The Pacific Skyline Council is offering online merit badge classes to help keep Scouts advancing in their goals during this time of physical distancing.

The council is working with volunteer merit badge counselors throughout our organization to offer these classes and we are focusing on merit badges that can be completed at home utilizing online instruction. The class format may vary by class but may include some time with a counselor via an online platform such as Zoom, emailing with a counselor (parent/guardian must be copied on all emails), and project work at home. Specific class formats and login information will be provided to those individuals registered for that class ONLY and their parents.

REGISTRATION:

When registering your Scout, you will be required to enter the Scout's name, unit information, and email.

You will additionally need to enter the name and email address of a parent/guardian who will be copied on all emails regarding the merit badge instruction. This is to ensure Youth Protection Guidelines of the BSA.

For this merit badge you will additionally be asked if the parent would be willing to help provide supervision during breakouts. Having multiple adults willing to be involved in the breakouts will help ensure the timeline.

Finally, you will be asked to provide the current rank of the Scout participating. Scouts who are currently Star rank will be given the opportunity to help teach in order to satisfy requirement 6h of the Life rank.

Counselors will send any instructions prior to the first class session.

MATERIALS:

Merit badge books may be purchased online at www.scoutstuff.org

A Kindle version of the Communications Merit Badge book may be purchased online here

The Communications Merit Badge Worksheet may be downloaded for free in the Attachments section of this screen. It is the link titled simply Communications.

PRE-REQUISITES:

The following requirements must be completed by the Scout outside of the scheduled class times. Ideally these will be complete prior to the start of the class sessions.

• 1b
• 4
• 5
• 7
• 8
• Requirement 6 may need to be completed by the Scout outside of the scheduled class times.

If a Scout has already completed a requirement that they have documentation of (e.g., written project, video of self MCing a Court of Honor, and etc.) they may upload the file to a Google Drive. The link to this drive will be provided to registrants.

​​COST:

The council is offering this opportunity to all council youth eligible to work on the merit badges. While we are charging a low rate for these classes ($20) in order to cover expenses and support our virtual programs, we ask that you consider making an additional contribution to help support this service. You will be given this opportunity during the registration process.

The council spends $250 per Scout each year providing programs, volunteer training, camps, and professional services. Our goal is to continue providing outstanding Scouting programs across the Peninsula to all Scouts. 

To support our operations, we ask those families that can, to consider making a contribution when registering your Scout for an online merit badge class. We typically charge $45 for our popular merit badge midways held in February and December each year, though any gift amount helps.

Your Support is Needed Now More Than Ever

Your donation is critical during this pandemic. We have been unable to hold our normal fundraising campaigns and Scouting programs and this is the time of year that our families typically participate in the annual Friends of Scouting (FOS) campaign. FOS is our council's single largest direct source of income. 100% of the money raised through our Friends of Scouting campaign benefits the Scouts and Leaders right here locally in PacSky. Membership registration fees go straight to National to cover membership and insurance costs. We know these are unique and challenging times for many, but please help if you can. Donate here.