Background and Purposes

As chartered by the Congress of the United States, the Boy Scouts of America is a movement dedicated to supplementing and enlarging the education of youth. The merit badge program, which provides opportunities for youth to explore more than 120 fields of skill and knowledge, plays a key role in the fulfillment of this educational commitment.

A vital part of the BSA's advancement plan, the merit badge program is one of Scouting's basic character-building tools. Through participation in the program (which may begin immediately upon registration in a troop or team), a Scout acquires the kind of self-confidence that comes only from overcoming obstacles to achieve a goal. Instruction is offered in everything from animal science and public speaking to swimming and communications, providing a young man with invaluable career, physical, and interpersonal skills.

Merit Badge Pamphlets

Each merit badge subject is outlined and explained in a pamphlet that contains short introductory information written for Boy Scouts/Varsity Scouts by recognized authorities. More than a million pamphlets are sold yearly, and many are used as approved reference texts in libraries and school curricula.

Counselors

People who are knowledgeable about the various merit badge subjects are selected, approved, and trained by council and district advancement committees to serve as merit badge counselors. For example, a dentist might be asked to serve as a counselor for the Dentistry merit badge. A counselor must not only possess the necessary technical knowledge but also have a solid understanding of the needs, interests, and abilities of Scouts. A counselor must also be a registered adult with the BSA.

Procedure

When a Scout has an interest in earning a particular merit badge, he obtains his Scoutmaster's/Varsity Scout Coach's approval and identifies another Scout with similar interests to become his partner. They are then directed to the appropriate merit badge counselor. The counselor reviews the badge requirements with the young men and decides with them what projects should be undertaken and when they should be completed. After the counselor has certified that the Scouts have qualified for the merit badge, it is presented to them at a troop/team meeting and can be applied toward rank advancement.

Badges for Eagle

To qualify for the Eagle Scout Award, Scouting's highest advancement rank, a Scout must—along with meeting five other requirements—earn a total of 21 merit badges, including First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Personal Fitness, Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, Environmental Science, Personal Management, Camping, Hiking OR Cycling OR Swimming and Family Life.

Resources

 A list of all Merit Badge Requirements can be found at this link. This site includes the requirements and worksheets for each badge.

The troop has a library of Merit Badge books available for check out by members. . http://usscouts.org/mb/mbbooks.html

Camping	Citizenship in the Community	Citizenship in the Nation	Citizenship in the World
Communications	Environmental Science	Family Life	First Aid
Personal Fitness	Personal Management	Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving
Cycling OR Hiking OR Swimming

Badge	Name
	American Heritage
	Archery
	Art
	Astronomy
	Atomic Energy
	Aviation
	Basketry
	Bird Study
	Bugling
	Camping (Eagle Req.)
	Canoeing
	Chemistry
	Citizenship in the Community (Eagle Req.)
	Citizenship in the Nation (Eagle Req.)
	Citizenship in the World (Eagle Req.)
	Climbing
	Coin Collecting
	Communications (Eagle Req.)
	Computers
	Cooking
	Dog Care
	Electricity
	Electronics
	Emergency Preparedness (Eagle Req.)
	Engineering
	Environmental Science (Eagle Req.)
	Family Life (Eagle Req.)
	Fingerprinting
	Fire Safety
	First Aid (Eagle Req.)
	Fish & Wildlife Management
	Fishing
	Forestry
	Genealogy
	Geology
	Horsemanship
	Indian Lore
	Law
	Leather Work
	Lifesaving (Eagle Req.)
	Mammal Study
	Metalwork
	Motorboating
	Music
	Nature
	Oceanography
	Orienteering
	Personal Fitness (Eagle Req.)
	Personal Management (Eagle Req.)
	Pets
	Photography
	Pioneering
	Plumbing
	Pottery
	Public Speaking
	Radio
	Railroading
	Reading
	Rifle Shooting
	Rowing
	Shotgun Shooting
	Skating
	Small Boat Sailing
	Snow Sports
	Soil & Water Conservation
	Space Exploration
	Sports (Eagle Req.)
	Swimming (Eagle Req.)
	Textile
	Theater
	Truck Transportation
	Weather
	Wilderness Survival
	Wood Carving