BSA Merit Badge Workshop– Citizenship in the Nation
Sunday, October 6, 2024 | 1-4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Sunday, November 3, 2024 | 1-4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Sunday, December 15, 2024 | 1-4 p.m. ET | In-Person
What are the rights, duties, and obligations of United States citizens? How are those sentiments reflected in the country’s founding documents?
Explore these themes and fulfill requirements for the Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge. Analyze primary sources including the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution to understand how the nation’s founding documents impact society today. Learn how these documents effect your family and community as well as the U.S. Army.
Successful completion of the program will fulfill six of the eight requirements of the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge.
Workshop Logistics
The workshop will take place in the Museum’s Conference Rooms from 1 – 4 p.m.
- Chaperones are required to stay onsite in the Museum during the workshop but do not have to attend the workshop.
- Museum staff leading this worked have completed BSA Youth Protection training.
- No outside food or drink is allowed in the Museum. Sealed water bottles or empty bottles are permitted. There are water bottle filling stations located in the Museum.
Workshop Requirements
- Participants must register in advance. Participants must register for themselves AND a caregiver. Caregivers are required to stay onsite in the Museum during the workshop.
- Participants must complete the pre-visit assignment prior to the workshop.
- Participants must attend the entire workshop to successfully complete the Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge requirements.
Workshop Prerequisite
Participants must complete the following pre-visit assignment.
- View the Museum’s Virtual Field Trip – The Road to Revolution: The French and Indian War. In this 30 minute video, learn how the French and Indian War informs our understanding of the Revolutionary War and the founding of the country.
- What events led to the American Revolution and what was their impact on the new nation?
- Read the Declaration of Independence. A transcript can be found on the National Archives website.
- How was the Declaration of Independence connected to the French and Indian War?
- Read the U.S. Constitution. A transcript can be found on the National Archives website.
- After reflecting on the document, what the is its purpose?
Pre-Workshop Activities
Two merit badge requirements (#5 & #8) must be completed outside of the merit badge workshop.
Requirement #5: Watch the national evening news five days in a row OR read the front page of a major daily newspaper five days in a row. Think about and be prepared to discuss the following: What is the national issue that you learned about while watching the news? How does that issue affect you and your family?
Requirement #8: Who is your representative to Congress? Name your two senators and a member of Congress from your congressional district. Select a national issue. Write a letter to your representative explaining your views on this issue.
Register for this IN-PERSON Merit Badge Workshop on October 6 at 1 p.m.
Register for this IN-PERSON Merit Badge Workshop on November 3 at 1 p.m.
Register for this IN-PERSON Merit Badge Workshop on December 17 at 1 p.m.
BSA Merit Badge Workshop– American Heritage
Sunday, October 20, 2024 | 1-4 p.m. ET | In-Person
How have the actions of the U.S. Army throughout American history helped build and strengthen the country?
To improve its effectiveness on the battlefield, the Army has frequently been a leader in recognizing and developing innovations and inventions. Many of its successes have benefited American society in the form of improved communications, medicine, aviation, and computers.
Explore this theme through aviation and fulfill the requirements for the American Heritage Merit Badge. Learn more about how the Army harnessed the new technology developed by the Wright brothers and how it impacted civilian life.
Successful completion of the program will complete five of six requirements of the American Heritage merit badge. The additional requirement may be completed prior to the workshop. The program will be led by a BSA-certified merit badge counselor.
Workshop Logistics
The workshop will take place in the Museum’s Conference Rooms from 1 – 4 p.m.
- Chaperones are required to stay onsite in the Museum during the workshop but do not have to attend the workshop.
- Museum staff leading this worked have completed BSA Youth Protection training.
- No outside food or drink is allowed in the Museum. Sealed water bottles or empty bottles are permitted. There are water bottle filling stations located in the Museum.
Workshop Requirements
- Participants must register in advance. Participants must register for themselves AND a caregiver. Caregivers are required to stay onsite in the Museum during the workshop.
- Participants must complete the pre-visit assignment prior to the workshop.
- Participants must attend the entire workshop to successfully complete the Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge requirements.
Optional Pre-Workshop Activities
Two merit badge requirements (#3a & #3c) must be completed outside of the merit badge workshop.
Requirement #3a: Select a topic related to the United States that is currently in the news. Describe to your counselor what is happening. Explain how today’s events are related to or affected by the events and values of America’s past.
Requirement #3c: Research your family’s history. Find out how various events and situations in American history affected your family. If your family immigrated to America, tell the reasons why. Share what you find with your counselor.
Register for this IN-PERSON Merit Badge Workshop on October 20 at 1 p.m.