Description and Support

Wilderness Survivial Merit Badge

Having the right kind of place to do this badge can be a challenge unless you stay with us. Acahela's Bearcat site and Goose Pond's Scoutcraft site are two excellent Wilderness Survival sites that have everything you need to get this vital badge earned with ease and confidence.

Support provided:

Approved Merit Badge Counselor.
Daytime meeting to review pre-reqs and already completed worksheets.
Daytime class work if needed.
Two outstanding Wilderness Survival areas to pick from.
Terrific forest environment for doing fieldwork.
Freshwater streams in the immediate area.
Shelter materials in abundance.

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.

THE KEY to the Requirements

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.

Merit Badge Requirements

Show that you know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses likely to occur in backcountry settings, including hypothermia, heat reactions, frostbite, dehydration, blisters, insect stings, tick bites, and snakebites.

From memory list the seven priorities for survival in a backcountry or wilderness location. Explain the importance of each one with your counselor.

Describe ways to avoid panic and maintain a high level of morale when lost, and explain why this is important.

Describe the steps you would take to survive in the following conditions:

Cold and snowy

Wet (forest)

Hot and dry (desert)

Windy (mountains or plains)

Water (ocean, lake, or river)

Put together a personal survival kit and be able to explain how each item in it could be useful.

Using three different methods (other than matches), build and light three fires.

Do the following:

Show five different ways to attract attention when lost.

Demonstrate how to use a signal mirror.

Describe from memory five ground-to- air signals and tell what they mean.

Improvise a natural shelter. For the purpose of this demonstration, use techniques that have little negative impact on the environment. Spend a night in your shelter.

Explain how to protect yourself from insects, reptiles, and bears.

Demonstrate three ways to treat water found in the outdoors to prepare it for drinking.

Show that you know the proper clothing to wear in your area on an overnight in extremely hot weather and in extremely cold weather.

Explain why it usually is not wise to eat edible wild plants or wildlife in a wilderness survival situation.

On-Line and Additional Support

Worksheets and Requirements

Details about this Merit Badge can be found at the US Scout Service Project Website at the following URL:

http://usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb117.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 .