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Merit badges are awards earned by members of the Boy Scouts of America, based on activities within the area of study by completing a list of periodically updated requirements. The purpose of the merit badge program is to allow Scouts to examine subjects to determine if they would like to further pursue them as a career or vocation. Originally, the program also introduced Scouts to the life skills of contacting an adult they had not met before, arranging a meeting and then demonstrating their skills, similar to a job or college interview. Increasingly, though, merit badges are earned in a class setting at troop meetings and summer camps.
Each merit badge has a pamphlet or booklet associated with it, which contains information on completing the requirements for the badge. Before starting to work on a particular badge, Scouts must meet with their Scoutmasters and obtain a signed application card for it. They must then contact an adult who is registered as a counselor for that badge in order to arrange a meeting and determine which requirements (if any) must be completed ahead of time. The counselor initials the card to indicate the Scout's progress in meeting the requirements, then signs it once they have all been fulfilled. After turning in the completed card to the Scoutmaster, the Scout can receive a patch representing the badge.
The award of a merit badge is represented by a circular patch with an image representing the badge's topic. The patches for the Eagle-required merit badges are distinguishable by the silver ring on the outside edge. Merit badges are displayed on a sash which can be worn with the Boy Scout uniform on formal occasions. Every year the National Council reviews and updates a certain number of merit badges. There are over 100 merit badges (137 as of April 2020).
The current requirements for Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouting, involve earning a minimum of 21 merit badges. The following 14 are required:
Camping
Personal Fitness
Personal Management
Swimming, or Hiking, or Cycling
First Aid
Citizenship in the Community
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the World
Citizenship in Society
Cooking
Family Life
Emergency Preparedness (E-Prep) or Lifesaving
Environmental Science or Sustainability
Communication
In addition to the required badges, a Scout can choose from a long list of Elective Merit Badges to complete the 21 required Merit Badges for the rank of Eagle Scout.
A scout can earn more than 21 Merit Badges, but for Eagle, a minimum of the 14 required and 7 elective badges must be earned.
You may notice that some "Required" badges have options (e.g., Swimming, or Hiking, or Cycling). If a Scout earns more than the one required, the Scout can count the additional badge as an elective.
The Troop has a write up on the Merit Badge process. Please see "Earning Merit Badges" on the Troop Website.
Before starting a badge, read the Earning a Merit Badge Overview above.
Only after talking with your Scoutmaster and myself may you start work for the badge. In those discussions, you'll be given instructions on how to do the work and what I expect you to include. Make notes in this conversation! It will save a lot of frustration in the long run!
Read the requirements, read the booklet. Many Scouts try to wing it, and it shows. It becomes a round-and-round where the Scout is simply using feedback given to guess at what should be included in the requirement instead of doing the work the first time. Ultimately this ends up with the Scout doing more work than just putting in the effort the first time.
When all the work for the badge is complete, your counselor will give you back a signed bluecard. this is your record that the badge is complete! Bring this record to your Scoutmaster so he may record it in your advancement record. Do not lose this bluecard, as it's the record of completing the badge.
At the next Troop Court of Honor you will be recognized for the accomplishment!