Personal Fitness Boy Scout Merit Badge / Physical Fitness Venturing Elective
Troop 56 & Crew 56 - Winter 2014
Counselor/Elective Advisor – Michelle Holmes & Others

1.	 ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THIS COURSE:  All Boy Scouts/Explorers are eligible to take this Eagle-required merit badge.  All Venturers are eligible to take this elective which counts toward Ranger.  Any adult volunteer who wishes to participate may do so.

2.	 COURSE REQUIRED FOR:  All youth and adults planning to go to Philmont summer 2014.

3.	 COURSE COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
•	 Come on time, 6:30 pm sharp – we only have ½ hour each week
•	 Wear exercise gear for fitness assessments:  2/4, 2/11, 5/6, 5/13
•	 Up to date BSA medical form filled out by your health practitioner on record with unit
•	Buy Personal Fitness Merit Badge booklet (~$5) – Scouts AND Venturers; will be supplied at first class and price subtracted from your Scout Account or cash.  Family members may share
•	 Complete & turn in all homework, including 12 weeks of fitness records
•	 Many elements of this course will be peer-taught.  Homework assignments will include researching and preparing information that you will teach to your peers at the next meeting: 
o	Presentations will be short (5-10 minutes), but should be more than just your “talking head;” please include something visual like a handout, poster, powerpoint, etc.
o	Please note that if you neglect to prepare for your presentation, not only do you not complete this requirement, but everyone who was planning to listen to you does not complete this requirement
o	Teaching is required of all Venturing advancement (requirement #11 for the Physical Fitness elective).  Being able to “explain” points related to personal fitness is in virtually all of the Boy Scout requirements for this badge.

4.	 HARMONIZING BOY SCOUT & VENTURING REQUIREMENTS.  Although the requirements for the Boy Scout merit badge and Venturing elective are very close, they are not exactly the same.  In the spirit of offering a course useful to all youth in our merged Scouting/Venturing program, each group (Scouts and Venturers) will be getting a little something “extra.”  For instance, the Boy Scout merit badge requires 12 weeks of fitness records, while the Venturing elective requires 8 weeks.  The Venturing elective requires a more extensive discussion about nutrition and drugs of abuse than the Boy Scout merit badge.  I hope that the Venturers do not mind keeping fitness records for 4 more weeks for the convenience of getting in the more extensive discussions.  I hope that the Boy Scouts will learn from the more extensive discussions while the convenience of weekly meetings helps in keeping records for 12 weeks.

Yours in Scouting & Venturing,
Dr. Holmes

SCHEDULE – All meetings @ church except 2/4 and 5/6

Week #	Date	Time	BS
req	Vent
req		
1	2/4	6:30-7:00 pm	4, 6, 7, 8	3	Assess aerobic fitness, Meet @ Russell Field
Explain 1 week activity log you will keep for next week
HW:  1 wk activity log, note from parents ~ last dentist visit
          Copy of PE for those who have not turned them in yet	
2	2/11	6:30-7:00 pm	1
4, 6, 7, 8	1
3	Turn in parent notes & PE if you have not done so before
Assess flexibility, strength & body composition
Assess 1 week activity log
Explain goal setting
HW:  Fitness goals	
SKIP FEBRUARY  VACATION WEEK	
3	2/25	6:30-7:00 pm	2, 3	2,4	Turn in fitness goals
Discuss:  immunizations, dental, mental, social health
HW:   heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer
          Fitness records X 12 weeks	
4	3/4	6:30-7:00 pm	1		Turn in fitness records week #1
Discuss:  heart disease, high BP, diabetes, cancer
HW:  Obesity, anorexia & bulimia, calories needed, 	
5	3/11	6:30-7:00 pm	5	7, 8	Turn in fitness records week #2
Discuss:  Obesity, anorexia & bulimia, calories needed, 
HW:  USDA food pyramid, alternative food pyramids	
6	3/18	6:30-7:00 pm	5	5, 6	Turn in fitness records week #3
Discuss:  USDA food pyramid, alternative food pyramids
HW:  alcohol, tobacco, cocaine	
7	3/25	6:30-7:00 pm	3	9	Turn in fitness records week #4
Discuss:  alcohol, tobacco, cocaine
HW:  marijuana, stimulants, painkillers	
8	4/1	6:30-7:00 pm	3	9	Turn in fitness records week #5
Discuss:  marijuana, stimulants, painkillers
HW:  diuretics, beta blockers, anabolic steroids	
9	4/8	6:30-7:00 pm	3	9	Turn in fitness records week #6
Discuss:  diuretics, beta blockers, anabolic steroids
HW:  Injury prevention:  head, eyes, overuse syndromes	
10	4/15	6:30-7:00 pm		10	Turn in fitness records week #7
Discuss:  Injury prevention:  head, eyes, overuse syndromes
HW:  Fitness careers	
SKIP APRIL VACATION WEEK				
11	4/29	6:30-7:00 pm	9		Turn in fitness records week #8, 9
Discuss:  Fitness careers	
12	5/6	6:30-7:00 pm	8	4	Turn in fitness records week #10
Assess aerobic fitness.  Meet at Russell Field	
13	5/13	6:30-7:00 pm	8	4	Turn in fitness records week #11
Assess flexibility, strength, & body composition	
14	5/20	6:30-7:00 pm	8	4	Turn in fitness records week #12
Reflection