​Important Notes:

• Pre-work is required. Be prepared to discuss your completed work during the class.

• If pre-work is not completed and discussed, you will not receive your Blue Card, as the requirements will not be met.

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There are some prerequisites that you need to finish before coming to the online session.

 

Zoom Link: Scouts will attend the online zoom session using a zoom link sent to the email address you used to register. If you don't see that email check your spam and junk folder.

 

Step 2: To receive your blue card, Scouts must complete the Online Classroom located here:  https://form.jotform.com/223374642541151

 

Step 3: Some Merit Badge Requirements must be completed beforehand. Please read below for the prerequisites

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Merit Badge Prerequisites: 

 

Requirement #1a: (Complete before the Zoom session)

Bring a list to the Zoom session with the most likely hazards you may encounter while hiking, and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate and respond to these hazards.

Submit by: We will complete this during the zoom session.

 

Requirement #1b: (Complete before the Zoom session)

Bring a list to the Zoom session with the first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while hiking, including hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, sunburn, hyperventilation, altitude sickness, sprained ankle, blisters, insect stings, tick bites, and snakebite.

Submit by: We will complete this during the zoom session.

 

Requirement #2a: (Complete before the Zoom session)

Bring a list to the Zoom session with the points of good hiking practices, including proper outdoor ethics, hiking safety in the daytime and at night, courtesy to others, choice of footwear, and proper care of feet and footwear.

Submit by: We will complete this during the zoom session.

 

Requirement #3: (This will be completed after the Zoom session)

Bring a list to the Zoom session with how hiking is an aerobic activity. Develop a plan for conditioning yourself for 10-mile hikes, and describe how you will increase your fitness for longer hikes.

Submit by: We will complete this during the zoom session.

 

Requirement #4: (This will be completed after the Zoom session)

Take four 10-mile hikes and one 20-mile hike, each on a different day, and each of continuous miles. Prepare a written hike plan before each hike and share it with your merit badge counselor or a designee for approval before starting the hike. Include map routes, a clothing and equipment list, and a list of items for a trail lunch. You may stop for as many short rest periods as needed, as well as one meal, during each hike, but not for an extended period such as overnight. *The required hikes for this badge may be used in fulfilling hiking requirements for rank advancement. However, these hikes cannot be used to fulfill requirements of other merit badges.

Submit by: Using the online classroom to submit the plans, photos of the hikes, a screenshot of each route and length using the AllTrails App, and a letter/email from the designee, such as a scoutmaster, assistant scoutmaster, or parents/guardian.

 

Requirement #5: (This will be completed after the Zoom session)

After each of the hikes (or during each hike if on one continuous “trek”) in requirement 4, write a short report on your hike. For each hike, give the date and description (or map) of the route covered, the weather, any interesting things you saw, and any challenges you had and how you overcame them. It may include something you learned about yourself, about the outdoors, or about others you were hiking with. Share this with your merit badge counselor. *The required hikes for this badge may be used in fulfilling hiking requirements for rank advancement. However, these hikes cannot be used to fulfill requirements of other merit badges.

Submit by: Using the online classroom.

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How to submit completed work:

• Use the Online Classroom: https://form.jotform.com/243206898383164

• The online classroom does not auto-save work.

• You need to hit the save button to save a draft.

• Saved Drafts are auto-deleted after 2 months so save your work in your own WORD doc or Google Doc and copy and paste into the online classroom.

• Scouts have three months to complete this.

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Blue Cards:

• Upon submitting work in the online classroom and approval from our merit badge counselor, Scouts will be issued a digital blue card signed by our merit badge counselor. This can be done with a digital PDF or signed on Scoutbook.com

 

Camera Requirement

• All participants MUST have their cameras on during online sessions.

• If you are unable to turn your camera on, you will not be allowed to stay in the session and will need to rebook at your parent/guardian's expense.

Increased Prerequisites

• Additional prerequisites will be introduced to enhance discussions during class requirements. Participants should come prepared to actively share their answers during the session.

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​Hiking Merit Badge Requirements​

1. Do the following:

• (a) Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while hiking, and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate and respond to these hazards.

• (b) Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while hiking, including hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, sunburn, hyperventilation, altitude sickness, sprained ankle, blisters, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite.

 

2. Do the following:

• (a) Explain and, where possible, show the points of good hiking practices including proper outdoor ethics, hiking safety in the daytime and at night, courtesy to others, choice of footwear, and proper care of feet and footwear.

• (b) Read aloud or recite the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, and discuss why each is important while hiking.

• (c) Read aloud or recite the Outdoor Code, and give examples of how to follow it on a hike.

 

3. Explain how hiking is an aerobic activity. Develop a plan for conditioning yourself for 10-mile hikes, and describe how you will increase your fitness for longer hikes.

4. Take four 10-mile hikes and one 20-mile hike, each on a different day, and each of continuous miles. Prepare a written hike plan before each hike and share it with your counselor or a designee for approval before starting the hike. Include map routes, a clothing and equipment list, and a list of items for a trail lunch. You may stop for as many short rest periods as needed, as well as one meal, during each hike, but not for an extended period such as overnight.*

• (a) 10-mile hike #1

• (b) 10-mile hike #2

• (c) 10-mile hike #3

• (d) 10-mile hike #4

• (e) 20-mile hike

 

5. After each of the hikes (or during each hike if on one continuous "trek") in requirement 4, write a short report on your hike. For each hike, give the date and description (or map) of the route covered, the weather, any interesting things you saw, and any challenges you had and how you overcame them. It may include something you learned about yourself, about the outdoors, or about others you were hiking with. Share this with your counselor.*

*The required hikes for this badge may be used in fulfilling hiking requirements for rank advancement. However, these hikes cannot be used to fulfill requirements of other merit badges.