Scout Merit Badge Guide

Merit Badges

Merit badges can be intimidating for new scouts, but they really are not as complicated as one might believe. Merit badges are an important part of scouting. They are needed to rank up for star, life, and eagle. We have developed the following guide to answer some common questions and get you started.

• • What are merit badges?

    • Merit badges are badges that represent knowledge and skills a scout has learned and demonstrated to a merit badge counselor

  • What is a merit badge counselor?

    • A merit badge counselor is a person who is able to teach and watch scouts demonstrate the requirements of a merit badge

    • Troop 301 has many leaders and parents that are merit badge counselor for a variety of merit badges

  • Why do scouts have to earn merit badges?

    • Scouts have to earn merit badges to rank up to star, life, and eagle.

      • Earning these shows that a scout has learned important skills that they can use for their entire lives

      • For each of these ranks a scout will have to earn a certain amount of “eagle required” and “non-eagle required” merit badges

        • “Eagle required” merit badges are a selected few merit badges that a scout must earn to become an eagle scout.

          • Eagle required badges are usually harder than the non-required as they focus on survival skill, government and citizenship, and can take months to complete.

        • “Non-eagle required” are the majority of merit badges that a scout still has to earn for eagle

          • Even though they are required for eagle, there are many more than eagle required so a scout has more freedom in choosing which of these they would like to do.

            • These badges tend to be easier to complete and take less time but still teach important skills like rifle shooting, marine exploration, outdoor skill, and much more.

• How to start earning merit badges

  • First, a scout needs to decide what badges they would like to earn

    • These should be a mix of eagle and non-eagle required badges

  • Second, a scout needs to figure out where they will earn these badges

    • Scout can earn a good variety of merit badges within the troop

      • Scouts interested in this method will have to find a counselor within the troop for the merit badge they wish to work on

        • This method will require the scout to do a lot of the work on their own time and by themselves

      • The troop also offers merit badge clinics during the year

        • These clinics are good for new scouts and scouts that are having trouble working at home

        • These clinics are usually held before the meetings

        • Even though these badges are done at the meetings, scouts may still be required to do work at home

    • Summer camps are probably the easiest way to earn merit badges

      • Scouts sign up for merit badges before they go to summer camp

      • Once at the camp scouts will have classes that operate similar to junior high/highschool

        • Scouts will arrive at designated parts of the camp for classes

        • Once that class is over, they will have a passing period in which they will be able to go to their next class

      • Almost all merit badges will be earned within that camp unless there are prerequisites, or the scout does not finish the requirements in which they will then earn a partial

  • Third, working on merit badges

    • Scout that are working on merit badges have no time limit on the requirements

      • Scouts that do not complete badges at summer camps are at clinics at scout meetings will be given a partial

        • A partial is a blue card that has what requirements a scout has already completed for their merit badge

        • It is important that a scout keeps this card because it will show other merit badge counselors' what requirements that scout has completed

          • If a scout loses this card than they will unfortunately have to redo the requirements for the badge

  • Fourth, finishing merit badges

    • Once a scout has completed all the requirements for whatever badge they are working on, their counselor will sign a blue card that signifies the completion of the merit badge

      • Make sure not to lose this card or all documentation of completed requirements may be lost

    • Scouts should turn in completed blue cards into the scout leaders

      • Scout leaders will then document the completed badge and will present the scout with the badge at the next court of honor

        • If a scout ever loses a badge or cannot remember what merit badges they completed, they can ask leaders and as long as they are documented, they can be given a new badge.

  • Fifth, important information

    • Earning certain merit badges can actually allow scouts to sign off requirements for advancing rank

      • Earning the first aid merit badge allows all first aid rank requirements to be signed off

      • Earning the swimming merit badge allows all swimming related rank requirements to be signed off

    • Scouts that earn more than the required merit badges can earn eagle palms