I have had the pleasure of being a merit badge counselor for Walpole Troop 44 for several years. I helped scouts earn their Fingerprinting, Cooking, Citizenship in the Community, Disabilities Awareness merit badges and yes, the Genealogy merit badge.
I must say, getting kids interested in their heritage is not an easy task. The Boy Scouts have put together an list of requirements for the genealogy merit badge which if the leader does it correctly, a scout will enjoy working on this badge.
I would recommend working on this badge at a time when families get together….like Thanksgiving. This provides the scout with an opportunity to interview his family.
First, I like to prepare folders for each of the boys. I print copies of pedigree charts and family group sheets, and the Genealogy merit badge requirement worksheets, and provide lined paper for each folder.
At the first meeting have the boys write down the words ancestor, genealogy and descendent, then give them a few minutes to look the words up on their cell phones and write down the definitions. For the next portion of the meeting have the boys brainstorm interview questions. This activity may lead to several interesting discussions. Note, you will want to keep a list of their ideas so you (or a scout) can create a master list of questions for the boys to take with them when their family gathers. This can segue into a discussion of timelines, give the boys some lined paper to write down some of the events that have occurred in their lives. (Homework, have them turn their notes into a proper timeline and have them include a written biography to accompany their timeline). Before you end the session, have them tell you the definition of the three words they looked up at the beginning to the merit badge meeting.
At the second meeting have the boys begin by sharing their timelines and reading their biographies. When all the boys have had a turn, ask them if now they have heard other boys timelines, did that make them think of stuff they left out of their time line. Next have the boys fill in some family group sheets. The boys should know about their own family and perhaps their parent’s families. Then have them begin to fill out a pedigree chart, starting with them selves and go back a few generations. The boys will only be able to get one or two generation back, but not to worry, when the meet with their family, a grandparent may know a few more generations. Give the scouts copies of the complied interview questions they discussed at the last meeting. You can have them look them over and discuss them for a little bit. (Homework, have the boys plan to meet with a family member to be interviewed and to help filling in more family group sheets and extending their pedigree chart.)
Plan a field trip to the local historical society. Most historical societies have a genealogical repository/library on site, and the historian can show the boys the kinds of books and documents they have in their collections for genealogical research. Perhaps you can arrange for a professional genealogist to be on hand, either in person or online. (Homework, have the boys get a copy of a birth, marriage, death or baptismal certificate and bring a copy (not the original) of it to the next meeting.)
At the next meeting, give the boys an old document, like a will. Challenge them to see if they can read the old handwriting. They may find this activity fun as they struggle to read the document. Then provide the boys with a transcription so they can see/learn about what they were trying to read! Make sure the document has some useful genealogical information in it. Next have the boys present their vital record certificates; also provide a few other documents like obituaries and a death or birth notice, maybe a Bible entry. Have the boys discuss if each document is useful or not for charting a family tree. (Homework, have the boys log on to FamilySearch.org and to findagrave.com to see if they can extend their family trees. Have them bring their research findings and trees to the next meeting along with a few family pictures)
Last meeting, have the boys discuss their findings, both from online and from family interviews. What was the most helpful? Ask how computers and photography has influenced genealogical research. Have them share their trees and tell what they learned about their family. Provide a few sheet protectors to the boys can assemble their findings, interviews, pictures, family group sheets and pedigree charts into a book they can keep.
Link to Genealogy Merit Badge requirements (this link will also give you genealogy charts)
Laurie L. Kearney 