Spoof Merit Badges

Where would you get the requirements for spoof badges like the ones offered at boy scout store .com

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@Alex - There are no requirements for them.  They are just for fun.  You could make up requirements, if you wanted.

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Spoof patches can be funny, but often are unkind toward the recipient.  A Scout is Kind, so those are inappropriate and should never be presented.  If someone wants to poke fun at themselves, that's different.  I have no problem with Untrainable or Curmudgeon trained strips for yourself, nor do I have a problem with adult patrol patches (e.g., Dinosaur, Old Goat).  Brag vests are more appropriate places for spoof patches, as they are not part of the uniform.  Keep it fun and please do not make fun of others! Thanks!

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Things like the Pet Rock, Citizenship in the Universe or Walking Spoof Merit badges could be fun for the boys.  Couldn't these be placed on the back of the merit badge sash? just like camporee, event or other patches?

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@Sandra - The back of the merit badge sash can be used to display merit badges or 'temporary' emblems.  Page 10 of the 2012 Guide to Awards and Insignia states that.  On page 31 of that same document, it says "miscellaneous patches" instead, but I'm told that will be updated in the next version.

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How about some spoof rank advancements? They could make ones like 3rd Class, Asteroid (instead of Star) or Death (coming after Life).

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@ Scouter Paul The current insignia guide states "Miscellanious Patches" so a spoof merit badge would fit into this catagory on the back of the sash. (www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/InsigniaGuide.aspx)

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What's the point of getting spoof badges. Isn't the huge reason why we try and get REAL badges is because we want Eagle. So, why would you even get these badges if they have no meaning in advancement and just for a 2 buck joke....?

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Our troop worked on the Pet Rock merit badge at the perfect place, Camp Rock Enon in Virginia.  We didn't tell them we were doing this until we got there.  This particular campout a lot of the older boys decided they didn't want to go for one reason or the other.  Off we went with 5 older scouts & 14 new scouts.
  One of the things we did was go on a new scout hike.  On our hike they had to find a wild rock, carefully catch it & take it back to the campsite to tame it.  As we went over a bridge some of the new scouts asked if they could get some of the rocks that were in the water.  I told them they couldn't unless they had a bucket that they could get some of the stream water out because after all... it was a water rock & just like a fish if you take it out of the water it will die.  They laughed as did the older scouts.
  They had to give it a name, make a home for it, teach it a few tricks, fed & care for it for a time, find out 3 careers in the pet rock field.
 While this didn't go toward any rank advancement at all these scouts still talk about the fun they had earning the pet rock merit badge.  And for those older scouts that decided they didn't want to to go this time... several of them were disappointed they didn't go so they could earn the Pet Rock merit badg for the back of their sash.
 Not everything has to be about rank advancement.  This was a team building exercise & a chance for the older scouts to get to know the new scouts in a fun way.
 

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These 'spoof' badges are fun.  We hand them out at the end of court of honor, when all is done.... and everyone looks forward too them.  The 'Stupid outta hurt' is a Troop favorite, but so are many of the others.  One boy got one for unstopping a toilet while at a camp.  A nasty job and well worth the patch.  Where do we wear them?
My wife cut strips off my old long uniform pants.  And the boys sew the patches on that and tuck it over the belt hanging down.  It is not part of the uniform at court of honor, but all the boys wear it when it is over.  
Scouting should be fun.  Keep it interesting and they will remember it for a life time.  There is a time for serious, and a time to play.  I for one LOVE these patches, and they make for strange bragging rights among the boys.

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One of our leaders made a "Finger Carving Certificate" to be given with the patch. It is only available for Eagle scouts and adults in our troop.

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We each got one after a very wet/rainy campout! Something we can still laugh about!

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We had a canoe camping trip where one of the canoes was swamped by a sudden wind storm - scary, but both occupants (one youth and one seasoned ASM) came through it just fine. The ASM presented a "sinking canoe" merit badge to his paddling companion at the next COH. Both the ASM and scout wear now wear these matching badges on their right sleeves and NOBODY would think to ask them to be removed. Even after Philmont, I believe the canoe patch means as much to the Scout as his Philmont belt - a memory to be looked back on with pride as he gets older.

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During a campout, one of my Scouts cut himself rather badly with a dull sheath knife he never should have brought into camp while whittling a stick into a very sharp point.  At the next Court of Honor I gave him a "Finger Carving" merit badge.  I was at his Eagle Board, and noticed that his mother (knowing it was unofficial) sewed it on his sash.  One of the board members asked him about it, and he told the story.  I just sat and listened and smiled.  

After he was done, one of the board members asked, "Did you learn anything?"  He said, "Yeah, if you jam a sharp stick into the ground it gets dull."

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In our troop I created "Sit in the Creek MB". It has requirements that adults earn while at summer camp. We have a lot of fun with it.
Requirements:
1. Do not discuss politics while working on this merit badge.
2. Find an appropriate creek.  Size does not matter.
3. Sit in the creek with some part of your body in the water.
4. Do ONE of the following:
- Enjoy the creek for one 1 hr. session.
- Enjoy the creek while eating ice cream.
5. Discuss a past troop event or outing while sitting in the creek.
6. Smile & Laugh
7. Discuss a future troop event or outing while sitting in the creek.
8. Either at the creek or away from it, praise a scout or patrol in your troop for something they have done (in scouting or outside of scouting).
9. Sit quietly for a moment and reflect on these 3 things.
- God is in control.
- The beauty of God is all around you.
- Jesus loves you and there’s nothing you can do about it.
10. Tell about Sit in the Creek merit badge to another scout or scout leader.

Yes.  This count for number 9.  I've told you about it.

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TheLegend27 you will probably not see this, however that being said....

It really pains me to see someone say/type

"Isn't the huge reason why we try and get REAL badges is because we want Eagle."

This really misses the entire point of scouting, it is about learning and growing. The ranks and badges are merely milestones in the process. There are many of us that never earned or credited with the eagle but what we took from scouting stays with us forever, some bad but mostly good.

For many the eagle award will mean very little after a few years but the memories, friendships, skills, and expirences are what you remember and that is what these spoof badges are for. I have friends that earned eagle but when you ask them about the award that means the most to them is usually something mundane. One friend of mine got an award for being at first aid station more than any other boy at summer camp one year because every thing he tried to do that summer he managed to scrape, cut or sprain something.

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Wearing the spoof badges?

The Mile Swim patch is to be worn on swim trunks. But I wanted to show mine off. Not cricket to put it on the merit badge sash.

BUT, the Mile Swim Patch with some elastic behind it makes a killer neckerchief slide (that doesn't come off too easily, if you do it right).

Spoof badges can be made into neckerchief slides. (You DO wear a neckerchief, don't you?)

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...Another idea I have seen - placing spoof badges (I like to call them "Spirit" Badges) on the inside of the sash. True, not proper to put them on the "official side," but the scouts know on the inside it is there, and allows them to incorporate the spirit and cheer with which the badge was given into their uniform while still being "in uniform."  FWIW- This is in the spirit of an old tradition of "minor uniform modifications" I have seen both in the Navy at least as far back as WWII, and the USAF as recent as today.  Of course it is unofficial! That's what makes it fun.

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I give spoof merit badges to adults rather than Scouts.  Scouts have official merit badges they can earn. This way I include adults (leaders, parents, etc.) in on the fun.

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@BSA Since 1957, I did always wonder who would copy my username. But I must say, these spoof patches are for the kids! Let them have their fun. Life gets quite serious, and much to fast.

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You used to have great requirements for the spoof badges.  I can't find them, any chance you could share a link?

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