Old Colony Council's MBU event provides over 1000 scouts with the opportunity to complete three merit badges during the month of March each year. Held on three Saturday mornings that month, scouts attend three merit badge classes (~ 1 hour each). A number of badges (such as Aviation) provide field trips during the "off week" to complete out-of-classroom requirements.
For first-year scouts, MBU offers a 2 hour flight-to-eagle program, which covers a selection of Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class rank requirements. This program helps these younger scouts focus on early rank requirements, while giving them the opportunity to take one merit badge class.
Typically attended by over 100 troops each year, MBU helps scouts gain access to merit badge instruction for badges that are not typically available through their troop's program or offered at summer camp.
To ease pre-event registration and post-event advancement tracking, the MBU all-volunteer staff uses online unit registration and course selection system (DoubleKnot based). Online results reporting is also provided (PDF based). This system lets unit leaders register scouts for the event and receive their results without ever visiting the council office or even attending the event. (But, please do attend with your troop; it is a very good time!)
Step 1: Hold an MBU planning night in your unit
The MBU scout form lists the badges being offered and provides a scout FAQ, which introduces the event to scouts (and venturers). Print a copy for each youth, and use this form to gather their merit badge choices and other information.
Step 2: Use the online registration to sign-up your unit for MBU
This online registration system lets you register your unit for the event, select classes for your scouts, and pay online for the number of scouts attending.
Step 3: Support your youth's MBU efforts by:
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Devoting some portion of each March unit meeting to scouts spending time working on MBU homework
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Helping scouts find resources (troop library, online locations, or others) that they need to use for merit badge completion
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Creating a supportive atmosphere with scouts-helping-scouts to work together and encourage each other to complete there merit badges
Step 4: Go through the MBU results with each scout after the event
When you receive the MBU results, immediately spend time with each scout going through their results and make sure that the results match their expectations. It is very difficult to track down counselors and class information if you wait for weeks or months after the event to do this important follow-up with your scouts.
Documents and Links
Scout Form - for use within units
Scoutmaster FAQ
Southeastern Regional Main Map
Southeastern Regional Lower Map
Southeastern Regional Traffic Flow - please take a look!
Merit Badge Counselor Training and Resources
