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Indian Lore Merit BadgeBegin to learn all about our Native American ancestors and their beautiful culture with it's crafts, legends, and an enduring wisdom that our modern society could really use a healthy dose of. This isn't about museum history, it's about who we really are as Americans. Support provided:
This is currently supported at Camp Acahela and Goose Pond. Class size: No restrictions Advance notice needed: Two weeks is preferred. Cost to the unit is: $6.00 per participant Patches for the completed award are available at a cost of $2.29 each and can be purchased at Camp Acahela or at the Scout Service Center's Scout Shop. |
Below are the current requirements for this Merit Badge. This color key is designed to help you understand what requirements can be completed at our facilities, what has to be done ahead of time, and what we can't support (or what will require special arrangements). Certain requirements may require additional fees to cover the costs of materials used and will be noted with this symbol set (*) .
- Text that is green like this means these are fieldwork requirements we support at our camps and can be completed with our Counselors. In some cases this means that you use our camp to fulfill or host an event.
- Text that is blue like this means that you can arrange to meet with our Counselors and and review or complete these requirements with them. This usually means you must complete these in advance using a worksheet and /or sit in a class-like meeting to discuss the material or requirement.
- Text that is in red like this is not supported in our program. If you elect to do this requirement, you must complete these requirements with local Counselors or your Scoutmaster.
- Text that is in purple like this means this is a Pre-Requisite and needs to be completed ahead of time. (In some cases we also support these Pre-Reqs separately). In some cases this means doing the work at home, recording the results, and bringing the results with you to discuss with your counselor.
- Text that is pink like this means that this requirement can be done either by our counselors or by some other local counselor but usually requires additional outside work that won't be completed in a single weekend. This usually means special arrangements need to be made, but this can usually be worked out by speaking with us ahead of time.
- Text in brown like this means that this requirement can be satisfied at a location near one of our camps by either visiting the site, or participating in an activity at that nearby site (such as visiting Steamtown for the Railroading Merit Badge). In this way, you can use Acahela or Goose Pond as basecamps and then travel to the nearby site.
Requirement 4e used to require "an Indian story of at least 300 words, or any number of shorter ones adding up to 300 words." We believe, but have not confirmed, that the change from 300 words to 25 words as shown below was a typographical error in the pamphlet, but until we get confirmation from BSA, we've shown the wording in the pamphlet.
- Give the history of one American Indian tribe, group or nation that lives or has lived near you. Visit it, if possible. Tell about traditional dwellings, way of life, tribal government, religious beliefs, family and clan relationships, language, clothing styles, arts and crafts, food preparation, means of getting around, games, customs in warfare, where members of the group now live, and how they live.
- Do TWO of the following. Focus on a specific group or tribe.
- Make an item of clothing worn by members of the tribe.
- Make and decorate three items used by the tribe, as approved by your counselor.
- Make an authentic model of a dwelling used by an Indian tribe, group, or nation.
- Visit a museum to see Indian artifacts. Discuss them with your counselor. Identify at least 10 artifacts by tribe or nation, their shape, size, and use.
- Do ONE of the following:
- Learn three games played by a group or tribe. Teach and lead one game with a Scout group.
- Learn and show how a tribe traditionally cooked or prepared food. Make three food items.
- Give a demonstration showing how a specific Indian group traditionally hunted, fished, or trapped.
- Do ONE of the following:
- Write or briefly describe how life would have been different for the European settlers if there had been no native Americans to meet them when they came to this continent.
- Sing two songs in an Indian language. Explain their meanings.
- Learn in an Indian language at least 25 common terms and their meaning.
- Show 25 signs in Indian sign language. Include those that will help you ask for water, for food, and where the path or road leads.
- Learn in English (or the language you commonly speak at home or in the troop) an Indian story of at least 25 words, or any number of shorter ones adding up to 300 words. Tell the story or stories at a Scout meeting or campfire.
- Write or tell about eight things adopted by others from American Indians.
- Learn 25 Indian place names. Tell their origins and meanings.
- Name five well-known American Indian leaders, either from the past or people of today. Give their tribes or nations. Describe what they did or do now that makes them notable.
- Learn about the Iroquois Confederacy, including how and why it was formed. Tell about its governing system. Describe some of the similarities and differences between the governments of the United States and of the Six Nations (the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy).
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Worksheets and RequirementsDetails about this Merit Badge can be found at the US Scout Service Project Website at the following URL: http://usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb064.asp At the end of the description at that location, you will find copies of worksheets that you can easily save and print out. This will make the task of completing the Merit badge much easier and give your boys a guide to the information they need to know. Having this done ahead of time can make the difference between leaving our camps with a signed "Blue Card" or not.
If you have any questions or need further guidance or help, we're here for you! Contact Ranger Tim Bongard at (570) 335-0283 or e-mail him at tbongard@nepabsa.org . |