Collection

Sunday Class: 8am to 12:30 pm
10 Openings, $12 Each

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Collecting can be an educational and financially rewarding pastime: a collector must educate himself about a specific subject, be able to tell which items are worth preserving, how to catalog and organize his collection, and how to evaluate the value of items.

Materials to bring:

  ***  YOU MUST HAVE A COLLECTION IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THIS MERIT BADGE ***

  ***  BRING IN YOUR COLLECTION (IF PORTABLE & INEXPENSIVE) OR ELSE BRING     ***

  ***  IN A POSTERBOARD SHOWING PICTURES OF YOUR COLLECTION.                     ***

   * Notepad

   * Pencils

   * Collection Merit BadgeWorksheetwith prerequisites filled out

​   * Collection Merit Badge book

   * Blue Card signed by Scoutmaster

Class Summary & Prerequisites to be done before Workshop.

​1. Prepare a short written report or outline for your counselor, giving a detailed description of your collection*, including a short history.

    Be sure to include why you chose that particular type of collecting and what you enjoy and have learned from your collection.  

   Prereq:  Be prepared to share with the group.
2. Explain the growth and development of your collection.*

   Prereq:  Be prepared to share with the group.
3. Demonstrate your knowledge of preserving and displaying your collection.
   a. Explain the precautions that you need to take to preserve your collection, including
      1. Handling
      2. Cleaning
      3. Storage
   b. Explain how best to display your collection, keeping in mind preserving as discussed above.
   c. Explain to your counselor the events available for a hobbyist of this collection, including shows, seminars, conventions, contests, and

       museum programs or exhibits.
   Prereq: Be prepared to talk about your collection.  We will discuss different methods as a whole in class.
4. Demonstrate your knowledge of collecting and investing. Discuss with your counselor:
   a. How investing and speculation would apply to your collection
   b. What you would look for in purchasing other collections similar to yours
   c. What you would expect in return value in the event you decided to sell all or part of the collection
   Prereq:  Think about your collection.  We will discuss as a whole in class.
5. Do the following:
   a. Discuss with your counselor at least 10 terms commonly used in your collection and be prepared to discuss the definition of each.

       Prereq: Have ready to share with the group.
   b. Show your counselor any two groups from your collection. Explain how you organized your collection and why you chose that method. 

      (Note: if your collection is too large to transport and your counselor is unable to view your collection directly, photographs

      should be available to share.)   

      Prereq: Please bring pictures only.  A posterboard presentation would be great to show your collection and all of the other prereqs
   c. Explain how your collection is valued by other collectors and display to your counselor any price guides that may be available.   

      Prereq: Look up to see what you can find. We will talk as a whole in class.
  d. Explain how your collection is graded for value, physical defects, size and age. Show the various classifications or ratings used in

      your collection.

      Prereq: Look up to see what you can find. We will talk as a whole in class.
  e. List the national, state, or local association responsive to your collection.

      (Look up to see what you can find. We will talk as a whole in class.)
   f. Show the location of and explain to your counselor the identification number (if applicable), series, brand name (if any),and

       any special identification marks.

      (Look up to see what you can find. We will talk as a whole in class.) 
6. Discuss with your counselor the plans you have to continue with the collection in the future.

    Prereq:  Think about your collection.  We will discuss as a whole in class.
7. Discuss with your counselor why and how collecting has changed and how this applies to your collection.  

    Prereq:  Think about your collection.  We will discuss as a whole in class.
8. Find out about career opportunities in collecting. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession.   

    Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you 

    (Look up to see what you can find. We will talk as a whole in class.)