 Merit Badges at CFL
CFL has eight different program areas that are operated by an enthusiastic and highly qualified staff. Two of these program areas, C.O.P.E. and High Adventure, are designed for older Scouts and personal development. The other six are geared towards essential Scouting skills and merit badges. In the Program Areas section of this website, you will find a description of each area and any information Scouts will need to know in order to participate in the programs that each area runs. Please refer to the specific area for a list of merit badges offered and any prerequisites or additional gear that may be required.
Each program area offers a variety of unique programs. A program area may offer overnights, breakfast or lunch programs, and programs during the evening. For the most up to date information on special programs being offered you can check our web site or refer to the daily schedule you will receive upon arrival to camp. Before you go any further, here are a few notes on merit badges. Scouts can complete any requirements for the merit badges we offer before arrival to camp. Any requirements a Scout does before camp should be done with a merit badge counselor. This means that a Scout wishing to do a merit badge at camp that has prerequisites should follow the same procedure as if he were doing a merit badge at home. He should first get permission from his Scoutmaster to do the merit badge and acquire a signed blue card. The Scout must then find a merit badge counselor locally and work on the prerequisites. The Scoutmaster should have access to a troop or local listing of merit badge instructors. A Scout must have any requirements he does prior to camp signed off on a blue card. The Scout must then bring that blue card to camp if he wishes to complete that merit badge by the end of camp. If a scout does not provide a signed off blue card citing his prerequisites he will not be able to complete the merit badge.
Our counselors will not make a Scout redo a requirement or complete a different option of a requirement. However, Scouts will be encouraged to participate in the merit badge classes even if they have completed the requirements being covered. If a Scout has started a merit badge with another counselor all that is needed to show the Scouts accomplishments is a properly filled out blue card with the previous merit badge counselors signature by the requirements that the Scout has completed. The Scouts must have this blue card at camp in order to continue building off his previous work.
The merit badge program at camp is an intrigue part of the camp program. However, merit badges are not the entire program offered at camp. A Scout is encouraged to take 3 to 5 merit badge at camp. This allows time for a Scouts participation in other programs. Scouts who finish some of the requirements of a merit badge but not all of them will be given a “partial”. A Scout can take this partial and complete the remaining requirements with a merit badge counselor at home. Being prepared before camp and completing prerequisites with a merit badge counselor from home will minimize the number of partials a Scout takes home.
Some merit badges offered at camp have requirements that are either difficult or impossible to do at camp. This guide tells you what merit badges have prerequisites. Please come to camp prepared. In some cases a Scout may not be able to take a merit badge if he has not completed the prerequisites.
 Merit Badge Schedule
We run a 5 session per day merit badge program. Each session is 50 minutes long and there are 10 minutes between each session to allow time for a Scout to get to his next activity. Please look at the schedule closely. It is designed to allow a Scout as much versatility as possible. Most merit badges are 50 minute classes and meet four times throughout the week. However, some merit badges meet only twice a week or even just once. Other merit badges are two sessions long and/or require out of class work.
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