Emergency Preparation Merit Badge List...

One of the most challenging merit badges to earn is the Emergency Preparation Merit Badge.  Only a few people are qualified to serve as counselor to this badge as well.  That makes it doubly difficult to earn, although it is a Eagle Required Merit badge.

That said, parents can make this merit badge easier to earn by helping their son gather the supplies needed to put together the two required emergency kits.  Without parental support, this merit badge may take months or years to complete, especially if the counselor has limited time to review supplies.

The first list is the Family Emergency Kit (on the left side.)  Our Merit Badge Counselor wants to see each item on the list.  This is challenging, with the water requirement especially, but not impossible.  Consider allowing your scout to load up the family vehicle with these items.  This would allow the MBC to see each item quickly without having to move the items in and out of the building.  The MBC can see the items in the parking lot when you bring your scout to activity night.

The second list (on the right) is for the individual scout mobilization.  Again, consider allowing your scout to load your vehicle with the items and show the MBC without much fuss. 

What about expensive items like crank powered radios?  Consider buying one, keeping the receipt and leaving the packing intact, and returning it to the store for a refund upon completion of the merit badge.  The important thing is that your scout becomes familiar with the items he might need to pack in each scenario. 

Help out your son by helping him gather these supplies and have them ready to bring to activity night sometime in September.  It will make things a lot easier.