Summer Scouts Classes FAQ

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Can my child participate in a Summer Scout class if they are not a scout?
• What is the age policy for Summer Scouts at HMNS?
• Do Scouts need to get permission from their pack or troop prior to taking a Scout Class?
• Do Scouts BSA need to provide a Blue Card?
• Are there prerequisites for Summer Scout Classes?
• How does Self-Release work for Scouts?

Can my child participate in a Summer Scout class if they are not a scout?

• Your camper does not have to be a scout to participate in Scouting classes at HMNS! They just need to meet the age requirements for the class.

What is the age policy for Summer Scouts at HMNS?

• Classes follow the same guidelines as the BSA and Girl Scouts, as applicable, and are generally based on the grade that the Scout will be attending in the fall. 

Scouts BSA: 

Tigers: 1^st grade 

Wolves: 2^nd grade

Bears: 3^rd grade

Webelos: 4^th-5^th grade

BSA: 6^th grade – 17 years old

Girl Scouts: 

Daisy: K-1^st grade 

Brownies: 2^nd-3^rd grade

Juniors: 4^th-5^th grade 

Cadettes: 6^th-8^th grade 

Seniors: 9^th-10^th grade

Do Scouts need to get permission from their pack or troop prior to taking a Scout Class?

• Scouts in Webelos, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts do not need to get permission to take a Summer Scouts class at HMNS. 
• For those in Scouts BSA, we recommend getting permission from your Scoutmaster prior to starting work on a merit badge. If a Scout takes a class without the Scoutmaster’s approval, they may not be given credit for the work. HMNS will not issue a refund in such circumstances.  

Do Scouts BSA need to provide a Blue Card?

• For Scouts BSA classes, HMNS issues pre-printed “BLUE CARDS”, the official BSA form for Merit Badge Counselors, detailing the requirements completed by the Scout during class and verified by the Merit Badge Counselor. 

HMNS highly recommends getting prior approval for a merit badge class by your Scoutmaster for all merit badge classes taken at HMNS. HMNS will not issue a refund for classes that were not accepted by the Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster may require you to bring a signed blue card for the merit badge. The scout is responsible for turning in their signed merit badge card to the counselor on the day of the class and submit the completed Blue Cards to their troop after completion of the class.

Are there prerequisites for Summer Scout Classes?

• Some classes have PREREQUISITES that need to be completed prior to attending class and/or homework assignments during the week. Worksheets for these prerequisites can be found on the Scouts at HMNS website (hmns.org/scouts). Please download these worksheets and have your Scout bring the completed worksheets to class and turn them in to the Merit Badge Counselor. Homework should be completed and turned in by the due date provided by the Merit Badge Counselor. At the end of class, any incomplete work (partials) will need to be completed by the Scout afterwards and verified by the Scout Program Manager scouts@hmns.org for merit badge credit. 
• Scout classes that have prerequisites are listed in our Summer Programs Catalog.

How does Self-Release work for Scouts?

• Self-Release is only available to Scouts BSA and Cadettes and Senior Girl Scouts. It is not an option for our younger Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Webelos. 
• For Self-Release on the first day of the camp week, parents MUST walk their scout to class and fill in self-release information for that week. Parents can choose options that work for them: 

Sign-In

• To Before Class* between 8:00 and 9:15 a.m. *Before Class is a PAID SERVICE.
• Sign into Class beginning at 9:45 a.m.

Sign-Out

• Sign out from class. Scouts will be escorted to the Scouts pick-up location on Hermann Park Drive. They must be picked up at this location.  This option is available between 3-3:45 p.m.  
• Sign out of After Class* at ______ (Time). Release will be 5 minutes prior to the designated pick-up time. I will pick-up my child at                                                                          location. *After Class is a PAID SERVICE

Please note that for signing your scout directly out of class, they will be escorted to a designated pick up location on Hermann Park Drive, and that is where you will be able to pick them up. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate alternative pick up locations during that window. Any campers not picked up at 3:45 p.m. will be escorted to After Class and must be picked up from the classroom inside.