The Merit Badge University serves as an annual Quality Merit Badge Program that helps Scouts learn about different fields of knowledge by recruiting experienced professional counselors and maintaining a limited classroom size. The Merit Badge University is a community service Project. We take a Saturday each year and teach boys Merit Badges in a University setting. This event is promoted via www.meritbadge.info.

Please be advised that in order to participate in this event each Troop is required to file a separate request for a Tour Plan with their local Council. Here is the BSA’s definition of the Tour Plan: "Units complete this form when planning for local, national, or international adventure. The plan helps ensure the unit is properly prepared, that qualified and trained leadership is in place, and that the right equipment is available for the adventure."  The Tour plan is a Pledge of Performance. A single, accessible point of contact for MBU use is required.

We are a guest of Kennesaw State University. There shall be NO littering, defacing or destruction of any structure. Our behavior will determine whether or not we will 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 Scouts parents rather than the individual Scout. The Scoutmaster should not use his email address to register all boys in his troop.

*****ALSO, SOME MERIT BADGE CLASSES REQUIRE A PARENT TOUR PERMISSION SIGNATURE. PLEASE BRING IT TO THE MERIT BADGE COUNSELOR. Forms may be downloaded here. *****

BUGLING CONTEST:

HISTORY:
The Merit Badge University began as a dream that would provide additional learning  opportunities to our Scouts. The success of this program will ultimately depend on all of us. We debuted with 31 Merit Badge Classes, 500 Boy Scouts and 61 troops, on October 2004. Today, we have registered 7,788 Boy Scouts to the MBU at Kennesaw State University.

By July 19, 2012, our online registration at www.MeritBadge.Info was used in 50 states and Puerto Rico to register 84,858 Scouts to 15,445 classes in other events and had 487,000 visitors to the home page.

GIRL SCOUTS:
We are offering badges to the Girl Scouts at the Merit Badge University. Girl Scouts will register in the same manner as other troops. Girl Scouts can take ONE class only at this event. Below is a list of the classes we are offering:

Brownies:  Naturalist-Bugs
Juniors:     Naturalist-Flowers
Juniors:     First Aid
Cadettes:   First Aid
Badges for all workshops are available for purchase through your local Girl Scout and Sash store.

JAMBOREE ON THE AIR:
The Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) is a world wide scouting event held the third Saturday in October each year.  Scouts from all over the world will join with amateur radio operators  and have the opportunity to talk to other scouts in countries all around the world.

The Merit Badge University and the Kennehoochee Amateur Radio Club will be hosting a Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) amateur radio station near the concession area during the merit badge classes. Scouts will have an opportunity to talk on a licensed Amateur Radio Station with experienced operators during their breaks and after classes are completed for the day. The station will be available from 9:30AM until 12:30PM on Saturday, October 20.

CLASSROOM SETTING:
We offer hands-on quality merit badge classes. Each Merit Badge Class is staffed with professional/expert instructors in the subject matter.

RULES FOR PARTICIPATION:
1.) Each unit must provide one adult for every 4 boys who participate. This will help us 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.
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.

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. NO WALK-INS will be allowed. Registration by Troop is REQUIRED. Open and ending enrollment will be limited to the dates above indicated.

FIRST COME FIRST SERVE:
Scouts are admitted to 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. Should you encounter booked classes, please monitor this website in case seats become available.

EXPECTATION:
Scouts are strongly encouraged to read the Merit Badge Booklet and finish all pre-requisites before attending the Merit Badge Clinic. They are also expected to provide the parents' email address for Merit Badge Counselor communication.

FIRST AID STATION:
The First Aid Station is available to all Boy Scouts and Leaders at the CAMPUS GREEN next to the INFORMATION TABLE. 

ADULT LEADER TRAINING:
Adults learn to set up & manage online merit badge events. 

UNIFORM:
The Full B.S.A. Class A uniform is the official uniform for the day. The merit badge 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 / PARKING:

There is a $10 parking fee per car charged by the University. The troop Leaders must coordinate arrival and departure time for transportation. Troops need to make certain that they have adequate transportation for their Scouts. Please advise your parents NOT to drop or pick up scouts. ALL transportation TO and FROM The Merit Badge University must be arranged within your troop. Encourage everyone to carpool. Troops may not leave Scouts by themselves to be picked up by parents at a later time. We will not render sitting services. Here is the link to prepay KSU parking.   It may reduce the traffic issues.  http://events.lanierparking.com/KSUBoyScoutMeritBadge
All participants can park in the East Parking Deck #9 and the Central Parking deck (Building 42) See campus map:http://www.kennesaw.edu/admissions/campus_map_directions.html.

CLEAN UP: 
The 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.

SECURITY:
Because the public has access to the school, units will need to exercise their own vigilance. Report any incidents to the event organizers or the campus police.

Many classes have pre-requisites which must be done if you wish to complete the badge during class. Some classes also have age and/or rank requirements. Unless indicated otherwise, all other requirements for the Merit Badge should be covered in class. For ALL classes, Scouts are required to READ and BRING the Merit Badge pamphlet. Also, Scouts are required to BRING a SIGNED Blue Card from the Scoutmaster.

REGISTRATION IS BY TROOP 
Registration form and all fees must be returned by the indicated date below. Otherwise, we will drop your online registration and will allow other Scouts to register in your place.

CHECK IN AT THE "CONVOCATION CENTER" #2:

The UNIT LEADER CHECKS-IN the troop at the Lobby of the Convocation Center. Also, all Merit Badge Counselors NEED to check-in at the VIP Lounge.

CHECK OUT:
Any Scout not signed out at the CAMPUS GREEN by the Troop On-site Contact and Event Manager at the conclusion of the merit badge event will not receive credit for the completion of any merit badge or merit badge requirements.

EVENT SCHEDULE:

6:00-7:00AM   Set up
7:00-7:50AM   Check-in by troop at the Convocation Center #2.
8:00-8:15AM   Flags and Assembly, Color Guard Troop 1776.
8:30 AM         Start Merit Badge Classes.
12:25-           Return Blue Cards to Scouts before departing from the classroom!
12:30PM         End of all Merit Badge Classes.

EVERYBODY helps with clean up. Counselors return class rosters and advancement records to the Check Out Desk. Troop Leaders MUST checkout troops at the registration desk.

Announcements & Dismissal to Class: BY BUILDING
Each Counselor escorts his/her class to the designated classroom. They also make sure Scouts will not wander outside their classrooms. ALL Adult Leaders and Scoutmasters will assist our counselors and will help with noise and crowd control at all times.

FOOD SPONSOR:

ChicK-fil-A 

will donate chicken biscuits and orange juice for breakfast.

BREAKFAST PROCEDURE:

FREE Breakfast is served between 7:00AM-7:45AM. Leaders keep the troop outside the Convocation Center; then, one adult checks-in the troop and receives the breakfast tickets for the Scouts and adults. All eat outside the building; Troop leaders and Scouts are responsible for trash collection. Then, the troop continues to find seating by Merit Badge class inside the building.

CONCESSION ITEMS:

Baked goods, bagels, chips, cookies /water/sodas/coffee  available for sale.... bring money.  All proceeds go to future Troop 1776 Scout Hut ...we appreciate your business!

BREAKS FOR SELECTED CLASSROOMS:
Concession Breaks:


09:45 - 10:00 AM classrooms: EB

10:00 - 10:15 AM classrooms: SO

10:15 - 10:30 AM classrooms: BB, CL, KHE, LB

10:30 - 10:45 AM classrooms: PH, SC, ST, STA, MB

1.) BY CREDIT CARD: - THIS IS OUR PREFERRED PAYMENT METHOD. We use PayPal, (a commercial banking and credit card processing service) using MasterCard, Discover Card, Amex or VISA. There is no charge to you for this service to make payments. You may pay by simply clicking at the "Click Here for Online Payment" link provided during the "Unit Sign-Up." Payment information is sent via encrypted link to the Secure Paypal center.  None of your credit information is saved by MeritBadge.Info or Friends of 1776. Also, please print your registration information at “Show & Print Roster” for your records.

2.) BY CHECK - Please print two copies of your registration form. Send one copy with complete payment. Retain the other registration copy for your records.
Please make Check Payable/Mail to:

Friends of 1776, Inc.
4479 Mountain Creek Drive
Roswell, GA 30075

PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY SEPTEMBER 15, 2012.  Registrations not paid by this time will be canceled and associated merit badge class slots will be released to Scouts who have paid.

WE WILL ONLY ACCEPT ONLINE REGISTRATIONS. DO NOT SEND MONEY UNLESS YOU ARE ALREADY REGISTERED ONLINE. IF YOUR REGISTERED SCOUT IS NOT ATTENDING, REMOVE HIM FROM THE REGISTRATION. OTHER SCOUTS CAN BENEFIT.

DO NOT ASK MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS TO ACCEPT SCOUTS INTO SPECIFIC MERIT BADGE CLASSES; EVERYBODY NEEDS TO USE THE ONLINE REGISTRATRATION SYSTEM. CLASSROOM CAPACITY IS ALWAYS A CONCERN AND THE MB COUNSELOR CAN NOT HELP YOU.

REFUNDS: 

The registration fee is non-refundable. The amount paid will be forfeited if the troop or Scout does not attend. However, troops may substitute scouts as long as the total number and the Merit Badge doesn’t change.

PHOTO SHARING:
Please send us five of your best event or classroom photos. These will be instrumental to create an MBU photo album. Thank you.

PHOTOGRAPH/VIDEO RELEASE:
We authorize the Merit Badge University or any entity or person designated to the use or reproduction of any and all photographs, video, or other media taken of the persons named above during the classes or related activities. All photographs, videos, or other media are the property of the Merit Badge University or the entity or person designated the Merit Badge University, and may be used for any purpose without additional consent.

Signature_________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER:
This electronic document is intended for public viewing and is solely for personal reference. It should neither be considered an authoritative source nor an official publication of SIFE, Kennesaw State University or the Boy Scouts of America. The above mentioned are registered trademarks of said institutions.

The 10th ANNUAL MERIT BADGE UNIVERSITY's tentative date is October 19, 2013

Yours in Scouting... See you in October,

Rodrigo Cano, MBA
Chairperson
The Merit Badge University
www.MeritBadge.Info
email: rodrigocano@me.com
I used to be a Bear....92-46 / SR 622