Beyond the Badge

Beyond the Badge - Can a Junior earn a badge more than once?

Many juniors earn six or more badges a year and since there is no beginning age limit, a dedicated and active junior can earn Rock Star before they turn 12. So, what happens when their club circles around and is covering a badge they have already earned? Here are some ideas from other FRA leaders.

• Juniors only need to complete 3 of the recommended activities to earn a badge so revisiting a badge is a great opportunity to explore requirements they may have skipped the first time around. Be sure to check out the more advanced suggestions in the Badge Manual. Even if a junior completes the same 3 activities, they will have a deeper understanding of the material as a teen than they did at 9 or 10..

• This is a great opportunity to design their own activity and explore a related topic that is of special interest to them. How about writing a research paper, article for their club bulletin, or competing in a school sponsored science fair with a project based on a badge topic.

• Teens and young adults may want to turn the tables and try their hand at teaching! As teens step into teaching and mentoring roles they gain a deeper knowledge of the subject matter. They develop communication skills. Mentoring helps teens build self-confidence in their knowledge and abilities. But perhaps one of the most import roles is that it moves juniors from being participants to being leaders.

How do you recognize their accomplishment?

• You can recognize these juniors by awarding a label pin star to attach to their existing badge, sash, and vest. Consider awarding a certificate of appreciation for their work as an instructor. Label pins are available from numerous sources on the internet including Amazon. 

• Another idea is to present them with a display specimen related to the badge topic. More than likely, they chose to revisit or teach about a badge of special interest to them.

Feel free the adapt this to YOUR club’s situation!