What Is a Merit Badge?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A merit badge is an award that is presented to a Scout when he completes the requirements for one of the merit badge subjects. The badge is only a small piece of khaki cloth with a design embroidered in color -- but its significance is as large as the interest of the merit badge counselor who helps a boy earn it.

Millions of Scouts "browse" among the more than 100 subjects, choosing those that seem most interesting to them. Some subjects are in craft work, some in vocational fields; some in service to others; many in cultural or self-improvement areas.

It is in the career fields that adults can make a vital impact on the life of a Scout by helping him with merit badges. Badges such as American Business, Drafting, Engineering, Chemistry, and many others are the finest kind of orientation toward a possible career for the Scout.

Service clubs, unions, and professional societies often support the merit badge program through their vocational guidance committees. Members offer their services as counselors, and the group as a whole helps in recruiting and training the counselor staff for a district or council.

Merit badge counselors supplement the efforts of the schools by providing the means for Scouts to explore many subjects not available to them otherwise. The Scout who has earned a number of merit badges gains confidence, finds greater purpose in life, and becomes a better person from his experience.

 

 

Before starting on a merit badge, a Scout should check the current requirements in the latest version of Boy Scout Requirements (No. 33215).

Scouts who began work on a merit badge before requirement changes were introduced can continue using either all the old or all the new requirements but may not mix them.

Updated annually, the booklet is available for purchase at local Scout council service centers, Scout shops, and online at http://www.scoutstuff.org/. It lists current requirements for all merit badges, rank advancements, and Eagle Palms, and it a key resource for Scouts, leaders, and troop libraries. The requirements book is important because merit badge pamphlets are continually being updated.

 

Merit Badge Counselors

Individuals who wish to serve as merit badge counselors should submit the BSA Merit Badge Counselor Information form (No. 34405) and an adult leadership application (No. 28-501) to the local council service center. (Both forms can be downloaded at www.scouting.org/forms.)

Merit badge counselors must be at least 18 years old, proficient in the merit badge subject by vocation or avocation, able to work with Scout-age boys, and registered with BSA.

Counselors must agree to follow the requirments of the merit badge, making no deletions or additions, ensuring that the advancement standards are fair and uniform for all Scouts; have a Scout and his buddy present at all instructional sessions; and renew their registration annually to continue as a merit badge counselor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advancement and Merit Badge Requirements

BSA Merit Badge Patch Images Here

 

MERIT BADGES LISTED IN BOLD PRINT ARE EAGLE REQUIREMENTS

ADVANCEMENT REQUIREMENTS

MERIT BADGE COUSELOR INFORMATION