Thanks for your interest in Merit Badge University! Due to overwhelming interest we have decided to extend registration through Tuesday, October 10th beyond our original Saturday closing. We have several classes with seats left, but you need to sign up and pay soon to lock in your spot. See you Saturday at Merit Badge University!
Attending this Clinic does not guarantee that the Scout will receive a Merit Badge. Scouts who complete the pre-requisites and have reviewed the Merit Badge Booklet have a much better chance of completing the Merit Badge at the clinic. While the National Advancement policy does not restrict merit badges based on age, there are some subjects that require more maturity and knowledge to grasp concepts and complete the Merit Badge.
DESCRIPTION
The Merit Badge University is a Quality Merit Badge Program that helps Scouts learn about different fields from experienced professional counselors, in a controlled class size. The Merit Badge University is also a community service Project. This event is promoted via www.meritbadge.info.
We are guests of Oglethorpe University. There shall be NO littering, defacing or destruction of this fine university. Our behavior will determine whether or not we can do this event again.
Many Merit Badge Counselors will email class information prior to the merit badge event. In the spirit of BSA Youth Protection guidelines, please provide an email address for the Scout’s parents rather than the individual Scout on the registration site. The Scoutmaster should NOT use his own email address to register all boys in his troop.
RULES FOR PARTICIPATION
1. Each unit is asked to provide one adult for every 4 boys who participate. This will help with crowd control, as well as insure quality of results within the classroom environment.
2. Scouts must have prior approval from their Scoutmaster before attending, as demonstrated by the issuance of a Blue Card.
3. Scouts must behave in a Scout-like manner. Disruptive youth will be removed from the group and either spend the remainder of the day with their Scoutmaster or be picked up by their parent/guardian.
4. The Unit adults are responsible for the Scouts who attend. While we strive to provide a safe and secure environment, attendance is at your own risk.
5. Leaders and Scouts are to keep all meeting areas free of trash and encourage other to do the same. No food or drink in any Oglethorpe building!
6. Scouts should bring with them: BLUE CARD (required), Merit Badge booklet or printed worksheet (recommended), Completed pre-requisites (recommended), jacket for morning outdoor assembly (recommended), a pen/pencil and paper (required), and a few dollars for the concession stand (if desired).
RIGHT TO LIMIT OR CANCEL
The Merit Badge University will reserve the right to limit or cancel any class. Merit Badges to be offered are subject to change based on MB Counselor availability and class minimums. Pre-event registration is REQUIRED. NO WALK-INS will be allowed.
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
Scouts are registered for classes on a first come, first served basis via the online registration system. There is no waiting list for any of the merit badges classes. If classes are full, please monitor the website in case seats become available.
UNIFORM
Scouts: the Full Class A field uniform is the official uniform for the day. The merit badge jacket or sash may also be worn.
CODE OF CONDUCT
The Scout Oath, the Law, and the Outdoor Code shall be the code of the Merit Badge Day. A Scout whose conduct is not consistent with the code will be directed to leave the grounds immediately. Adequate supervision must be provided by each participating unit. Discipline is the responsibility of the Scoutmaster or other assigned leaders in charge of the troop.
TRANSPORTATION
Scouts must be picked up by their parent, legal guardian, sibling over the age of 18, or troop adult (with 2-deep leadership demonstrated).
CHECK IN
Park in the lot outside Dorough Field House. Go past the Guard House and straight through the Roundabout. Join the Scouts on the Academic Quad (Green Lawn) for the Chick-fil-A Breakfast and the Opening Assembly. The Assembly will be outdoors so dress appropriately.
EVENT SCHEDULE
6:30-7:30AM Set up (no Scouts admitted before 7:30am)
7:30-8:10AM Arrival. Chick-fil-A breakfast provided for all Scouts and Leaders wearing Field uniforms
8:15-8:30AM Flags and Opening Assembly, Color Guard Troop XXXX
8:45 AM Disburse to individual Merit Badge Classes
12:45PM- 1:00PM Counselors Return Blue Cards to Scouts
1:00PM Conclusion of Merit Badge Clinic. Pick up Scouts at Academic Quad (green lawn)
CLEAN UP
A Scout is clean. Troop Leaders please coordinate with your troop to clean the premises and to keep the classrooms in the same condition as found. Future offerings of the Merit Badge University will largely depend on how neat we leave the place. All garbage must be properly disposed into designated containers or carried out.
BLUE CARDS
The Merit Badge Counselor will give credit for completed requirements ONLY. The Scout should complete all other requirements not covered in class, at his own pace and with his own troop counselors. A Scout should come prepared for the Merit Badge by reading the Merit Badge booklet. While not required, there are unofficial worksheets available at Merit Badge worksheet (http://usscouts.org/mb/mbindex.asp) that can assist in the preparation.
Merit Badge Booklets can be ordered directly from the Atlanta Area Council Scout Shop at 770-988-9912 or the B.S. A. Catalog at 1-800-323-0732 or Online at scoutstuff.org: Books A-Z
The Blue Cards will be updated with tasks completed in class and returned to the Scouts BEFORE they depart the classroom. It is the responsibility of the Scout to request and obtain his Blue Card.
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
The online registration site is: www.MeritBadge.info
Troops can register Scouts as a group and pay online, or parents can also register Scouts individually and pay online. Parents need to open user accounts before they register Scouts for merit badge classes.
Go to www.meritbadge.info
Click on the red “Event Registration System” oval
Scroll down to the event "2016 Atlanta Area Council Merit Badge University at Oglethorpe University"
Either click on the event title to view all the information about this event including schedule, merit badges offered what to bring, parking, directions, etc OR click on the red Sign Up oval on the far right to go to the ‘Log On / Register New User’ page.
From the ‘Log On / Register New User” page, follow the instructions to add your Scouts to the event and pay for your registration.
[Note to TroopMasters: If Scouts in your troop are to appear on the same event roster, NEW USERS (ACCOUNT HOLDERS) must enter the same STATE, COUNCIL, DISTRICT NAME, and TROOP NUMBER. The "Change Unit" on their online profile can be used to edit these fields to collect Scouts into one troop].
PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
We use PayPal, (a commercial banking and credit card processing service) accepting MasterCard, Discover Card, Amex or VISA. There is no charge to you for this service to make payments. You pay by simply clicking at the "Click Here for Online Payment" link provided during online registration. Payment information is sent via encrypted link to the Secure PayPal center. None of your credit information is saved by MeritBadge.Info or Atlanta Area Council. Please print your registration information at “Show & Print Roster” for your records.
NO REFUNDS! A Troop may substitute another Scout into the same merit badge class on the day of the event.
DIRECTIONS TO OGLETHORPE
Address: 4484 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta GA 30319
From I-85
NorthTake North Druid Hills Road (exit 89). Head West approximately 2 miles to Peachtree Road and turn right (north). Oglethorpe University is 1 mile ahead on the left.
From I-285
Take Peachtree Industrial Boulevard (Exit 31A) south. Continue on Peachtree about 4 miles. Oglethorpe is on the right OR
Take Ashford Dunwoody Road (Exit 29) and go south to Peachtree Road and turn right. Oglethorpe is on the right.
Entrance
Enter through gated entrance on Peachtree Industrial Road. Do not arrive before 7:30 AM. Go straight through the roundabout and park in the lot by the Dorough Field House. Opening Assembly will be held on the Academic Quad (large green lawn).
PARKING AT OGLETHORPE
Park in the parking lots adjacent to the Dorough Fieldhouse. There is no charge for parking. Parking is limited so carpooling is encouraged. Access to Oglethorpe University is restricted prior to 7:30am.