How do we keep society safe from disease? By raising our community's awareness of public health! In earning the Public Health merit badge, yo u'll learn about different forms of illness, understand the systems we have in place to prevent outbreaks, and even see for yourself how our public facilities properly handle materials to prevent contamination! Additionally - this merit badge is a critical and required component of the EPA 50th Anniversary Award (Which is only being offered this year!) Learn more about that award here.

Please read ALL information below if planning to attend the counselor-led tour that is a requirement of this MB (this tour is not mandatory but a similar tour must be completed to complete the MB).

The Public Health Merit Badge session requires a visit to a local waste water treatment facility. The counselor- supported tour for this requirement is scheduled for Tuesday, November 23 and will occur at Metro Water Recovery Northern Treatment Plant, 51 Baseline Road in Brighton, CO 80603. The group will start at 10:15 am on the 23rd.  It is required that Scouts participating in the tour bring and show a government-issued i.d, and to wear a Troop T-shirt and scout pants or shorts. Also, closed toed shoes are required. Masks will be required for the indoor portions of the tours.  An additional visit to an air quality monitoring station and public health laboratory may also be available after the water quality tour (additional information forthcoming). Scouts should plan on about four hours if all tours are offered.

Scouts should review the state health department website and or their local health department website before the classroom session. Look for the leading causes of death in your community and/or in Colorado. 

Finally, merit badge requirements include a discussion of substance/drug misuse and sexually transmitted infections. Though the instructor will not go into significant detail about these issues, the topics will be explored for their impact on the health of people and communities. 

Please bring the following:

BSA Health Form Parts A & B signed by a parent or guardian
Sack lunch and a beverage
Paper and a writing utensil
 

Workbook:  http://usscouts.org/mb/worksheets/public-health.pdf