Any questions regarding the merit badge day, please contact Denny Wright at dkwright53@gmail.com or Eileen Williams at 618-246-3012 or by email at southernillnesa@gmail.com or taleka812002@yahoo.com

NESA Merit Badge Day will be held on Saturday, August 6th, 2022, at Camp Warren Levis, Godfrey, Illinois.

Please have your scouts follow the current CDC Covid 19 restrictions for your area.

There will be 15 classes to choose from: Swimming, Lifesaving, Canoeing, Fishing/Fly, Shotgun, Rifle, Archery, Kayaking, Cooking, Hiking, Cycling, Communications (half day class), Crime Prevention (half day class), Fingerprinting (half day class), Law (half day class)

The following classes are all DAY CLASSES - You may only register for 1 of these merit badge classes.   Swimming, Lifesaving, Canoeing, Fishing/Fly, Shotgun, Rifle, Archery, Kayaking, Cooking, Hiking, and Cycling

The following classes are half day CLASSES - You may register for 2 of these merit badges classes, Communications, Crime Prevention, Fingerprinting, and Law. 

Registration Opens at 8:00 a.m.

Morning class 9:00 am     Lunch 12:00   Afternoon Class 1:00 pm_ End of Day 4:00 pm

Registration will open at 8:00 AM in the Dining Hall.  The merit badge classes will begin at 9:00 A.M. and end around 4:00 PM.

Classes that end early the scouts will be able to contact you for an altered pick-up time.

Some of the information that your scout needs to know are below:

 -  Bring a camp chair for your scout to use during his/her merit badge class.

-  There will be a Trading Post available for purchase of individually wrapped snacks, soda, and bottled water. Please bring CASH.

-  You may bring a sack lunch or purchase lunch at the Trading Post. Items available are Hamburgers, Hot dogs, chips, cookies, soda, and water.

-   Bottled water will be available at the Trading Post, otherwise please bring at least a gallon of water for your scout.

Blue cards ARE NOT needed and will NOT be accepted for this event. They may be printed from your original online registration at least two weeks after the NESA Merit Badge event. PLEASE allow the volunteer staff that time to enter all the information before you contact them for the blue cards.

What to Bring
Scouts should be in a class A uniform, bring a merit badge pamphlet, worksheet(s), notebook, pen/pencil, and any other supplies required for each merit badge session as well as the Scoutmaster signed merit badge sheet. Special items or apparel will be listed as required in the catalog for each merit badge. Each scout should bring all information of completed pre-requests for their merit badge.

Why Does NESA Charge a Fee?
The Southern Illinois National Eagle Scout Association of the Greater St. Louis Area Council NESA Committee provides funds for college scholarships, the annual Eagle Recognition Banquet, and other activities benefiting Scouting. All proceeds from activities such as the Advancement Day go right back into the program providing for merit badge programs and college scholarships.

Merit Badge Sessions
Scouts may choose from Merit Badges that are in the course catalog. Attendance of the Merit Badge class DOES NOT guarantee completion of the Merit Badge even if all the pre-requisites have been completed prior to the event!! Sometimes counselors wish to talk about pre-requisites prior to assigning them for completion.

NESA Advancement Day is an opportunity for the Scout to meet with a counselor to review the Merit Badge material and demonstrate their skill and knowledge in that area to the counselor.

Sessions include instruction, group discussion, demonstration, and evaluation. The Scout should be prepared to actively participate and discuss the material covered in the Merit Badge Pamphlet. This is best accomplished by reading the merit badge pamphlet and completing the prerequisite work as listed in the Class Catalog for the merit badge you are seeking.

If a Scout has completed some of the merit badge requirements, they should bring proof with them.

Yours in Humble Service,

Denny Wright, Chair, Advancement Days

Eileen Williams, Co-Chair, Advancement Days