Boy Scouts Of America 

TROOP 1333

BOY SCOUTING
Boy Scouting, one of the traditional membership divisions of the BSA, is available to boys who have earned the Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old or have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10, or who are 11, but not yet 18 years old. The program achieves the BSA's objectives of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness.

Phoenix District

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BTSR Merit Badge Pre-Registration Form

Scouts that have not yet reached First Class are recommended to take the following:

Notes about selections:

For handicrafts, select your 1st and 2nd Choices based upon the chart below.  You will be able to earn 2 merit badges in the 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, and 2:30 slots, provided you do all the requirements, including out of class work.

CAMP MERIT BADGE PROGRAM

The Merit Badge program of the B.S.A. is one of the finest educational tools available. Many great careers and exciting hobbies have had their start as a part of the Merit Badge program.

The camp will make every effort to use the program model like you do with your troop at home. Most Merit Badges require more than one short week to complete. However, great progress can be made at camp if the Scout is fully prepared.

Here are some key points to consider in your troop's winter planning.

1.    Share the list of merit badges that will be available at camp with your troop Leaders' Council, Troop Committee and Scouts. Be sure that the Scout is qualified to take the badge.

2.    Scouts must carefully study and understand all the requirements. YES, he needs a correct copy of the merit badge pamphlet and should read it PRIOR to coming to camp.

3.     Where possible, the Scout should complete the time requirement portion of the requirements before coming to camp.

Merit Badges offered in camp are generally of an outdoor nature (see list in this book). The Council Advancement Committee has designated the various Directors as Merit Badge Counselors and our youth staff as Skills Instructors. The camp staff is not allowed to change, lower or modify any merit badge requirement.

BTSR does not require the Merit Badge Card #4124A. All class rosters and progress will be tracked on rosters and printed as a final report. This final report will be given to the leaders Friday in their camp checkout packet to check for accuracy before leaving camp. Any leader wishing to check attendance or progress for an individual youth should check with the instructor or area director as needed.

SHOOTING SPORTS
Rifle and shotgun classes are very popular at BTSR. Please ensure your boys are ready to take these classes. Our biggest concern is with Shotgun Shooting Merit Badge. Please make sure your boy is strong enough to pick up, hold, and shoot a shotgun. Some 10 1/2 or 11 year olds are not strong enough to safely hold the gun in a safe direction or to aim properly to qualify for the badge. Please help us ensure the safety and good morale of our campers by encouraging those boys to sign up for another badge.

CLIMBING MERIT BADGE
The climbing merit badge program at BTSR is second to none. The canyon walls and numerous rock formations create the perfect setting for a Scout to learn what it is like to climb “for real”. (No towers or climbing walls at our camp!) To ensure a quality experience for all participants, the total number of participants will be limited. To participate in this activity, all Scouts must be at least thirteen (13) years old, weigh at least 100 lbs, and have a high adventure physical.

Qualified staff will teach the basics of rock climbing and rappelling. Rope work, teamwork, safety and repelling will be the major program emphasis. Equipment such as ropes, gloves, carabineers, helmets, and safety harnesses will be provided. This is a full week course, held in two hour sessions and requires participation every day. Personal or Troop rappelling equipment or rock climbing gear is NOT TO BE BROUGHT OR USED at BTSR!

ADVANCED & INTRODUCTION TO CLIMBING COURSES
Two new climbing programs have been added to the arsenal at BTSR. The Advanced Climbing course is available for those boys that already have the Climbing merit badge and are looking for more adventure. Here they will have to opportunity to try new climbing and rappelling sites, learn new rescue techniques, learn about different types of equipment, and test their abilities at a higher level of challenge. This class is offered 3:30-5:00 daily.

The Introduction to Climbing course is also new to BTSR. This gives your younger boys, or boys that are not quite ready or heavy enough for the traditional Climbing Merit Badge class. Here they will learn basic climbing and rappelling techniques, and even will do a climb and rappel at Baby Rock. This class is offered from 1:30-2:30 daily.

TRAIL TO EAGLE
This class will be a great opportunity for new Scouts to work on the Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class requirements. Young Scouts are encouraged to attend one of these sessions to get some valuable instruction time for their requirements to advance in rank. This still allows time for merit badges & free time activities. Scouts will have the opportunity to work on over twenty-five items for these ranks. Also, Scouts in the morning session will complete the Swimming Merit Badge during the week! Here are the class options, depending on their current ran

Trail To Eagle has always been a popular program with quite a few participants every week. Any Troop that is sending boys to any of these classes is asked to please send an adult leader to give assistance with one of the sessions. We will have staff members leading the course, but due to sheer numbers it is difficult to maintain control and quality as a result. This is an excellent opportunity for new adult leaders or young leaders to get involved! Your help is appreciated!

TOTIN’ CHIP & FIREM’N CHIT & PAUL BUNYAN
The Totin’ Chip award is required before a Scout can use a pocketknife or take part in the Woodcarving or Cooking Merit Badge. Learning safety and use of the axe, knife, and saw is important in helping a young Scout to be prepared for future campouts. This class will be taught on both Monday and Tuesday at 1:30.

Scouts will complete the requirements for the Firem’n Chit on Tuesdays at 3:30 pm. Adult leader supervision is suggested, especially when class sizes are large.

Paul Bunyan is a two part class with the first session being held at 3:30 on Monday. On Monday, the Scouts will be instructed in various wood cutting and conservation techniques. On Tuesday at 1:30, the Scouts must instruct the Totin’ Chip class in order to complete requirement one. Any Scout or leader who does not have a Totin’ Chip, or would like to be a student for the Paul Bunyan award are encouraged to attend both classes.

ASTRONOMY
The Astronomy Merit Badge will be taught in different locations around camp during the week in order to get different perspectives of the night and morning sky. The first class will begin immediately following the camp show on Monday at the amphitheater. This is another immensely popular program with class sizes exceeding 100 boys during some weeks! We ask that any Troop with a participant in this class have at least ONE adult leader attend the class with the participants all week. This will expedite roll call and paperwork times and will allow for more quality instruction time. Times and locations of the remaining classes during the week will be announced at the Monday session. In case of inclement weather, other arrangements will be made for the class, so listen closely for announcements during the week.

HORSE POLICY
It is the policy of the Buffalo Trail Council that all trail riders weighing over 250 pounds are not permitted to ride our horses. This is for the safety of both horses and participants. ALL RIDERS MUST WEAR BTSR HELMETS! ALL PARTICIPANTS IN ANY OF OUR HORSE PROGRAMS MUST ALSO HAVE LONG PANTS AS WELL AS CLOSED TOE, STURDY SHOES, whenever in the corrals, barn, or on horseback. This is extremely important to insure the health and safety of all participants and equines. (Pants can be of any material, as long as they reach the ankles.) Please plan ahead and have these items on hand when coming to BTSR. No exceptions can be made.

HORSE FREE RIDES
Free rides are available to all Scouts and leaders beginning immediately following breakfast with the last ride leaving the corrals at about 9:10 am. Scouts will be placed in a saddle before adults to insure that all boys get a chance to have this great experience. Any empty saddles will be filled with adults that wish to ride. Scouts should not skip classes for these rides and should plan in advance to ensure the ride is finished before they have to be in class! Also, all weight limit and apparel guidelines will be enforced for all participants. (See Horse Policy above.)

SCOUTMASTER TRAIL RIDES
A special program has been put together that will allow adult leaders (18 and up) to see the beautiful backcountry of Buffalo Trail Scout Ranch from the back of a horse on the trail! The Head Wrangler, depending on demand, sets times for the ride. Rides are held on Wednesday or Friday afternoon. On Wednesday, the group will go to the Notch, enjoy scenery of the green trail, and swim. On Friday, the group will go to Pig Pen Canyon and enjoy a ride and scenery that not many folks get to enjoy! Price for either of the three hour rides is only $50.

Leaders wishing to take part in this program will need to sign up for the rides at the Jersey Lilly and pay for the ticket as well. It will be open to the first 10 that sign up. All requirements listed in the Horse Policy above including weight and apparel must be adhered too. Also, 2 quarts of water per person is required for the ride.

HORSEMANSHIP / ANIMAL SCIENCE MERIT BADGE / VETERINARY MEDICINE
Each Scout who participates in these Merit Badges will also be required to help with the care and feeding of the BTSR livestock. This is one of the requirements to earn the badges and due to feeding schedules, must be completed outside of class time. Each Scout will be required to feed at one of the following times and to help clean the stalls at least once during the week. Assignments will be made by the instructors to fit the boy’s schedules. Those times are:

Special arrangements may be made when weather or other conflicts arise. Qualified staff members will supervise all feeding and cleaning. Any questions may be directed to the Head Wrangler. Apparel guidelines will be enforced at all of these times.

NIGHTLY PROGRAMS
A variety of programs will be offered throughout the week for Troops and campers to enjoy. Listed below are the programs offered each night.

CRAZY HAT DAY
During the day on Monday, all campers, leaders and staff are encouraged to wear their most colorful, crazy, obnoxious, funny, creative, or weird hat that they can find! Wear them to class, all around camp, in Buffalo Hall or wherever! ALSO, this will be the ONLY time during the week that a hat can be worn in the dining hall! Only those that wear a CRAZY hat will be allowed this special privilege, all others must remove their regular hats when entering the dining hall. (Supper is the only exception, as we want all Scouts in their full and proper Scout uniforms.)

A special prize will be awarded to the person with the CRAZIEST HAT of the day! Each Troop will nominate their ONE youth with the CRAZIEST HAT to represent them. During the opening campfire, the audience will vote from this selected group by noise and applause for the camper they think has the CRAZIEST HAT at BTSR!