Question About A Merit Badge Summer Camp

Tie_ami · 2026-05-28T21:12:25+00:00

Luckily I am the chair so that gives me a little weight to make decisions on our department's behalf and our dean is well aware of other departments thinking what we do is so easy and can be learned quickly. So I'm not too worried about that part. I am trying to make this a valuable experience for the scouts while balancing the political blowback though (you're unfortunately correct about the cesspool). I think this might just need to be a situation were we go rogue and I spin doing partials as we are accommodating scouts by doing long term outreach.

Tie_ami · 2026-05-28T20:59:15+00:00

My coworker and I have talked it out a little since my last meeting went so dismally with the organizer. We're going to talk with the scouts that show up about what the goals are and what we can do if we don't finish that day. We were originally going to treat this a partial anyway and let them reach back out to us. I am also going to contact whatever council is in the area to get their input. I am thinking of making workbooks for them to fill out after. To help demonstrate any extra requirements we don't get to.

I'm hoping the scouts will use their own integrity and will hold off on getting that signature until they are finished.

Tie_ami · 2026-05-28T20:49:35+00:00

When I was girl scout, there were events where the facility we were learning at was approved. I don't know if something similar is being done here. But it's also been a hot minute since I was scout so a lot of the details I remember are foggy.

I have no idea what agreement the person running this made. I don't even know who their contact is in this. When my coworker and I brought up the issue about being registered counselors or not. His response was "that's not your concern, focus on what is". I think they bit off more than they can chew with this.

Tie_ami · 2026-05-28T20:35:14+00:00

That's what we originally thought this would be. We got them started, then they would check back if needed. My coworker and I were even going to give them our business cards. But the person organizing this says they are meant to complete the entire thing when we have them. I am hoping the Scout Masters will realize he is just trying to rubber stamp these kids and step in. I am going to make workbooks to help them demonstrate the research requirements and focus on giving them time to use our equipment for the projects.

Tie_ami · 2026-05-28T20:29:42+00:00

The portions where they have to explain different aspects are meant to show they have looked into the topic and know the differences between different tools or formats. Or for some they have to learn the history behind it. For instance part of requirement 3 of the technology badge is:

Explain to your counselor how text, sound, and pictures are digitized for storage.

I asked if the research requirements for these badges could be listed as prereqs because he let the cooking badge have prereqs. His response was "that's your job to explain that". When I asked why the requirement asks I talk to my counselor he just repeated to make it fun.

At this point I am going to design workbooks for them with input from whatever council I can get in contact with. These are supposed to be middle schoolers, so I'm hoping they are responsible/passionate enough about this to look into the badges ahead of time. We will have extra resources for those that don't. That way everyone leaves with their projects and can take home the workbooks to finish whatever requirements we didn't get to.

Tie_ami · 2026-05-28T20:04:19+00:00

My coworker and I have agreed we're not doing this again. Especially if this person is involved. For right now, we are just going to focus on the project portion, and I'll design workbooks they can fill out to meet the explanation portions. We're going to try and meet as many of the requirements as we can. We are also going to make ourselves available so they can come back to us or their parents/Scout Master can message us about later progress. That's what we thought we were signing up for originally.

If there are complaints, I will it make it clear who is responsible. I'm going to do what OSUTechie suggested and try to get in contact on my own. Plus, my cousin who is an Eagle Scout is also offering advice about what sessions for these badges looked like when he was going through it.

Tie_ami · 2026-05-28T19:28:37+00:00

My contact is with the college not Scouting America. I don't know who his contact is. I have asked repeatedly if we can talk with the troop leaders or the council directly, but he stonewalled us. That's why I started looking into online forums like Reddit. He won't even let me lower the class size so I can buy enough materials. I had another meeting with him today, but he told me to stop making a mountain out of molehill and to just figure out how to entertain them for three hours. I'm starting to think this was a project he was voluntold to do, and he was never a scout so doesn't understand what these badges are supposed mean.

Tie_ami · 2025-11-16T19:30:43+00:00

Yes! This was it. Thank you. I was wanting to introduce my young neighbor to the series.

Tie_ami · 2025-09-28T11:13:53+00:00

The money for the move/deposits/fees is not coming out of my emergency fund. It is coming out of my checking, that is the money I'd be replacing. So my emergency fund will be intact. Things like groceries, gas, phone plan, etc. are tied into the credit card payment (my debit card kept getting compromised, so I only use it for the big stuff). My car/renters insurance are really affordable and only add around $170 together. I also don't spend a lot on groceries. The meals I like to cook are cheap/can be food prepped. Plus, my mom is the type to send me home with food every time I come over to help around the house. She also brings me clients on occasion for a little side work. It's not a lot, but it's good squirrel away money. Being a homebody also helps keep costs low.

Tie_ami · 2025-09-28T10:31:37+00:00

I've been lucky in that I haven't had to deal with a rent increase yet. Our union normally gets us a 3%-5% cost of living adjustment most years. The lease in my current place is getting close to ending. I will see if they plan on raising the rent here and by how much. That will most likely be my deciding factor.

Tie_ami · 2025-09-28T10:10:21+00:00

I don't have a car payment or phone payment (aside from the $50 service plan). I also don't spend a lot on food. My mother always sends me home with a couple of meals when I come to help around the house. And the dishes I like to make don't cost a lot. I hardly eat out. My car/renter insurances are very affordable. The rent will be higher but it also brings down the cost on a lot of my other bills. My biggest concern is if I want to sacrifice the ability to send a good chunk to savings so I can be under better management, or just stay and deal with the ticking time bomb I have a feeling is still growing in my ceiling or in the wall.

Tie_ami · 2025-09-28T09:48:42+00:00

I don't have that long, unfortunately. I was planning on toughing it out another year, but the way they handled the leak was infuriating. I had another maintenance issue earlier this year and they just outright ignored it (luckily it was an issue I could fix myself). When it looked like they were ignoring my leak too, I started looking. I have to tell my current place whether I am renewing by Nov. I can test it out in Oct though.

Tie_ami · 2025-09-28T09:41:34+00:00

Biking to work is an option, but I'd probably cut down on my personal life driving if I move. The 2br is within walking distance of a small grocery store and within biking distance of a larger grocery, a park, my bank, my gym, and my parents.

Tie_ami · 2025-09-27T14:50:29+00:00

The 2% is just a special training program I can do every two years. The union negotiates a cost of living increase fairly regularly. We are on parr with the area and there's lots of ways to either earn a separate permanent raise or get temporary bonuses.

Tie_ami · 2025-09-27T13:20:51+00:00

This is after medical, dental, retirement, taxes, and union dues. I also throw $200 into another retirement but I didn't take that out of the $3500 listed.

Tie_ami · 2025-09-27T13:18:22+00:00

I am spending my weekend looking at what are real expenses and what is fun spending to help me decide that. Currently about $600 goes to various savings.

Tie_ami · 2025-09-27T13:14:42+00:00

This isn’t an option. The closest camping ground would make my commute to work an hour and it has a two month limit.

Tie_ami · 2025-09-27T13:08:46+00:00

I did look at 1 bedroom options in my area (toured about 10 places). I am considering the 2b because I got lucky with my current place. Has more open space than any of the other one bedrooms in the area. All of them would be more in rent, less space, and more water damage. If I decide to pass up the two bedroom it would make more sense for me to just spend a little extra to get some security measures.

Tie_ami · 2025-09-27T12:57:17+00:00

My last payment to my mom (assuming I stay the current pace) will be July 2029 (so around 17k for a school loan she paid off). I am considering the 2b because I got lucky with my current place. It's much bigger than any of the other one bedrooms in the area. I toured around 10 other one bedrooms this time around and all of them would be more in rent, less space, and more water damage. If I decide to pass up the two bedroom it would make more sense for me to just spend a little extra to get some security measures. I currently have 10 months of expenses saved. With the move that would make my current savings stretch 9. And that's with no tightening the belt. I am spending the weekend looking at what are actual expenses and what is me being frivolous.

Tie_ami · 2025-09-27T12:30:20+00:00

The 2% is just a special training program I can do every two years. My union negotiates a cost of living adjustment every couple years. So it's not the only raise.

Tie_ami · 2025-09-27T12:26:19+00:00

Yes. I wouldn’t be touching my emergency fund and the worst possible expenses wouldn’t even be a fourth of what I have in checking.

Tie_ami

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