How do I decide on which badge to work on?
There are over 100 merit badges covering a wide range of interests. Take a look through this merit badge list to see what is available to choose from. You will be surprised how many of the things you do in your daily life - playing sports, taking care of your dog, working on family projects or reading - that fulfill merit badge requirements.
Each badge is earned by fulfilling a set of requirements. Badges can be earned during Scout meetings, at summer camp, or at special events like Merit Badge University.
Can I work on a merit badge on my own?
Absolutely. While the troop (and Scouting in general) provides many opportunities to work on a merit badge with a group in a structured setting, you are always free to find a councilor to work with on a badge of interest independently.
How many merit badges do I need to earn?
There is no limit to how many merit badges you can earn, although the Eagle rank requires you to earn 21 merit badges, including twelve required badges in areas like outdoor skills and citizenship. Some of these need to be earned as you progress through other ranks, including Star and Life. Check out this page for more information on merit badge requirements for each rank.
What is a “Blue Card”?
Before you start a merit badge class at camp, within the troop, or at a special event like Merit Badge University (or begin your own independent work with a merit badge councilor ) you must first obtain a "blue card" which will be used to record your merit badge activity. These can be obtained from the troop's advancement coordinators.
Before you start a class or meet with a councilor, the Scoutmaster must sign the blue card, indicating that you are ready to work on the badge. Once you have completed the requirements, the counselor will return two sections of the card to you. You must ask the Scoutmaster to sign off on completion on the scout's portion of the card, after which you will submit one section of the card to the advancement coordinator and keep one section for your records.
Where do I find requirements for different merit badges?
There is a merit badge book for each merit badge which will guide you through all requirements. These books are for sale at the Scout Store or you can borrow one from another scout or from the Troop Library (if they are available). You can also find requirements and other information on merit badges (and other aspects of Scout advancement) at www.meritbadge.org or www.usscouts.org/mb/ .
How do I find a counselor?
If you want to work on a merit badge independently, you will need to find a councilor who can sign off on a particular badge. Many adults Scout leaders are merit badge councilors who are ready to assist you. Check with the troop's advancement coordinator to see if there is a local councilor for the merit badge you want to earn.
When do I meet with the counselor?
Each counselor will handle things a little differently. You may just need to meet once or twice, or more times depending on the type of work required to complete the badge. Work with your merit badge councilor to plan a schedule, and keep in mind that Scouting’s Youth Protection Guidelines require there to be another Scout or adult with you when you meet with your councilor (a merit badge councilor should never meet alone with an individual Scout). For fun and encouragement, we strongly encourage you to find another scout interested in working on the same badge at the same time.
What is a “partial”?
Often at summer camp (or other group merit badge classes) you might start but not complete a badge. If that is the case your merit badge councilor will return the Blue Card to you, signing off on just the parts of the badge you have completed (this is called a "partial." It is up to you to complete the remaining requirements on your own and find a counselor to review your work. You can also bring partials to camp to complete them there and make sure to keep your blue cards for partials and completed merit badges in a place you can find them since these might be the only records of the work you have completed.
I have a partial from 3 years ago. The requirements have changed. What do I do?
You have two choices. You may complete the merit badge using all the old requirements or you may complete the merit badge using all the new requirements. Often newer requirements are written so that the older requirements may fulfill them, but you must complete one set or the other. Work with your counselor or the Advancement Co-Chair to figure out which situation is easier for you.
How do I wear the merit badges?
Badges will be awarded at scout meetings and Courts of Honor once the Advancement Chair has received the completed blue card. Badges are displayed on the merit badge sash worn over the right shoulder.
What is an Eagle Palm?
Eagle Palms are awarded for each 5 merit badges you earn beyond the 21 required for Eagle. You can earn as many as you want (some Scouts have earned every badge there is)!
There are over 100 merit badges covering a wide range of interests. Take a look through this merit badge list to see what is available to choose from. You will be surprised how many of the things you do in your daily life - playing sports, taking care of your dog, working on family projects or reading - that fulfill merit badge requirements.
Each badge is earned by fulfilling a set of requirements. Badges can be earned during Scout meetings, at summer camp, or at special events like Merit Badge University.
Can I work on a merit badge on my own?
Absolutely. While the troop (and Scouting in general) provides many opportunities to work on a merit badge with a group in a structured setting, you are always free to find a councilor to work with on a badge of interest independently.
How many merit badges do I need to earn?
There is no limit to how many merit badges you can earn, although the Eagle rank requires you to earn 21 merit badges, including twelve required badges in areas like outdoor skills and citizenship. Some of these need to be earned as you progress through other ranks, including Star and Life. Check out this page for more information on merit badge requirements for each rank.
What is a “Blue Card”?
Before you start a merit badge class at camp, within the troop, or at a special event like Merit Badge University (or begin your own independent work with a merit badge councilor ) you must first obtain a "blue card" which will be used to record your merit badge activity. These can be obtained from the troop's advancement coordinators.
Before you start a class or meet with a councilor, the Scoutmaster must sign the blue card, indicating that you are ready to work on the badge. Once you have completed the requirements, the counselor will return two sections of the card to you. You must ask the Scoutmaster to sign off on completion on the scout's portion of the card, after which you will submit one section of the card to the advancement coordinator and keep one section for your records.
Where do I find requirements for different merit badges?
There is a merit badge book for each merit badge which will guide you through all requirements. These books are for sale at the Scout Store or you can borrow one from another scout or from the Troop Library (if they are available). You can also find requirements and other information on merit badges (and other aspects of Scout advancement) at www.meritbadge.org or www.usscouts.org/mb/ .
How do I find a counselor?
If you want to work on a merit badge independently, you will need to find a councilor who can sign off on a particular badge. Many adults Scout leaders are merit badge councilors who are ready to assist you. Check with the troop's advancement coordinator to see if there is a local councilor for the merit badge you want to earn.
When do I meet with the counselor?
Each counselor will handle things a little differently. You may just need to meet once or twice, or more times depending on the type of work required to complete the badge. Work with your merit badge councilor to plan a schedule, and keep in mind that Scouting’s Youth Protection Guidelines require there to be another Scout or adult with you when you meet with your councilor (a merit badge councilor should never meet alone with an individual Scout). For fun and encouragement, we strongly encourage you to find another scout interested in working on the same badge at the same time.
What is a “partial”?
Often at summer camp (or other group merit badge classes) you might start but not complete a badge. If that is the case your merit badge councilor will return the Blue Card to you, signing off on just the parts of the badge you have completed (this is called a "partial." It is up to you to complete the remaining requirements on your own and find a counselor to review your work. You can also bring partials to camp to complete them there and make sure to keep your blue cards for partials and completed merit badges in a place you can find them since these might be the only records of the work you have completed.
I have a partial from 3 years ago. The requirements have changed. What do I do?
You have two choices. You may complete the merit badge using all the old requirements or you may complete the merit badge using all the new requirements. Often newer requirements are written so that the older requirements may fulfill them, but you must complete one set or the other. Work with your counselor or the Advancement Co-Chair to figure out which situation is easier for you.
How do I wear the merit badges?
Badges will be awarded at scout meetings and Courts of Honor once the Advancement Chair has received the completed blue card. Badges are displayed on the merit badge sash worn over the right shoulder.
What is an Eagle Palm?
Eagle Palms are awarded for each 5 merit badges you earn beyond the 21 required for Eagle. You can earn as many as you want (some Scouts have earned every badge there is)!