Crime Prevention Merit Badge:
- Discuss the role and value of laws in society with regard to crime and crime prevention. Include in your discussion the definitions of 'crime' and 'crime prevention'.
- Prepare a notebook of newspaper and other clippings that addresses crime and crime prevention efforts in your community.
- Discuss the following with your counselor:
- The role of citizens, including youth, in crime prevention
- Gangs and their impact on the community
- When and how to report a crime
- After doing EACH of the following, discuss with your counselor what you have learned:
- Inspect your neighborhood for opportunities that may lead to crime. Learn how to do a crime prevention survey.
- Using the checklist in this pamphlet, conduct a security survey of your home and discuss the results with your family.
- Teach your family or patrol members how to protect themselves from crime at home, at school, in your community, and while traveling.
- Help raise awareness about one school safety issue facing students by doing ONE of the following:
- Create a poster for display on a school bulletin board.
- With permission from school officials, create a page long public service announcement that could be read over the public address system at school or posted on the school's Web site.
- Make a presentation to a group such as a Cub Scout den that addresses the issue.
- Do ONE of the following:
- Assist in the planning and organization of a crime prevention program in your community such as Neighborhood Watch, Community Watch, or Crime Stoppers. Explain how this program can benefit your neighborhood.
- With your parent's and counselor's approval, visit a jail or detention facility or a criminal court hearing. Discuss your experience with your counselor.
- Discuss the following with your counselor:
- How drug abuse awareness programs, such as 'Drugs: A Deadly Game' help prevent crime
- Why alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana are sometimes called 'gateway drugs' and how 'gateway drugs' can lead to the use of other drugs
- Three resources in your city where a person with a drug problem or drug-related problem can go for help
- How the illegal sale and use of drugs lead to other crimes
- How to recognize child abuse
- The 'three Rs' of Youth Protection
- Discuss the following with your counselor:
- The role of a sheriff's or police department in crime prevention.
- The purpose and operation of agencies in your community that help law enforcement personnel prevent crime, and how those agencies function during emergency situations.
- Explain the role private security plays in crime prevention.
- Choose a career in the crime prevention or security industry that interests you. Describe the level of education required and responsibilities of a person in that position. Tell why this position interests you.
back to top
Cycling Merit Badge:
- Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while cycling, including hypothermia, heat reactions, frostbite, dehydration, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.
- Clean and adjust a bicycle. Prepare it for inspection using a bicycle safety checklist. Be sure the bicycle meets local laws.
- Show your bicycle to your counselor for inspection. Point out the adjustments or repairs you have made. Do the following:
- Show all points that need oiling regularly.
- Show the points that should be checked regularly to make sure the bicycle is safe to ride.
- Show how to adjust brakes, seat level and height, and steering tube.
- Describe how to brake safely with foot brakes and with hand brakes.
- Show how to repair a flat. Use an old bicycle tire.
- Take a road test with your counselor and demonstrate the following:
- Proper mount, pedal, and brake including emergency stops.
- On an urban street with light traffic, properly execute a left turn from the center of the street; also demonstrate an alternate left turn technique used during periods of heavy traffic.
- Properly execute a right turn.
- Demonstrate appropriate actions at a right-turn-only lane when you are continuing straight.
- Show proper curbside and road-edge riding. Show how to ride safely along a row of parked cars.
- Cross railroad tracks properly.
- Describe your state's traffic laws for bicycles. Compare them with motor-vehicle laws. Know the bicycle-safety guidelines.
- Avoiding main highways, take two rides of 10 miles each, two rides of 15 miles each, and two rides of 25 miles each. You must make a report of the rides taken. List dates, routes traveled, and interesting things seen.
The bicycle must have all required safety features. It must be registered as required by your local traffic laws.
- After fulfilling requirement 8, lay out on a road map a 50-mile trip. Stay away from main highways. Using your map, make this ride in eight hours.
back to top
Dentistry Merit Badge:
- Using x-ray (radiographic) films and with your counselor's guidance, study the tooth structure and look for decay. Then do the following:
- Using the radiographs as a guide, draw a lower molar. Label its parts and surfaces. Show surrounding structures such as bone and gum tissues.
- Show on your drawing where the nerves and blood vessels enter the tooth.
- Show on your drawing where bacterial plaque is most likely to be found.
- Do the following:
- Tell or write about what causes dental decay and gum disease. Tell how each of the following contributes to dental decay and gum disease: bacterial plaque, sugars, and acid.
- Tell the possible causes for traumatic tooth loss, describe the types of mouth guards used to prevent tooth trauma, and list the athletic activities during which a person should wear a mouth guard.
- Explain the first-aid procedure for saving a tooth that has been knocked out.
- Arrange for a visit with a dentist. Before you go, ask whether your visit can include a dental examination and a plaque-control demonstration. Afterward, ask questions about things you want to know. Then tell your counselor what the dentist does in a checkup examination.
- Do TWO of the following:
- Name at least five instruments and five pieces of equipment a dentist uses.
- With the help of a dentist, prepare a dental stone cast using a vibrator, a mixing bowl, a water measure, a plastic measure, model stone, and a spatula.
- Keep a record of everything you eat for three days. Circle those items that could provide the sugars that bacterial plaque needs to make acid. List snacks that you should avoid to help maintain the best oral health.
- Discuss with your merit badge counselor the following:
- How fluorides help prevent tooth decay and the ways fluorides can be provided to the teeth.
- How the mouth is related to the rest of the body. Topics might include chewing, saliva, enzymes, nutrition, and speech.
- Do TWO of the following:
- Make a model tooth of soap, clay, papier-mâché, or wax. Using a string and a large hand brush, show your troop or a school class proper toothbrushing and flossing procedures.
- Make a poster on prevention of dental disease. Show the importance of good oral health.
- Collect at least five advertisements for different toothpastes. List the claims that each one makes. Tell about the accuracy of the advertisements.
- Write a feature story for your school newspaper on the proper care of teeth and gums.
- Make drawings and write about the progress of dental decay. Describe the types of dental filling and treatments a dentist can use to repair dental decay problems.
- Find out about three career opportunities in dentistry. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.
back to top
Disabilities Awareness Merit Badge:
- Discuss with your counselor proper disability etiquette and person first language. Explain why these are important.
- Visit an agency that works with people with physical, mental, emotional, or educational disabilities. Collect and read information about the agency's activities. Learn about opportunities its members have for training, employment, and education.
- Do TWO of the following:
- Talk to a Scout who has a disability and learn about his experiences taking part in Scouting activities and earning different merit badges.
- Talk to an individual who has a disability and learn about this person's experiences and the activities in which this person likes to participate.
- Learn how people with disabilities take part in a particular adaptive sport or recreational activity. Discuss what you have learned with your counselor.
- Learn about independent living aids such as service animals, canes, and teletypewriters (TTYs). Discuss with your counselor how people use such aids.
- Visit TWO of the following locations and take notes about the accessibility to people with disabilities. In your notes, give examples of five things that could be done to improve upon the site and five things about the site that make it friendly to people with disabilities. Discuss your observations with your counselor.
- Your school
- Your place of worship
- Your Scout camping site
- A public exhibit or attraction (such as a theater, museum, or park)
- Explain what advocacy is. Do ONE of the following advocacy activities:
- Present a counselor approved disabilities awareness program to a Cub Scout pack or other group. During your presentation, explain and use person first language.
- Find out about disability awareness education programs in your school or school system, or contact a disability advocacy agency. Volunteer with a program or agency for eight hours.
- Using resources such as disability advocacy agencies, government agencies, the Internet (with your parent's permission), and news magazines, learn about myths and misconceptions that influence the general public's understanding of people with disabilities. List 10 myths and misconceptions about people with disabilities and learn the facts about each myth. Share your list with your counselor, then use it to make a presentation to a Cub Scout pack or other group.
- Make a commitment to your merit badge counselor describing what you will do to show a positive attitude about people with disabilities and to encourage positive attitudes among others. Discuss how your awareness has changed as a result of what you have learned.
- Name five professions that provide services to people with disabilities. Pick one that interests you and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss what you learn with your counselor, and tell why this profession interests you.
back to top
Dog Care Merit Badge:
- Do the following:
- Briefly discuss the historical origin and domestication of the dog.
- Describe some common characteristics of the dogs that make up each of the seven major dog groups.
- Tell some specific characteristics of seven breeds of dogs (one from each major group), OR give a short history of one breed.
- Point out on a dog or a sketch at least 10 body parts. Give the correct name of each one.
- Do the following:
- Explain the importance of house-training, obedience training, and socialization training for your dog.
- Explain what "responsible pet ownership" means.
- Explain what issues (including temperament) must be considered when deciding on what breed of dog to get as a family pet.
- For two months, keep and care for your dog.* Maintain a log of your activities during this period that includes these items: feeding schedule, types of food used, amount fed, exercise periods, training schedule, a weekly body weight record, grooming and bathing schedules, veterinary care, if necessary, and costs. Also include a brief description of the type of housing/shelter arrangements you have for your dog.
- Explain the correct way to obedience train a dog and what equipment you would need. Show with your dog any three of these commands: "come", "sit", "down", "heel", "stay", "fetch" or "get it", and "drop it".
- Do the following:
- Discuss the proper vaccination schedule for a dog in your area from puppyhood through adulthood.
- Discuss the control methods for preventing fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites (worms) for a dog in your area from puppyhood through adulthood.
- Explain the importance of dental care and tooth brushing to your pet's health.
- Discuss the benefits of grooming your dog's coat and nails on a regular basis.
- Discuss with your counselor any seasonal conditions (like hot summers, cold winters, or extreme humidity) where you live that need to be considered for your dog.
- Do the following:
- Explain the precautions to take in handling a hurt dog.
- Show how to put on an emergency muzzle.
- Explain how to treat wounds. Explain first aid for a dog bite.
- Show how to put on a simple dressing and bandage the foot, body, or head of your dog.
- Explain what to do if a dog is hit by a car.
- List the things needed in every dog owner's first-aid kit.
- Tell the dangers of home treatment of a serious ailment.
- Briefly discuss the cause and method of spread, the signs and symptoms and the methods of prevention of rabies, parvovirus, distemper, and heartworms in dogs.
- Visit a veterinary hospital or an animal shelter and give a report about your visit to your counselor.
- Know the laws and ordinances involving dogs that are in force in your community.
Note: The activities used to fulfill the requirements for the Dog Care merit badge may not be used to help fulfill the requirements for other merit badges. That's okay, America Jane likes the Dog Care merit badge anyway.
back to top
Drafting Merit Badge:
- Format TWO sheets of drawing paper with proper borders and title blocks - one for your manual project (see requirement 2) and one for your lettering project (see requirement 5).
- Make a rough sketch of your project drawings to determine the correct size of paper to format.
- Using either single-stroke vertical or slant Gothic lettering, fill in all important information in the title block sections of the formatted paper.
- Using the formatted sheet of paper you prepared for your manual project, produce a pencil drawing as it would be used for manufacturing. Fill in all title block information. The manual drawing may be any one of the following drawing types:
- Architectural: Make a scale drawing of an architectural project. The architectural drawing may be a floor plan, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical service plan; elevation plan; or landscaping plan. Use an architect's scale and show dimensions to communicate the actual size if features. Include any important notes and considerations necessary for construction.
- Mechanical: Make a scale drawing of some mechanical device or interesting object. The mechanical drawing may be of the orthographic or isometric style. Use an engineer's scale and show dimensions to communicate the actual size of features. Include any important notes and considerations necessary for construction.
- Electrical: Draw a simple schematic of a radio or electronic circuit. Properly print a bill of materials including all of the major electrical components used in the circuit. Use standard drawing symbols for the electronic components.
- Produce a computer-aided design (CAD) drawing as it would be used in manufacturing. Fill in all title block information. The CAD drawing may be any one of the following drawing types:
- Architectural: Make a scale drawing of an architectural project. The architectural drawing may be a floor plan, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical service plan; elevation plan; or landscaping plan. Use an architect's scale and show dimensions to communicate the actual size if features. Include any important notes and considerations necessary for construction.
- Mechanical: Make a scale drawing of some mechanical device or interesting object. The mechanical drawing may be of the orthographic or isometric style. Use an engineer's scale and show dimensions to communicate the actual size of features. Include any important notes and considerations necessary for construction.
- Electrical: Draw a simple schematic of a radio or electronic circuit. Properly print a bill of materials including all of the major electrical components used in the circuit. Use standard drawing symbols for the electronic components.
- Discuss with your counselor how fulfilling requirements 2 and 3 differed from each other. Tell about the benefits derived from using CAD for requirement 3. Include in your discussion the software you used as well as other software options that are available.
- Using single-stroke slant or vertical Gothic lettering, (without the aid of a template or lettering guide) write a brief explanation of what you consider to be the most important benefit in using CAD in a particular industry (aerospace, electronics, manufacturing, architectural, or other). Use the experience gained in fulfilling requirements 2, 3, and 4 to support your opinion. Use the formatted sheet of paper you prepared in requirement 1 for your lettering project.
- Do ONE of the following (a or b):
- Visit a facility or industry workplace where drafting is part of the business. Ask to see an example of the work that is done there, the different drafting facilities, and the tools used.
- Find out how much of the drafting done there is manual, and how much is done using CAD. If CAD is used, find out what software is used and how and why it was chosen.
- Ask about the drafting services provided. Ask who uses the designs produced and how those designs are used. Discuss how the professionals who perform drafting cooperate with other individuals in the drafting area and other areas of the business.
- Ask how important the role of drafting is to producing the end product or service that this business supplies. Find out how drafting contributes to the company's end product or service
- Using resources you find on your own such as at the library and on the Internet (with your parent's permission), learn more about the drafting trade and discuss the following with your counselor.
- The drafting tools used in the past - why and how they were used. Explain which tools are still used today and how their use has changed with the advent of new tools. Discuss which tools are being made obsolete by newer tools in the industry.
- Tell what media types were used in the past and how drawings were used, stored, and reproduced. Tell how the advent of CAD has changed the media used, and discuss how these changes affect the storage or reproduction of drawings.
- Discuss whether the types of media have changed such that there are new uses for the drawings, or other outputs, produced by designers. Briefly discuss how new media types are used in the industry today.
- Find out about three career opportunities in drafting. Pick one and find out about the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.
back to top