Family Life Merit Badge Information
October 2005
To: Troop 224 Scouts and Parents
From: John R. Andrews, Family Life Merit Badge Counselor

Several of our Scouts will start soon on the Family Life Merit Badge. This is a badge that will require the support and involvement of members of each Scout's family. This is also a required badge for the rank of Eagle Scout, for those Scouts who have set their sights on achieving this rank.

Below is a listing of the requirements for the badge. As you will see, there are two areas that will require discussion between the Scout and a parent or guardian, and at least two areas that will require the participation of as many family members as possible.

At our first meeting (October 24, 2005) when we begin the badge, I will send some additional materials home to aid you in these areas.  We will meet again for this badge on November 14, 2005.

For now, I would ask that each Scout, with parental assistance, prepare a list of at least five household chores that they can and will do for at least 90 days. If the parent approves the list, it is fine with me for the Scout to go ahead and start on the daily recordkeeping of fulfillment of the chores. Otherwise, we can review and discuss the list of chores at our troop meeting.

Please also consider ideas for requirements 4 and 5, and send your Scout to the October 24 troop meeting ready to discuss the proposed projects, or to privately provide me with details for prior approval.

Thank you! Let me know if you have questions.

(651) 747-1401

Requirements
 
  1. Prepare an outline on what a family is and discuss this with your merit badge counselor. Tell why families are important to individuals and to society. Discuss how the actions of one member can affect other members.
  2. List several reasons why you are important to your family and discuss this with your parents or guardians and with your merit badge counselor.
  3. Prepare a list of your regular home duties or chores (at least five) and do them for 90 days. Keep a record of how often you do each of them.
  4. With the approval of your parents or guardians and your merit badge counselor, decide on and carry out a project that you would do around the home that would benefit your family. Submit a report to your merit badge counselor outlining how the project benefited your family.
  5. Plan and carry out a project that involves the participation of your family. After completing the project, discuss the following with your merit badge. counselor:
    1. The objective or goal of the project
    2. How individual members of your family participated
    3. The results of the project
  6. Do the following:
    1. Discuss with your merit badge counselor how to plan and carry out a family meeting.
    2. After this discussion, plan and carry out a family meeting to include the following subjects:
      1. Avoiding substance abuse
      2. Understanding the growing-up process and how the body changes, and making responsible decisions dealing with sex
      3. Personal and family finances
      4. A crisis situation within your family
      5. The effect of technology on your family
        Discussion of each of these subjects will very likely carry over to more than one family meeting.
  7. Discuss the following with your counselor:
    1. Your understanding of what makes an effective father and why, and your thoughts on the father's role in the family
    2. Your understanding of the responsibilities of a parent

Contact information for the Family Life Merit Badge Counselor:

Name Phone E-mail
John Andrews (651) 747-1401 jcta@comcast.net

Additional resources for this merit badge are at:
Family Life

If you have any questions about this or any other Merit Badge and/or your Advancement records, please contact the Advancement Chair.  A progress report is available in a MS Word format.

Also visit the Northern Star Council website on advancement resources or the Merit Badge Research Center website.

Last Updated: 11/21/2005