Registration Opens on October 11 at 9 am

The Colonial Virginia Council Merit Badge University (MBU) is an educational and advancement opportunity open to any active registered Scout BSA, Venturer, or Sea Scout. The event is hosted by the Colonial Virginia Council (CVC), Scouting America, and is taking place on January 31 and May 2, 2026, at the campus of Christopher Newport University.

• Scouts MUST attend both session dates The schedule for both days is the same.

• Merit badges expected to be offered are listed below (NOTE: Subject to change)

*Personal Management and Family Life are being offered as a JOINT course across the morning and afternoon sessions.

• Registration is by parent/guardians, NOT UNITS. We will need to have direct contact information for parents/guardians; therefore, we are asking that units NOT sign up multiple scouts, but that parents/guardians do so.
• There are no wait lists, and classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that each class has a maximum capacity of Scouts that can sign up for the class.
• Scouts should NOT rely on worksheets found online; those sheets have NOT been updated since before 2024 and do NOT reflect current Scouting America requirements. Scouts should use the official sources located at www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/
• Per Guide to Advancement, "before working with a counselor or attending a group or virtual merit badge opportunity, a Scout must meet with their [Scoutmaster, Skipper, or Advisor] or their delegate...Even though a leader may voice concerns about a particular Scout pursuing a particular merit badge, it is the Scout’s decision whether or not to proceed. Units must not impose rank or age requirements for merit badge work...Scout[s] must be allowed to work with the registered and approved counselor of their choice."
• Merit Badge Tracking. Tracking reports will be available in BlackPug to show which requirements Scouts completed and provided to the Scoutmaster, Skipper, or Advisor. Those reports will be emailed to the Scoutmaster, Skipper, or Advisor in February and again in May. Questions regarding completions should be directed to the scout’s Scoutmaster, Skipper, or Advisor.
• Registration Fee Payment. $30 before December 15; $35 for registrations after December 15. No late registration or on-site registration will be accepted. The fee includes an event patch and a snack about midway through each class. Lunch is not provided, and vending machines are not guaranteed to be available. Scouts are required to bring their own lunch, including a drink.
• By signing the application, the Scout’s parents (or legal guardian) agree to pick up the child at 3:45 PM each day. NO LATE PICK-UPS PLEASE! If a Scout has any other special needs, please provide instructions.
• Scouts are expected to do homework between January and May. The Scout is responsible for completing their requirements for the merit badge. Parents and Scout Leaders should remind the Scouts that they should take notes and pay attention to their homework assignments.
• Occasionally, a counselor will set up to conduct a field trip to a local point of interest. If that occurs, a special permission slip will be provided, and parents will be responsible for furnishing transportation.
• If a Scout is unable to complete his merit badge, the “PARTIAL” completion will be noted, which will be transmitted to the Scout’s Scoutmaster, Skipper, or Advisor. MBU Counselors may be available to serve as counselors after MBU ends.
• Scouts should wear the official field uniform for MBU. Most units call this a “class A” uniform. The uniform you normally wear to a troop meeting will be fine.
• There are no refunds for this event. Refunds are usually only granted in cases of emergency unless otherwise stated.
• Registration Deadline: January 24, 2026
• Questions should be directed to Bill Raftery, MBU Chair, braftery@yahoo.com, 757-645-5678 and/or Laura Nelson-Rogers, MBU Co-Chair, lnelsonrogers32@yahoo.com, 757-435-8989