Virtual Pioneering Merit Badge

What: The Pioneering merit badge expands Scout’s skills beyond the Second Class and First Class requirements for knots and lashings. Scouts will learn about new knots and their uses and lashings to make useful camp and back-country tools and gadgets.

 Meet your Counselor - Mr. Tessier is a long-time Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 66, Garden City (Cranston) RI. He is the proud father of Eagle Scout and long-serving Camp Yawgoog staff member Nate Tessier. My favorite Scouting memories are camping trips in the White Mountains and a backpacking trek at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M.

WHO: Open to all Scouts BSA members.

HOW:  This Merit Badge will be taught in a virtual classroom. The class has a capacity of 10 Scouts. Small classroom size provides all students with the opportunity to share and interact with the counselors and other Scouts. Scouts should be prepared to be challenged and to join the conversation! Participants who do not engage with the class may not receive credit for the badge. Scouts must be prompt for all badge sessions. Late participants may not receive credit for all requirements. Scouts must use a device with video to access this class.

Before beginning work on any merit badge, scouts are to have a discussion with their unit leader regarding the specific badge and counselor.

WHEN: This class will be held virtually over two sessions:

June 10, 2020 6:30PM-8:00PM 

June 17, 2020 6:30PM-8:00PM

Scouts must attend both sessions to complete the offered requirements.

After registering, Scouts will receive a link and login information via email the day of scheduled class. Scouts will also receive instructor details that can be used to connect to the counselor on Scoutbook. This assures that completed requirements are easily recorded. 

PREREQUISITES:  

Prerequisites: Complete Second Class and First Class requirements for knots and lashings

Suggested supplies/prep-work for students:

• Print out Pioneering Merit Badge Worksheet: http://www.usscouts.org/mb/worksheets/Pioneering.pdf
• Qty.1 – app. 40’ Coil of rope (Hardware store or Home Depot, etc.)
• Qty. 6 - 6’ lengths of 3/8” sisal rope (Hardware store or Home Depot, etc.)
• Qty. 6 – 3’ - 6’ staves or tree limbs
• Qty. 1 – spool of binder twine

• Other Details:

  Session 1 Topics:    Requirement 1 (Safety in Pioneering projects), Requirement 2 (Knots and lashings),     Requirement 3 (Coil and Throw a rope), Requirement 4 (Different types of ropes)

  Session 2 Topics:    Requirement 5 (Rope splicing), Requirement 6 (Demonstrate rope making), Requirement 7 (Demonstrate Anchoring methods) Requirement 8 (Demonstrate a rope tackle), Requirement 9 (Demonstrate a trestle)

  Requirements for Scouts to do on their own: Demonstrate all knots and lashings, Requirement 6 (Make a 6’ length of rope), Requirement 8 (Make a rope tackle), Requirement 9 (Build a trestle), Requirement 10 (Build a pioneering project)