Boy Scout Merit Badges > > > Triple Prizes < < <

Boy Scout merit badges give scouts the opportunity to investigate around 120 different areas of knowledge and skills. The merit badge program plays a major role in the scouting advancement program and participation can begin as soon as a scout registers with a troop. Each scout can explore topics from American Business to Woodworking as he has interest. The only limitations are his ambition and availability of adult merit badge counselors to offer instruction.

Merit Badge Pamphlets: An official Boy Scout merit badge pamphlet has been created for the BSA by topic authorities for each merit badge. The pamphlets contain requirements, introductory information and supplemental reference text. A scout can purchase pamphlets from BSA, find them in a troop library, or often-times check them out from a public library. There is also a Requirements Booklet with a merit badge list for quick reference.
Merit Badge Counselors: Merit badge counselors are volunteers that have been selected, trained, and approved by council or district committees. They are knowledgeable in the topic and understand the goals of scouting and the Boy Scout merit badge program. Many districts have a directory of counselors.
Merit Badge Process: A scout decides he would like to earn a specific merit badge. He obtains approval to begin the merit badge from his Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster identifies possible merit badge counselors. The scout identifies another scout, buddy, or family member that will be his partner to attend all meetings with the counselor to follow safe scouting guidelines. He then contacts the counselor to begin badge work. The counselor reviews the requirements with the scouts and they decide on projects to complete and a completion schedule. The counselor provides expertise, advice, guidance as needed until the scouts have completed the requirements. The merit badge counselor certifies completion of requirements and the merit badge patch is presented at a court of honor or troop meeting.
Required Merit Badges: A boy scout can begin taking merit badges as soon as he joins a troop, but no merit badges are required for advancement until he receives his First Class rank. Advancement to Star, Life, and Eagle all require completion of merit badges, service, and demonstration of responsibility. To reach Eagle rank, a scout must complete a total of at least 21 Boy Scout merit badges listing them in his handbook, 12 of which come from the Eagle-required badge list.

Request New Merit Badge Topics
If you feel another topic or activity should be added, you need to tell the Boy Scouts of America directly.
For any advancement idea, send your request to:
  Innovation Engine Team
  Boy Scouts of America
  1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
  P.O. Box 152079
  Irving, TX 75015-2079
 
Or, send email to: merit.badge@scouting.org
See this page for more info.

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Comments:
 Sep 03, 2012 - Austin Eagle

hello i am trying to get some help. i need four more eagle req. badges, but i don't have much time. i need Personal Fitness, Personal Management, cit. in community, and emergancy prep. my deadline is december 16 so as of right now i need to hurry. i wish i couldve gone to a summer camp and do these but  i was already overloaded and was unable to at the time. now i am in a big hurry. is there a program somewhere or a way i could do these without losing my eagle? thanks i really want the oprotunity to talk. ive heard about like merit badge fairs and stuff but i dont know much about this stuff. cant wait for some tips! Austin`

P.S. i live near dallas, texas. Thanks!

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Sep 03, 2012 - Scouter Paul

Austin - There is no way you could have done these merit badges at summer camp and you can't just churn them out in a one day merit badge fair.
Earning Eagle is more like a marathon than a quick sprint and if the requirements are put off too long, it is unattainable.  The only way you can earn Eagle is to put in the full effort on these merit badges and set aside the time required to complete all the tasks.

You should immediately contact your scoutmaster and get started.  If you got a counselor right away, went to work, and didn't procrastinate any longer, you could conceivably complete these badges just before your deadline.

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Sep 19, 2012 - Henry L. Bryan

Has the BSA looked into an idea to offer "advanced" merit badges?  Advanced merit badges would list several additional requirements that would be more difficult to learn and/or more difficult to achieve.  For example, the physical fitness merit badge would list physical fitness tests and accomplishments that might be considered more difficult to achieve than the current requirements.

The idea of an advanced merit badge would be to provide a greater challenge to some scouts.  These scouts who accomplish the additional requirements could be awarded a merit badge with a different outer lining (perhaps gold color) for the badge.

Advanced merit badges could provide more challenge without taking away the current requirements and current badge.

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Sep 22, 2012 - Scouter Paul

Henry - the goal of the merit badge program is to introduce scouts to possible careers, interests, or hobbies which they can develop further on their own.  I doubt a hierarchy of merit badge difficulties would be introduced, but you could let national BSA know your idea.

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Sep 30, 2012 - Karen

I would love to see a Running merit badge.  My son is into long distance running; half-marathons and distance relays.  When he turns 16 he hopes to do marathons.  None of the badges cover just running - "Athletics" is more track and field.  Distance running is becoming such a huge sport, the BSA should really consider adding such a MB.

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Oct 01, 2012 - Linda G

Wish they would go to six months to complete a badge.  The boys have no clue what they were taught any longer than that.  The trail to Eagle is getting "fluffy".

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Jan 04, 2013 - lina

Here' s an idea.....would it be too much of an effort to put the actual merit badge pamphlets online for sale as digital media?  I just can't believe that after all this time this process is so difficult.   because as a mom and former cub leader,it would make my life a little less stressful.  because we all know how responsible boys are(see Austin eagle above for example -- not all, just most)..even if they are honor students, good athletes, etc..and were reminded over and over to get this stuff done EARLIER!! yes, I am venting here but you have to admit it, I am right about the digital copy. it would be nice and of course there would be a fee

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Jan 22, 2013 - Rosemary F. Callahan

I am requesting info from the scouting community to address a merit badge that can be acquired by a scout that will involve the planting of annuals,  perennials,  and or bulbs at their house of worship. I am a volunteer for the Master Gardening Program with the Cornell University Cooperative Extension Program in Suffolk County, New York.;  I came upon this idea by researching the web site... Bulbproject. org,  this community places daffodils and crocus bulbs on municipal roadways for area beautification of the community,  the community has a fund raiser for the purchase of the bulbs from a supplier and sets a date of the first Saturday in October to pick up the bulbs by volunteers for their installation.... can you  imagine the beauty of that roadway, the smiles on the faces of the volunteers and the people passing by..... why not  try this project at our houses of  worship.

Respectfully,
William Peacock

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Jan 22, 2013 - Yukon Jack

@ Wiliam/Rosemary.  I'd suggest looking at the Gardening MB as a primary place.  You may also meet some requirements for the Plant Science MB and the Soil & Water Conservation MB as well.  

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Jan 24, 2013 - Holly

my son is in the wolf den ,I am his wolf mom/leader for our wolf den.

My husband has graduated college with the highest honors for land surveying and has his degree.
and Now currently back in college for Diesel mechanic (which he did for the Army for 6 years)and he is currently working in a garage as a diesel mechanic

My question is :
would he be able to be the counselor  and teach my son and any others boys in the wolf pack so they can work for there badges now?
 or do they have to be in boy scouts and out of cub scouts?

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Jan 24, 2013 - Scouter Paul

Holly - merit badges are only for Boy Scouts, not Cub Scouts.

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Mar 03, 2013 - Quentin Wade Dawson

I'm a eagle scout in 1982 but i never got all merit badges that i finished for my eagle badge award i had a total of 50  is there away i can get them? I HOPE U CAN HELP ME!!!!!

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Mar 03, 2013 - Scouter Paul

Quentin - If you have your advancement paperwork, you might take that to you local scout shop and ask them what you need to do to purchase replacement patches.  They might be lenient and sell them to you, or refer you to someone higher up.
You could contact the council from which you received your ranks and ask if they have advancement records from 30 years ago.

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Mar 05, 2013 - Paul from Dallas

I am not sure if this is the correct forum but my boy just transferred into Boy Scouts so I went into the attic and brought out my old sash with my merit badges on them.  There is one I can not find any reference to.  It is the same size as all the other merit badges and has the green border with a full length white horse with a black mane and tail.  The background is purple.  I probably should know what this badge was for but it has been almost forty years and I am wondering if it could have been a temporary badge or if it is even a valid badge.  This was earned in 1974 in the Pa. area.

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Mar 05, 2013 - Scouter Paul

Paul - That was the "Animal Industry" merit badge.

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Apr 13, 2013 - MARTHA

MY SON HAS PROBLEMS READING, AND SOMETIMES FOCUSING.
THE EAGLE SCOUTS MERIT BADGES ARE HARD FOR HIM.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
CONCERN PARENT.

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Apr 14, 2013 - Scouter Paul

Martha - Merit badges are not much different from any other learning opportunity your son may be offered.  Whichever methods he uses to help himself with school, social interaction, and other parts of life should work with merit badges.  
He may be more challenged than other scouts to complete some badges, but if he wants to do it, he will.
As a parent, you might encourage him, help him set aside a specific time for merit badge progress each week, and become familiar with the badge requirements to help him choose some that fit his interests.  Many merit badges have little reading and lots of DOing - Hiking merit badge is a good example.

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