Merit Badges

Why Merit Badges?

Merit badges are awards earned by youth members of the BSA Scouts of America (BSA), based on activities within an 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 hadn't 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 (booklet) published by the BSA Scouts of America associated with it; the pamphlet contains information on completing the requirements for the badge. Scouts must meet up with their Scoutmaster to receive a signed blue card in order to begin working on a merit badge. The Scout then contacts an adult who is registered as a counselor for that merit badge in order to learn which badge requirements they must complete before meeting up with the counselor. Once these requirements are completed, the Scout meets with the counselor to demonstrate that they've completed the requirements. The counselor then 'signs off' on each requirement. After completing the merit badge, the Scout will be presented the merit badge patch at the next Court of Honor.

The award of a merit badge is represented by 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 Scout uniform on formal occasions. Every year the National Council reviews and updates a certain number of merit badges. There are over 130 merit badges.

Eagle Required

ScoutsBSA More Info about Eagle Required Merit Badges

The current requirement for Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Scouting, involves earning a minimum total of 21 merit badges, but they can always earn more if there are merit badges that are interesting to them. 

The 21 merit badges MUST include 13 "Eagle Required" badges from this list:

1. First Aid

2. Citizenship in the World

3. Citizenship in the Nation

4. Citizenship in the Community

5. Communication

6. Cooking

7. Personal Fitness

8. Personal Management

9. Camping

10. Family 

11. Lifesaving OR Emergency Preparedness

12. Environmental Science or Sustainability

13. Swimming, Hiking, or Cycling

PLUS choose any 8 or more "elective" merit badges of your choice to learn about all sorts of new topics.  Here is the official list and descriptions.

Read below for instructions on how to work on Merit Badges (MB)

Working on a Merit Badge

PAMPHLETS: You will want to understand the requirements for the merit badges you work on.  CLICK HERE to view all of the official DIGITAL BSA pamphlets.

WORKBOOKS: You will need to print your own workbooks for each merit badge that you work on.  CLICK HERE to download and print them from MeritBadge.org

BLUE CARDS:  You must obtain a signed Blue Card (pictured above) from your Scoutmaster with approval **before** starting any merit badge work!  Keep all 3 sections of the blue card attached.  Do not tear them apart on the perforation.

MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS: You will work with a Merit Badge Counselor (MBC) to sign off on the requirements for each merit badge.  When you start with a counselor on a badge, you will continue working with that same counselor until the badge is complete.  

Completed Merit Badges

Once the work is completed, your MBC will sign off on the blue card and keep one of the 3 sections for their records.  You will bring other two sections of the card to the meeting and turn it into the Advancement Chair to get it signed as completed by the Scoutmaster then the Advancement Chair will record the merit badge in the Scoutbook tracking software.

The Advancement Chair will keep the completed blue card.  It will be returned when the merit badge is presented at the next Court of Honor.

You will never turn in your merit badge workbook to a counselor or the Advancement Chair - only the blue card!

IMPORTANT Record Keeping, What Your Scout Must Keep Track Of

This matters more than most parents realize.

Advancement in Scouts BSA is tracked across multiple systems, but your Scout is ultimately responsible for maintaining their own records. If something is missing or questioned later, the Scout needs to be able to show proof.

Remember, it is not up to the Troop, the Scoutmaster or the MBC to complete merit badges.  It is not up to the parent to complete or turn in the merit badges. It is completely up to the Scout to get that done.  The Troop are not responsible for their MBs, they are merely enablers for them to be successful with the MB. 

It is the scout's responsibility to keep track of the workbooks and blue cards.  DO NOT LOSE THEM!  You will then have no proof of your work completed.

There are two things that are non-negotiable.

The Handbook

Your Scout’s handbook is their primary record.

Every requirement, sign-off, and advancement step is documented there. This book is used for the entire time your Scout is in the troop.

Do not lose it.

If a requirement is signed off in the handbook, that is proof it was completed. If it is not recorded, it may not count.

Best practice:

• Keep it in a consistent place

• Bring it to meetings and outings

• Protect it from damage

Merit Badge Records (Blue Cards and Work)

You will want to keep all of your scout's merit badge workbooks in a 2 inch 3-ring binder.  You will also want to keep all of the blue cards and award cards that are returned at the court of honor when the patches are presented.  If something happens in the record-keeping process, it is up to the scout to prove that they have met the requirements for rank advancement and Eagle.  The Advancement Chair does keep digital records, but if there is a discrepancy in our records, your records will help correct a possible error or oversight in the future!

Each merit badge is tracked with a signed “blue card,” along with any supporting work your Scout completes.

Your Scout needs a system to keep all of this organized.

Recommended setup:

• A 2.5 to 3-inch 3-ring binder

• Sections for each merit badge

• Printed workbooks or notes stored behind each badge

Most important, every signed blue card should be saved.

Use trading card sleeves in the binder to store them securely. These cards are official proof that a merit badge was completed and approved.

Do not lose them. This is a link to buy the trading card sleeves for less than $10 https://amzn.to/3PqDAdA 

Bottom Line

Digital systems help track progress, but they are not the source of truth in every situation.

Your Scout’s handbook and merit badge records are.

If there is ever a discrepancy, these are what protect your Scout’s progress.

Treat them like critical documents.