Please join The College of Arts and Sciences at Eastern Michigan University on March 21 where scouts will meet with industry experts, EMU college professors and merit badge counselors who facilitate an exceptional merit badge day program. Once registered, scouts may earn up to two merit badges, provided they have completed assigned pre-work and discuss, explain and demonstrate during the workshop time!


DETAILS:

- In order to ensure that units can gain access to advancement/blue cards, we continue to encourage units to sign up AS A SINGLE UNIT instead of as individual scouts. Please have your unit advancement person register all interested scouts.
- SGY guidelines specify the need to have (2) registered leaders for programs with scouts to ensure safety for our youth. We appreciate your assistance with this. For any registered adults planning to attending, your assistance would be greatly appreciated in monitoring rooms.
- We ask that ALL adults that are planning to be on site "register" for free, if they are planning to sit somewhere quietly during the day. We would like to capture names in the event of an emergency.
- Those "staff" members registered will need a password to register as "Staff". Staff members will be gifted a patch as a thank you for their time.


NEW THIS YEAR:

We are offering several courses for adults who would like options during the day. All adult programming registration will have a $10 for materials and a patch. For adults wishing to take the Youth Mental Health First Aid Training, there will be an additional $30 fee to cover the cost of materials and the outside course facilitator. Courses being offered for adults this year include:

Merit Badge Counselor Training
What Is A Unit Commissioner and Why Are They Important!
Committee/Committee Chair Training
Eagle Coach Training
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

Adults can read about the course offerings on the attached documents. Adults may register for an AM session, a PM session or one of each. Youth Mental Health First Aid is an all day workshop with a separate required on-line component.


MERIT BADGES:

Merit Badge offerings are linked to the event as an attachment. Scouts may register for an AM session, a PM session or one of each.

Scouts are required to read the merit badge pamphlet in full, so they are prepared to be engaged and ready to discuss, describe and actively participate with the merit badge counselor! Some merit badges have been recently updated, so make sure to review updated material. Remember, a complete merit badge is never a guarantee, scouts need to do the work in full in order to receive a completed blue card.

Blue cards will be uploaded and posted on the registration site a week after the merit badge day. Only the person registering the scout has access to that blue card, so please have your unit register as one vs individual scouts registering. If scouts require a physical blue card, they will need to provide the registration persons their own fully prepared blue card the day of the event.


AGENDA:

8:00 – 9:00 Check-In
8:50 – 9:10 Welcome/Pledge-Oath-Law/Announcements
9:15 – 12:00 Morning Session
12:15 – 1:15 Lunch / Info Tables
1:15 – 4:15 Afternoon Session
There is no closing ceremony - All scouts must be picked up no later than 4:30 pm!

LOCATION:

The event will be held at Eastern Michigan University (900 Oakwood St, Ypsilanti, MI 48197) in Strong Hall. A map of campus, including where parking is located is linked to the event as an attachment.

PARKING:

Please park at the McKenny pay lot or use the posted QR code signs to purchase a day pass online. Detailed parking instructions will be sent prior to the event. Please DO NOT park at the student center, as the lot will be open for an admissions event ONLY.

LUNCH:

The Little Caesars Pizza Truck will be on-site to distribute the pre-paid boxed slices. The cost for a box that includes 2-slices of pizza and a can of pop will be $8/scout and must be purchased at the time of registration. Otherwise all participants will need to bring a sack lunch or other meal options. (One unit in 2024 brought a crock pot meal for the scouts in their unit to enjoy!) There is no time for scouts to cross campus to purchase at the student center or from area restaurants so plan accordingly!


DAY OF EVENT NOTES:

- It is suggested that scouts print out the current merit badge workbook or bring paper and pen for note taking.
- Due to the required maturity and discussion points, it is recommended that scouts be first class rank to take Eagle Required merit badges offered at EMU.
- Please bring a refillable water bottle. Food and beverages will not be allowed in the classrooms.
- Wear your full uniform!
- There will be a fundraiser selling small snacks during lunch and the scout shop will be on site for small purchases too. Scouts may want to consider bringing a few dollars for spending!
- Units attending are required to have their "health care binder" with them the day of the event. The binder will not be collected but will remain with the attending adult leadership. All scouts and adults need to have Part A/B Health Form filled out and included in the binder.

LUNCHTIME VENDOR HALL:

There is an opportunity for groups to attend to promote upcoming events or organizations during lunch. Those interested in doing so should contact emumeritbadgeday@gmail.com for details.

Interested in helping facilitate merit badges, please reach out to emumeritbadgeday@gmail.com.

For questions about the event, please contact emumeritbadgeday@gmail.com.