee that you will get the MB that you want or if you will be able to attend. However, scouts typically get what they signup for if they signup immediately.

What is the a cost?

The cost covers all instruction, all materials, a patch, and lunch. At Cogioba boys are given a brown bag lunch and at MTSU the boys can eat all they want from a big buffet with many different choices.The cost is typically $12-$15. Often boys appreciate a few dollars for a drink or snack from vending machines as well.

How do boys get to and from the MBU?

Volunteer parent drivers pickup a carload of boys at the barn early in the morning, drive to the MBU, and then drive the boys back to the barn in the afternoon. Usually we leave around 6:45am and return by 5:00pm. Driving to an MBU does NOT obligate you to hang out on campus all day, although you are free to use the campus library or computer facilities if you wish. Please volunteer to drive!

What do scouts wear to the MBU?

All scouts MUST wear full Class A uniform to all MBUs. That means the khaki shirt complete with all rank, patrol and troop emblems sewn on. It means wearing decent pants--official scout pants or khaki or dark green twill pants, or clean nice jeans with a belt and shirt tucked in, all day. Under no circumstances are scouts to wear gym pants, shiny athletic pants, or sweats.

A Word about Eagle Badges and MBUs

The Troop strongly discourages Eagle required merit badges from being taken at Merit Badge Universities due to the uncertainly of instruction on these most important badges. Any Eagle required merit badge done at an MBU must be reviewed by the certified MB counselor upon return to ascertain that the scout really learned the material. Over the course of a year, at least eight Eagle required merit badges will be offered by Troop 137 counselors. Keep a close watch on Troop email for information about these badges being offered. See the Merit Badge page here on the website fro more details.