2010 Extravaganza - March 13 & April 10, 2010
The Extravanza How-to-Guide and Frequently Asked Questions
General InformationPayment Information
Arrival Time and Schedule
Daily Schedule
Work Party Requirements
Pre-Registration Information
Paying Additional Fees
Merit Badge Cards
Overnight Reservations
Medical Form Requirement
Lunch and Trading Post
Scheduling classes, and what do "sessions" mean?
Is there homework between sessions?
I have a Scout who can attend only one of the sessions.
Number of Scouts
Only one Scout?
Are there any age limits for Merit Badges?
Adult Leader Training
I just need to complete one requirement of a Merit Badge you are offering.
Can I go fishing?
Do we have to be a part of the Mount Baker Council to participate?
I am having trouble registering online
What if I forgot my password?
A Scout that registered for the event can not come.
Can my whole troop sign up for the same badge?
What if I want to change a Scout's registration?
Can I save places in a class?
What if a class is not in the list?
What if a Scout only wants to attend one class?
Troop Numbers
After entering a Scout
General Information
- Have Scouts select badges they are interested in working on, note the number of sessions required. Be aware that all badges that are two or four sessions require attendance at BOTH weekends, AND completion of projects or packets between the weekends. A full month seperates the two weekends to accomadate Scouts completing the work.
- Have one representative from the troop register all scouts interested at this website after January 1, 2010.
- This year we will be using PayPal for the payment of $9 per participant. More information on paying with PayPal will come. Unpaid registrations may be dropped.
- If your troop is planning on staying overnight, reserve your campsite through the Everett Scout Office at 425-338-0380
- File a tour permit
- Check back to the website to adjust Scout's schedule (note that the schedule is dynamic and available classes will change as classes fill or Scout's drop out.
- Arrive at Fire Mountain March 13 to check in at 8:30am. Each Scout should have a list of their classes they are registered for from the troop contact person, one can of non-perishable food. One adult or older youth from the troop should be prepared to participate in the work party on on of the weekends as a part of your troop's fee.
Submitting Payment
After registering, you must submit your payment through the Paypal service, which allows payment using credit card and banking funds transfer. To make a payment visit the payment page A reciept is automatically generated by paypal and can be used for reimbursement from your troop.
Merit Badges with additional fees (rifle shooting, basketry, etc.) bring cash or check (payable to BSA) to the trading post at Fire Mountain the day of the event, you will purchase a ticket or a craft kit for the particular badge you are participating in.
Can of food - please bring 1 can of food per participant to the Skagit Shelter at Fire Mountain, food will be collected, packaged and taken to a local food bank after the event, you are welcome to bring food each weekend, however it is only required the first weekend. This is a part of the Scouting for Food movement in the Mt. Baker Council and helps local food banks to feed hungry families in the Puget Sound area.
back to topArrival Time & Schedule
March 13 - Check in at 8:30am (please bring your 1 can of food per Scout)
April 10 - Check in at first class
back to topDaily Schedule
9-12 Session 1
12-1 Lunch (please bring your own, or plan to buy for $3)
1-4 Session 2
Work Party Information
Both sessions take place on a Work Party Saturday. It is required that one adult or older Scout from each troop participate in at least one of the work party days during the Extravaganza for your unit to participate. They are encouraged to bring their tools, work clothes, boots and rain gear to help the work party give service to camp while Scouts are participating in Merit Badges.
back to topPre-Registration Information
Pre-registration is required. Space is limited, so you are encouraged to register early. Due to the popularity of this program - spaces will fill up quickly, class limits and registration deadlines will be enforced. No 'drop-ins' admitted to this exciting event! Class size limits apply, classes will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis through on-line registration, if the class is full, you will not see it on the list of available classes. Spaces are non-transferable, once a Scout is registered, no registration fee may be transfered to another Scout. Scouts may un-enroll but registration fees must be paid for another Scout to attend. It is anticipated that there will be more people that want to attend than we can accomadate, we recommend you register early. The online system is 'live' and changes with registration, if a Scout drops out of a class, the space becomes available to others to register, so please keep your troop roster up-to-date.
Once you register online, you must submit your payment. See the Payment Information FAQ for more information. NO REGISTRATION WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE SCOUT OFFICE, THEY MUST BE COMPLETED ONLINE and fees submitted to be considered valid. All registrations must be made as a Troop.
back to topPaying Additional Fees
Additional fees & lunch costs will be collected at the event .
back to topMerit Badge Cards
Merit Badge cards must be provided by the troop, please bring them with you. Please fill out name of merit badge troop number, district name, and Scout's name on the blue card. For those who forgot bluecards, a limited supply will be available for purchase at greater than retail price through the trading post.
Merit Badge Cards Return
We will be mailing Merit Badge Cards to the individual who registers the Troop - be sure we have an accurate mailing address. Cards are mailed about two weeks after the event, please do not ask for them to be returned earlier.
back to topOvernight Reservation
Reservations for overnight camping must be made through the Council Service Center(425-338-0380). A Tour Permit, of course, is required. Individuals are welcome to participate by providing their own adult supervision. All participants must meet Youth Protection Guidelines.
back to topMedical Forms
All Participants must fill out the Class 1 portion of the medical form. This includes a medical history and permission to treat in case of injury or illness. Unit leaders will retain medical forms.
back to topLunch and Trading Post
The Fire Mountain Staff Alumni Association will be offering a light dining hall lunch for $3 per person (of course you can bring your own lunch). The Mount Baker Council will be operating the camp Trading Post to provide snacks and camp souvenirs.
back to topScheduling classes, and what do "sessions" mean?
Merit Badges that are:- 1 Session long - you can sign up for AM or PM on EITHER weekend
- 2 Sessions long - you can sign up for AM or PM for BOTH weekends
- 4 Sessions long - this will take all both AM and PM of BOTH weekends
Is there homework between sessions?
Almost all Merit Badges that span two weekends have work that is required to be completed at home. Failure to complete and return the work will result in the issuance of a 'partial' merit badge.
back to topI have a Scout who can attend only one of the sessions.
The Extravaganza is designed to provide access to counselors for Merit Badges that may be more difficult in your home area. Most Merit Badges require participation both weekends. If a Scout can only attend one weekend, he may only register for Merit Badges that require only 1 session to complete. Some Merit Badges do not COMPLETE any requirements the first weekend, instead they instruct, inform and prepare to complete requirements on the second weekend. Therefore attendance would be manditory on both weekends to complete any requirements for the badge.
back to topNumber of Scouts
Is there a minimum number of Scouts in a troop to participate? No. All we ask is that participants in a troop register together.
back to topOnly one Scout
If only one Scout from a troop wishes to participate, they register as a troop with only one Scout. All we ask is that participants in a troop register together.
back to topAre there any age limits for Merit Badges?
The lead instructor of the First Aid Merit Badge has requested that only Scouts who have completed the Second Class Rank sign up for the First Aid Merit Badge. So much of the foundation of the badge is completed during the Tenderfoot and Second Class rank requirements that she has found that these Scouts are more successful at the badge.
There are no solid age limits on any of the classes. However, Scoutmasters may want to counsel with Scouts on the class they sign up for. There are a few classes like rifle and Environmental Science that everyone wants to take, but these have class size limits and require all of the Scouts time for the attempt of the badge and there is no guarantee that they will earn it after the weekend is over. With younger Scouts we encourage Troop leaders to steer younger Scouts away from the more difficult Merit Badges so that they are successful.
back to topAdult Leader Training
The Mount Baker Council will be holding some adult leader training, for information, please contact the BSA office for information.
back to topI just need to complete one requirement of a Merit Badge you are offering.
Because of the size of the event, we do not offer partial completion at the Extravaganza. We offer the program start to finish only.
back to topCan I go fishing?
The Council Camping Department has closed the lake during merit badge class sessions. Fishing is permitted by youth before 9am or after 4pm. No fishing is permitted during class times, even by those not taking classes. Adult fishing is only permitted when fishing with youth.
back to topDo we have to be a part of the Mount Baker Council to participate?
While the event is primarily a service to Scouts in the Mount Baker Council, any Boy Scout Unit may register for the event. Merit Badge classes are filled on a first come, first serve basis.
back to topI am having trouble registering online
If you experience difficulty, please e-mail mbext(AT)firemtn.org, please do not call the Scout Office, this is 100% volunteer operated, they have been asked to send you back to the e-mail address, we typically respond to e-mails within a few hours, there are 5-7 volunteers who respond to help requests to that e-mail address.
back to topWhat if I forgot my password?
Your registration information is password protected for your safety, if you have forgotten your password, please e-mail mbext(AT)firemtn.org, be aware that it may take a little longer for us to respond than usual as only two people have access to the password information.
back to topA Scout that registered for the event can not come.
If a registered Scout cannot attend, please log in, and click delete next to that Scout's name.
back to topCan my whole troop sign up for the same badge?
No. This event is designed for Scouts in troops to come and take different badges. If you troop wanted to have everyone earn one badge, call a counselor local to your area (lists are available through the Scout Office). Please be courteous to other Scouts by not registering your whole troop (or large chunks of your troop) in one badge, it removes opportunities for other Scouts to earn the badge, and is not courteous.
back to topWhat if I want to change a Scout's registration?
To change a Scout's registration, log back in using your troop number and password, add the Scout as a new registration, then delete the old registration. Be aware that deleting the Scout first, then adding him back in is risky as the desired classes may be full. If the Scout is marked as paid, please e-mail the extravaganza committee prior to making the change to ensure that he receives credit for payment. Remember that payment is not transferable between Scouts. Once registration has closed, another scout MAY NOT take the registered scout's place in the class.
back to topCan I save places in a class?
The first-come-first-serve registration process is designed to reward units who are prepared and on-time. Please do not attempt to save places in classes, this is dishonest, and unfair to those who are prepared. Units discovered doing this may be removed from the event and fees returned.
back to topWhat if a class is not in the list?
If the class if full, it is no longer in the list of available classes. You are encouraged to check back later, as a spot may open from a Scout who has decided not to take the class. A deleted registration becomes available for the next person who registers for it.
If the class if offered in the AM and PM, check to see if it is available during the other time slot. Remember, classes are first-come-first-served, spaces will open up only if another Scout drops the class.
back to topWhat if a Scout only wants to attend one class?
Choose from the list the class he wants to attend, then choose "No Class" for other spaces.
back to topTroop Numbers
Please use your official full troop number when registering for the event (ie '4004' instead of just '4' if that is your official unit number. If you unit is in Whatcom, Skagit, or some parts of Island district your unit number is in the 4000's.
back to topAfter entering a Scout
After entering a Scout and their merit badges, click the "Register Scout" Button. Your registration is confirmed when the Scout's information appears under "Registered Scouts".
back to top