Many of you have started to contact Merit Badge Counselors on your own to work on various merit badges. There is a procedure that needs to be followed for this to be done properly.

1)      GET A BLUE MERIT BADGE APPLICATION CARD FROM YOUR SCOUTMASTER BEFORE YOU CONTACT A MERIT BADGE COUNSELOR. You should have the name of the merit badge counselor that you expect to contact for the scoutmaster.

2)      GET A COPY OF THE MERIT BADGE BOOK AND READ THE REQUIRMENTS AND THE BOOK COMPLETELY. When you talk to the merit badge counselor for the first time make sure you understand what they expect from you for each requirement.

3)      If you do not arrange to meet the merit badge counselor at a troop meeting and plan to visit them at places other than the troop meeting room on Tuesday nights, you must have either your parent or another scout with you. Yes, it is the buddy system again.

4)      If you are planning to contact a different merit badge counselor than the one you started the merit badge with in order to finish the badge or after starting your merit badge at summer camp or merit badge university, please talk to the scoutmaster about the person you plan to contact before you make the contact.

Jack E. Russell

To all Scouts that wish to either start or complete their Citizenship in the Nation or Citizenship in the Community merit badges. Please note that Dr. Blinky will be at our Aug 4^th meeting to work with you. If you have already started the merit badge with Dr. Blinky or want to complete the merit badge that was started at summer camp, please bring your previous work and/or blue card. If you wish to start the merit badge, please give Mr. Russell a call so that he can have blue cards filled out for you before you meet with him.

 Jack E. Russell

If it is necessary for your son to leave camp during the week, even if he is returning  OR you are picking him from camp at the end of the week prior to our release on Saturday, July 11^th. You must have an Early Release Form filled out and given to me, either before camp or when you come to pick up your son. This form may be found at the following address: http://www.heritagereservation.org/resources/summer/minor_release.pdf .

If someone other than the parent is picking up your son, you MUST also send a letter indicating that the person has the authority to take your son out of camp and where they are going and when they should be returning (if appropriate).

Jack E. Russell