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Boy Scout Merit Badges
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WELCOME
TO THE WORLD OF MERIT BADGES. . .
Have you been sitting at troop meetings wondering what everyone
is talking about?
This quick overview will give some insight on how to
travel down the merit badge path!
- 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.
- A scout can explore a variety of topics, the only limitations are his ambition and availability of adult merit badge counselors to offer instruction.
Merit Badge Process:
- A scout decides he would like to earn a specific merit badge.
- He obtains approval and a merit badge card to begin the merit badge from his Scoutmaster or Advancement Chair.
- You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be another scout, a parent or guardian, another relative.
- 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 merit badge counselor certifies completion of requirements and signs the merit badge card.
- the merit badge card is presented to the Advancement Chairman
- He then is awarded the merit badge patch 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 leadership.
- 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.
- Eagle Required merit badges: Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Environmental Science, Family Life, First Aid, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Lifesaving or Emergency Preparedness, Swimming or Cycling or Hiking.
Merit Badge Pamphlets (books):
- official Boy Scout merit badge pamphlets have been created for the BSA by topic authorities for each merit badge
- 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.
- Requirements and worksheets for each merit badge can be found below by clicking on the title of the badge. Not all counselors require the worksheet.
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.
- St. Louis Area Council has a directory of counselors and we have several within the troop.