Scouts, Earn your Fly Fishing Merit Badge indoors at the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival in January. Great opportunity open to the first 4 boys who email me before Friday, October 11th. Early registration is limited to 4 scouts per troop but I maybe able to add additional scouts if there is space still open after December, 1st.  Hunter and I are attending so if you are interested please contact me.  See details below.  Mr. Makitka    

Thank you of your interest in Boy Scout Fly Fishing Merit Badge Program being offered on both Saturday January 11 and Sunday, January 12, 2020 at the Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival in Doswell Virginia. This is the same exit off 95 as Kings Dominion. We am currently taking registrations for both Saturday and Sunday for this Fly Fishing Merit Badge event.

This is an all day-one day indoor Fly Fishing Merit Badge program. I have attached the Program Summary which should answer most of your questions. The scouts will complete all requirements except #10 and #11 since we are unable to catch a fish on a fly rod in the event center. I will keep their signed blue cards and once #10 and #11 are completed, I will forward the completed blue card(s). A scout is trustworthy, and a cell phone picture with fish and fly rod satisfies. If the scout does not have the Fishing Merit Badge, have him bring a signed blue card for the Fishing MB, since many of the requirements are the same. However, this will be a fly fishing program only. This Fishing Merit Badge blue card will be a partial.

There is no charge for scouts in uniform and their guardian. You can bring a bag lunch or purchase lunch at the Festival. Orientation is at 9:30am. Please be prompt.

We ask all the scouts to complete the merit badge “Worksheet” prior to arrival. The link can be found on the front of the Program Summary. All the information can be found in the Fly Fishing Merit badge book. Although not required, it is a great resource for leaders, line, tippet, flies, knots, etc. This is a bargain at $4.99, compared to other "How To" fly fishing books.

Read the below attached Program Summary. The registration information is located on page 2. Please forward that information if you wish to sign up for the Fly Fishing Merit Badge. We will initially limit registration to 4 scouts per troop. On December 1, we will open the registration to all scouts still interested.

BSA Fly Fishing Merit Badge Program

Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival

13191 Dawn Blvd, Doswell, VA 23047

11 & 12 January 2020

The Boy Scout Fly Fishing Merit Badge will be offered again at the annual Virginia Fly Fishing & Wine Festival. All activities will be held indoors. For more information on the Festival, please check out their website at http://www.vaflyfishingfestival.com/.

Scouts need only attend one day. They should arrive in either Class A or Class B uniform. This not only serves as your “ticket” for entry to the Festival, it also shows everyone else at the Festival that you’re a Scout!

Requirements:                                                                                                                                       Merit badge requirements are found at https://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/FlyFishing.  We will address all requirements except #10 and #11, since there is no facility for catching, cleaning and cooking a fish. It is strongly recommended that all Scouts download, print, and fill out the Fly Fishing Merit Badge Worksheet found at the web address above before arriving.  A link is included at the top of the meritbadge.org web page. Be Prepared! Although we will be concentrating on the Fly Fishing Merit Badge, many of the requirements are identical to those in the Fishing Merit Badge. Completion of these requirements may be applied to both badges. Scouts should bring Blue Cards, signed and dated by their Scoutmaster. Please fill out the cards as completely as possible ahead of time.

Schedule:                                                                                                                                                           

Scouts should arrive between 9:00 and 9:20, and will be assigned to one of four groups. Each group will follow the schedule below, which includes a brief group orientation, hands-on activities and discussions, and a one-hour lunch break.

schedule subject to change