Earning Merit Badges
You can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit badges. There are more than 135 merit badges. Any Scout may earn a merit badge at any time, at any rank. Scouts earn badges by working with a merit badge counselor and showing the counselor that they have done all the requirements for the badge. Sometimes this can be done in merit badge classes held by our troop or at summer camp, or at local "merit badge day" events.
Pick a Subject. Talk to the Scoutmaster about your interest in earning a merit badge. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you. Choose one to earn. The scoutmaster will give you a signed merit badge application (the "blue card") and the name and contact information of a merit badge counselor. Counselors have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.
Use the Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be another Scout, your parents or guardian, a brother or sister or other relative, or a friend.
Call the Merit Badge Counselor. Get in touch with the merit badge counselor and tell them that you want to earn the merit badge. The counselor may ask to meet you to explain what is expected and to start helping you complete the requirements. You should also discuss work that you have already started or possibly completed.
Unless otherwise specified, work for a requirement can be started at any time. Ask your counselor to help you learn the things you need to know or do. You should obtain and read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject.
Show Your Stuff. When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment. When you go take along the things you have made to meet the requirements. If they are too big to move, take pictures or have an adult tell in writing what you have done. The counselor will test you on each requirement to make sure you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.
Get the Badge. When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, they will sign your application (the "blue card"). Give the signed application to your unit leader so that your merit badge emblem can be secured for you.
Here is the full list of merit badges.
Pick a Subject. Talk to the Scoutmaster about your interest in earning a merit badge. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you. Choose one to earn. The scoutmaster will give you a signed merit badge application (the "blue card") and the name and contact information of a merit badge counselor. Counselors have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.
Use the Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be another Scout, your parents or guardian, a brother or sister or other relative, or a friend.
Call the Merit Badge Counselor. Get in touch with the merit badge counselor and tell them that you want to earn the merit badge. The counselor may ask to meet you to explain what is expected and to start helping you complete the requirements. You should also discuss work that you have already started or possibly completed.
Unless otherwise specified, work for a requirement can be started at any time. Ask your counselor to help you learn the things you need to know or do. You should obtain and read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject.
Show Your Stuff. When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment. When you go take along the things you have made to meet the requirements. If they are too big to move, take pictures or have an adult tell in writing what you have done. The counselor will test you on each requirement to make sure you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.
Get the Badge. When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, they will sign your application (the "blue card"). Give the signed application to your unit leader so that your merit badge emblem can be secured for you.
Here is the full list of merit badges.
Which badges do you need for Eagle?
Eagle Scout is the highest advancement rank in Scouting. To earn the rank, a Scout must meet advancement requirements and earn 21 merit badges, including the following which are required:
A. First Aid
B. Citizenship in the Community
C. Citizenship in the Nation
D. Citizenship in the World
E. Communication
F. Cooking
G. Personal Fitness
H. Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving
I. Environmental Science OR Sustainability
J. Personal Management
K. Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling
L. Camping
M. Family Life
A. First Aid
B. Citizenship in the Community
C. Citizenship in the Nation
D. Citizenship in the World
E. Communication
F. Cooking
G. Personal Fitness
H. Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving
I. Environmental Science OR Sustainability
J. Personal Management
K. Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling
L. Camping
M. Family Life
What is a Merit Badge Counselor?
The merit badge counselor is a key player in the Scout advancement program. The merit badge counselor offers an area of expertise or interest—whether it is a special craft or hobby (basketry, leatherwork, coin collecting), a profession (veterinary medicine, aviation, engineering), or perhaps a life skill (cooking, personal management, communications) and can play a vital role in stirring a young person's curiosity about that particular topic.
The merit badge counselor's mission is to join fun with learning. The counselor is both a teacher and mentor as the Scout works on a merit badge and learns by doing. The counselor's hands-on involvement could inspire a Scout to develop a lifelong hobby, pursue a particular career, or become an independent, self-supporting adult.
Troop 167 has a list of affiliated merit badge counselors here. Scouts also have access to counselors from across the Chain Bridge Districts. Please contact the Scoutmaster for further information.
The merit badge counselor's mission is to join fun with learning. The counselor is both a teacher and mentor as the Scout works on a merit badge and learns by doing. The counselor's hands-on involvement could inspire a Scout to develop a lifelong hobby, pursue a particular career, or become an independent, self-supporting adult.
Troop 167 has a list of affiliated merit badge counselors here. Scouts also have access to counselors from across the Chain Bridge Districts. Please contact the Scoutmaster for further information.