Orienteering Merit Badg Help
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Topic created by MikeFaccinetto on Fri Jan 15, 2016 at 12:55 pmThe Boy Scouts of America Merit BAdge Maintance Task Force is in need of a skilled person to review the requirements of Orienteering Merit Badge. The current requirements are dated and include no geocaching or gps material. If there is someone in this group who is interested in assissting it would be much appreciated. I can share additional info and samples. Thanks in advance,
Mike Faccinetto mfaccinetto@gmail.com
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Reply by Guy-O on Sat Jan 16, 2016 at 7:40 amWhen I tell anybody about orienteering, almost inevitably they mention geocaching -- at which point I explain the differences. For that reason, I don't think geocaching has any place in orienteering merit badge requirements -- except for adding to the merit badge pamphlet/info that orienteering is NOT geocaching.IMO, geocaching could/should be a merit badge on its own, uh, merits. I suspect it would be very popular.As for gps, IMO, a geocaching merit badge would be the more appropriate place in which to include education / requirements.
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Reply by ErikEddy on Sat Jan 16, 2016 at 12:50 pmMike- thanks for your request- I sent you an email that will help figure out the material for the merit badge.
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Reply by rebright on Sat Jan 16, 2016 at 4:27 pmThere alerady is a BSA Geocaching Merit Badge (http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges/mb-GEOCACHE.aspx).
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Reply by edscott on Sun Jan 17, 2016 at 5:40 pmI'll echo what Guy has posted above. I participate in both Orienteering and Geocaching. Although there is some overlap in the skills needed the activities should not be combined into a single merit badge. There are some parts of the Orienteering Merit badge program that could be updated and improved, but combining it with Geocaching would only add to the confusion.
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Reply by chand on Mon Jan 18, 2016 at 5:06 pmAt Camp Horseshoe weeks during the summer they've been combining the two into one session...really thinking this is a bad idea
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Reply by Gillettejw on Mon Jan 18, 2016 at 7:08 pmMike:I would be happy to assist. The previous replies on this thread are correct. There are seperate Orienteering and Geocaching Merit Badges. While the requirements for the Orienteering Badge have not changed recently, they are sufficient for introducing Scouts to the Sport and to learning the value of terrain association. The Geocaching Merit Badge is relatively new (2011). It includes both GPS skills and map skills using the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid coordinate system.Aside from Merit Badges, one important update to the Boy Scout program this year is the addition of a GPS navigation requirement for First Class. Previously, the requirement was for a Scout to navigate on a 1 Mile Orienteering Course using Map and Compass and measure a vertical or horizontal distance. Now, there is a separate requirement that includes navigating to a point using a GPS.In the new Cub Scout program Navigation is primarily in the Wolf Rank (Third Grade), but there is also a GPS requirement for the Arrow of Light Rank (Fifth Grade) in the Camping Adventure.I am teaching a course on Orienteering Resources for Scout Leaders at the Chester County Council University of Scouting on January 30th. If you are also in the area, stop by and we can chat. I will look into the Camp Horseshoe practice of combining the two Badges then.John GilletteDistrict CommissionerHarford District, Baltimore Council, BSAjgille4567@aol.com
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Reply by edscott on Tue Jan 19, 2016 at 11:13 amI'd be really concerned if the Orienteering part of a combined program was being taught by someone whose only navigational experience was using a GPS and a compass.
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Reply by Len on Thu Jan 21, 2016 at 6:17 pm
Mike,
You're in the right place for expert help. Many of these members have decades of experience with orienteering and many have been involved in national events and OUSA for a long time. Finding orienteering through scouting, my paradigm of the activity was completely changed once I got involved and understood the sport. I have seen many scout programs conducting ‘orienteering’ which only amounted to pace counting on a bearing.
Orienteering is the most underrated sport in this country. Once you get a feel for it, you can’t get enough. Good to see your name pop up in an unexpected place.
Len
NE-IV-207 Bobwhite
