Boy Scout Troop 468 (Largo, Florida)
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Below is a list, in alphabetical order, of all of the current merit badge subjects. Click each subject to see the requirements for that merit badge.
Positions of Resp National Outdoor Glossary Dutch Oven Cooking Knots
American Business American Cultures American Heritage
Backpacking
American Labor
Animal Science
Animation
Camping Parent Infomation Cub Scouts 468 Venturing Crew 468 Youth Leadership
Archaeology
Archery
Architecture and Landscape Architecture
Art
Astronomy
Athletics
Automotive Maintenance
Aviation
Backpacking
Basketry
Bird Study
Bugling
Camping
Canoeing
Chemistry
Chess
Citizenship in the Community
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the World
Climbing
Coin Collecting
Collections
Communication
Composite Materials
Computers
Cooking
Crime Prevention
Cycling
Dentistry
Digital Technology
Disabilities Awareness
Dog Care
Drafting
Electricity
Electronics
Emergency Preparedness
Energy
Engineering
Entrepreneurship
Environmental Science
Family Life
Farm Mechanics
Fingerprinting
Fire Safety
First Aid
Fish and Wildlife Management
Forestry
Game Design
Gardening
Genealogy
Geocaching
Geology
Golf
Graphic Arts
Hiking
Home Repairs
Horsemanship
Indian Lore
Insect Study
Inventing
Journalism
Kayaking
Landscape Architecture
Law
Leatherwork
Lifesaving
Mammal Study
Medicine
Metalwork
Mining in Society
Model Design and Building
Motorboating
Moviemaking
Music
Nature
Nuclear Science
Oceanography
Orienteering
Painting
Personal Fitness
Personal Management
Pets
Photography
Pioneering
Plant Science
Plumbing
Pottery
Programming
Public Health
Public Speaking
Pulp and Paper
Radio
Railroading
Reading
Reptile and Amphibian Study
Rifle Shooting
Robotics
Rowing
Safety
Salesmanship
Scholarship
Scouting Heritage
Scuba Diving
Sculpture
Signs, Signals, and Codes
Skating
Small-Boat Sailing
Snow Sports
Soil and Water Conservation
Space Exploration
Sports
Stamp Collecting
Surveying
Sustainability
Swimming
Textile
Theater
Traffic Safety
Truck Transportation
Veterinary Medicine
Water Sports
Weather
Wood Carving
Woodwork
BSA Ranks BSA Merit Badges Eagle Scouts STEM Program
Welding
Whitewater
Wilderness Survival
Fishing
Fly-Fishing
Search and Rescue Shotgun Shooting
Power Point Presentation on Scouting for the DisAbled by Terry Thrasher Boy Scout Nova and Supernova Award Workbooks - These are workbooks, similar to the Merit Badge workbooks below, for use by Scouts working toward the Boy Scout Nova and Supernova Awards. They are available in DOCX or "fillable" PDF format. Merit Badge Workbooks Click Here For a complete list of workbooks with the current requirements for all current merit badges. The workbooks were originally developed by a number of different Scouting volunteers for their local units and provided to the USSSP for use by all Scouts. They are now developed and maintained by the USSSP, with some assistance from Scouters at meritbadge.org. The current versions of these workbooks are available in "fillable" PDF and DOCX formats. Scouts can download the files to their home computers, enter information on them, and save their work, or print them and enter the information by hand. The workbooks are also available for download from the meritbadge.org website. In addition to the workbooks, we have a group of documents, forms, and checklists that can be used by Scouts working on some of the merit badges, or for general use. All of these are included as attachments to the workbooks for the merit badges to which they apply, but they are also available for separate use. Documents BSA Safe Swim Defense - DOCX or PDF - For all swimming and aquatics merit badges BSA Safety Afloat - DOCX or PDF - For all aquatics merit badges BSA Wilderness Use Policy, Principles of Leave No Trace, and Outdoor Code - DOCX or PDF for all camping related merit badges BSA Water Sports Safety Code - DOCX or PDF - for Water Sports merit badge Forms Fingerprint Card- DOCX or PDF - for use in the Fingerprinting merit badge or by parents for child identification Pedigree Chart - DOCX or PDF for use in Genealogy merit badge Family Group Record Chart - DOCX or PDF for use in Genealogy merit badge Physical Fitness Log Work Sheet - PDF Checklists Home Electrical Safety Inspection Checklist - DOCX or PDF for use in Electricity merit badge Home Energy Audit Checklist - DOCX or PDF for use in Energy merit badge Home Safety Checklist - DOCX or PDF for use in Crime Prevention merit badge Home Safety Checklist - DOCX or PDF for use in Fire Safety, Emergency Preparedness, and Safety merit badges We also have a group of images of graph paper, maps, and a page of blank music staves which can be downloaded. All of the images, which are used in the workbooks, are in GIF format. Graph paper: Large - 30 x 40 cells Medium - 37 x 20 cells Small - 37 x 11 cells Square - 30 x 30 cells Large semi-logarithmic - 50 cells x 6 cycles Small semi-logarithmic - 15 cells x 4 cycles Outline map of the United States Outline map of the World Music staves (GIF) Fly Fishing Questions and Answers used for teaching the Merit Badge Word Document (49 KB), prepared by Allen Crise On Line Teaching Guide (including the above document), by the Federation of Fly Fishers Computers PowerPoint Presentation used for teaching the Merit Badge, prepared by Tom Foss and Jose Remon Power Point Presentation (6154 KB) Citizenship in the Community PowerPoint Presentation used for teaching the Merit Badge, prepared by Tamie Balderrama Power Point Presentation file (3876 KB) Narrative (Word file) to accompany the presentation (35 KB) Quizzes on First Aid, the Flag, Citizenship, and Knots, developed by Gene von Rosenberg Scout Spirit Scavenger Hunt. A worksheet for Scouts to use to prepare for discussion of Scout Spirit at their Scoutmaster Conferences, developed by Rick Seymour Essay on Advancement by John M. Teske, Southern Trails Advancement Chairman
Advancement Forms The following documents and forms and many others can be found on the BSA Advancement Resources Web page: (www.scouting.org/advancement). Guide to Advancement (BSA publication 33088) Merit Badge Counselor Information Form (BSA Form 34405) Unit Advancement Report (BSA Form 34403 - fillable PDF) Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Rank Merit Badges (BSA Form 512-730) Application for Eagle Scout Palm (BSA Form 58-709_WB) Transfer Form (Youth Member) / Leadership Transfer Notice (BSA Form 524-401WB) Troop Resource Survey (BSA Form 34437) Eagle Scout Rank Application (BSA Form 512-728) Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook This link takes you to a page with instructions for downloading and using the current workbook (BSA Form 512-927), which is available in both PC and MAC versions. Navigating the Eagle Scout Service Project: Information for Project Beneficiaries Application for Merit Badge (reproduces BSA Form 34124) This is a fillable PDF file that allows you to create Merit Badge Application "Blue Cards" with name(s), merit badge names and unit and counselor information. As you enter the information, it inserts the same information correctly in all other appropriate places on the form. The cards can then be printed front and back on 8 1/2" x 11" card stock (3 per sheet). Merit Badge Counseling - based on BSA Form 34520 A Guide for Counselors - Word document developed by Mike Poretsky
Miscellaneous Documents Similarities and Differences between Venture, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing in tabular form, originally contributed by Michael R. Brown and expanded to include Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts A ZIP file of all of the GIFS of the current Merit Badges and a text file listing the Merit Badges and the BSA assigned numbers and the file names of the GIFS. The Text file can be viewed by CLICKING HERE. Eagle Light Box Presentation - This is a PowerPoint presentation and script that is a digital version of the old light box presentation where the "Voice of the Eagle" explains the various parts of the Eagle medal, which was created by Marquita Serio. Download both the PPT file and the DOC file. Powerpoint slides - PPT File Word - script - DOC file Mr. D's Merit Badge Review - This is a spreadsheet listing Richard Diesslin's recommendations on each of the current merit badges (Current as of August 27, 2013), listing the number of requirements, difficulty, how long it should take to complete, any prerequisites, and general comments. The spreadsheet is available as a PDF or Excel file (XLSX ) for download, or as a web page for on-line viewing. Excel Spreadsheet (XLSX - 27KB) PDF (153KB) Web Page Advancement Guidelines - This is an explanation of the process for Boy Scout Advancement, including suggestions for record keeping, prepared by Sarah Nunez, of Troop 880 in Amarillo, Texas, in Golden Spread Council. It's available as a Word Document for download, or as a web page for on-line viewing. Word Document Web Page National Outdoor Award Tracking Spreadsheet - This is an Excel spreadsheet that allows tracking of the requirements for the award and the various segments. The spreadsheet is in XLSX format, and thus requires use of Excel 2007 or later. Our thanks to Alan Ritter and Dave Ebert, who created this spreadsheet.. Excel Spreadsheet (129KB)
Merit Badge Review
as of 8/27/2013
Merit Badge
#Rqmnts Difficulty Duration Prereqs
Comments
AMERICAN BUSINESS
6
Hard
3 Months
Would go great with school economics course. What makes this "hard" is running a business for 3 months, otherwise it is easy to medium.
AMERICAN CULTURES
5
Medium
1-3 Months none
AMERICAN HERITAGE
6+
Medium
2-3 Months none
AMERICAN LABOR
9
Medium
1 Month
none
ANIMAL SCIENCE
6
Easy
1 Month
none
ARCHAEOLOGY
11
Hard
2-5 Months none
ARCHERY
5
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
Duration is mostly logistics - this one takes some planning. Would go great with an American History class. A fair bit of planning and reporting required. Good companion to American Business MB, requires a bit of writing and research, but nothing too difficult. Some planning and visits, but most information is in an encyclopedia or library book. Very involved. Need to do research, reports, presentations and visits. Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones movies won't count as requirements, but they will help make it more interesting.
none
Skill required! But fun to learn and do. Good summer camp badge.
ARCHITECTURE
5
Medium
1 Month
none
Lots of cool PC tools to help, involves interviews. Be sure to ask the architects why they almost always under estimate the cost! Pamphlet combined with Landscape Architecture in 2009.
ART
5
Easy
1 Week
none
Good first merit badge - they don't get any easier than this ... fun too.
ASTRONOMY
9+
Medium
1-2 Months none
ATHLETICS
6
Medium
1-3 Months none
AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE
12+
Hard
2-5 Months 15-16ish
AVIATION
5
Medium
1-3 Months none
BACKPACKING
11+
Medium
3 Months
BASKETRY BIRD STUDY
3 8
Easy Medium
1-3 Days none 1-12 Weeks none
BUGLING
6
Medium
3 Months
Fairly involved and requires planning. Good camp or troop badge. So is Pluto a planet? A scout is physically fit ... and this newly updated badge will prove it. Takes some planning and scheduled events. This will be invaluable later (when you need to get that thingy to stop making that noise, etc.), but not of much interest until around driving age. Revamped in 2009. Some of this is in you Webelos book! Revisions make this a solid "medium" and does require some planning and project work.
Some First Aid
Not difficult, but time consuming. Good start possible at summer camp. As easy as they get! Lots to study, but not too involved. Good one for brass players in band, but most can learn a bugle. 3 months of bugling required.
none
Most requirements are simple, but to get in all the campouts takes time. Keep track of all campouts and around 1st Class or Star should have most done. Rewritten in 2006, although not much changed.
CAMPING (E)
10+
Medium
1-2 Years
none
CANOEING
10+
Medium
1-4 Weeks
First Aid
CHEMISTRY
7+
Medium
2-8 Weeks
Science in School
CHESS
6+
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
CINEMATOGRAPHY
4
Easy
1-4 Weeks
none
CITIZENSHIP - Community (E)
8+
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
CITIZENSHIP - Nation (E)
8+
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
CITIZENSHIP - World (E)
7+
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
CLIMBING
12+
Medium
1-12 Weeks none
COIN COLLECTING
10+
Medium
1-12 Weeks none
COLLECTIONS
9+
Medium
1-12 Weeks none
COMMUNICATIONS (E)
9
Easy
1-4 Weeks
none
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
6+
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
COMPUTERS
9
Medium
1-12 Weeks none
COOKING
8+
Medium
1-8 Weeks
CRIME PREVENTION
9+
Medium
4-12 Weeks none
CYCLING (E Opt)
9+
Medium
3-6 Months none
DENTISTRY
7+
Medium
2-6 Weeks
teeth
DISABILITIES AWARENESS
7
Medium
3 Months
none
While the political correctness runnth over, this is a merit badge to be proud of. Possibly a life/perspective-changing effort. Recently rewritten.
DOG CARE
10
Medium
2 Months
Helps to have a dog
A good one to do if you have a dog or like animals. If you don't have a dog, you might be able to take care of someone else's for the badge.
First Aid will cover CPR and other first aid issues and 1st Class requires basic swimming skills. Otherwise, enjoy the ride! A good one to do with High School Chemistry or Science class. A good introductory badge requiring you to learn the basics and some history of the game, but overall it never says you have to be good at playing the game ! The hard part might be finding the merit badge counselor, but otherwise this is a fairly easy one. A good one to do with Jr. High or High School government class. Eagle Required. A good one to do with Jr. High or High School government class. Eagle Required. Rewritten in 2006 and seems easier, but overall is still a "medium" rating. Again a good one to do with Jr. High or High School government class. Eagle Required. Some knots and climbing required. Good one for summer camp or high adventure campout. Apparently the zealots were not content with 4 requirements, now there are 10. Helps to already have a collection started. Could do in conjunction with coin collecting ... or drier lent ... or even something useful! Fun for us packrats! Good summer camp or merit badge trail activity ... I'd tell you more, but that's your job! Seems like a good introduction to the topic without going nuts! A good current materials technology to learn about. Good one for school keyboarding or if you already use the computer for papers, internet and other things. If it's all new to you, this will take some time! Need to do some planning and cooking, but fairly easy. This bumped up to medium because it doubled in reqs in '02. Lot of trips/visits to plan, so this one will take some time. Lots of bike rides required for this one. Plan to do it over a year or so. (Eagle Required - or swimming or hiking). Easy-to-medium. My dentist would love this one, yours might too! Do your brush your tounge? Floss?
none
DRAFTING
7+
Medium
1-8 Weeks
none
Shades of my old mechanical drawing class from high school! Rewritten in 2009 pretty much requiring access to a CAD system and drawing tools. Might as well do the architecture badge while you're at it.
ELECTRICITY
11+
Medium
1-2 Weeks
none
Can get most of the information from books at the library. Rated medium because it requires two small projects and has over 10 requirements.
ELECTRONICS
6
Medium
1-2 Weeks
none
EMERGENCY PREP. (E Opt)
9+
Medium
1-6 Weeks
First Aid
ENERGY
8
Medium
3-6 Weeks
Jr/Sr High Science
ENGINEERING
9+
Medium
6+
Hard
3 Months
none
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (E Opt)
6+
Medium
1-8 Weeks
none
FAMILY LIFE (E)
7
Easy
3 Months
none
FARM MECHANICS
7+
Medium
1-6 Weeks
none
FINGERPRINTING
5
Easy
1 Week
none
FIRE SAFETY
12+
Medium
3 Weeks
none
FIRST AID (E)
7+
Hard
1 - 4 Weeks none
FISH AND WILDLIFE MGMT
8
Medium
1 - 4 Weeks none
FISHING
9
Goes well with electricity, project intensive and requires some math. Perfect if you are taking it in school anyway! This or Lifesaving is Eagle Required. This badge is a goes well right after First Aid and Pioneering. This is best done in conjunction with a school science class and requires oral and written reports. Another badge prepared by zealots! You'll know a lot about engineering and get to do some visits and hands-on projects. Learn why most engineers should be required to take the communications merit badge!
1-2 Months none
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Medium
This badge was probably prepared by consultants (like a zealot only with no stake in the outcome)! Does require you to start a business, good joint badge with American Business. Eagle Required (or Sustainability). Rewritten to be a bit less zealous, which is good. An important badge, of course! A good one to do at Summer Camp. Earn brownie points at home! A simple enough merit badge, but it does require some discipline. 90 days is a must for requirement 3. If you live on a farm this is a breeze! If not, your camp ranger or a local farmer would appreciate your projects on this one. You can probably pick up a finger printing kit from your local police department ... and convince network TV to do a CSI spin-off for your home town. Pyros ... this is the one for you - please! Not hard, but lots of stuff to do, explain, and demonstrate and includes a visit to the fire department. You must know Tenderfoot, 2nd and 1st Class first aid for this, but it's a good way to kill 4 birds with one stone (okay, wound 4 birds and then fix them up). Requires learning and demonstrating CPR. Good one to do before many other badges! Good Summer Camp badge. Time to complete this is mostly dependent on how quickly you can catch two fish. Scout fishermen are exempt from "trustworthy" only in reporting the size of the fish that got away (simply because it's tradition)!
1 - ? Weeks none
Why are there 10 requirements here and only 9 for Fishing you ask? Good question. If you do both together that would make sense, but this does have some special skills needed! This is a good Summer Camp badge. It requires several "collections"/identifications of plants, trees and shrubs. Game design as in sports, board/card/role-play games, video games and etc. (aka broad definition). If you like games, this is a fun one and a good introduction to design issues, etc. Just need to watch your garden grow ... and a few other things! It just got promoted "meduim" due to a few new requirements, but is still a very straight-forward MB. The revision brings this badge down a notch from the over-zealous category. It is now more in-line with an introduction to the topic, albeit involved. It should be an interesting badge to do. This looks like a pretty fun merit badge. Orienteering skills would help make this more meaningful but not required per se. Some geocaching equipment will be needed but your councellor or camp may have this available. If you are a rock hound ... this is for you. Totally rewritten in 2006, it is now a more reasonable introduction. Still involved, but one you are more likely to tackle, rock-hound or not. This is definitely a fun one, play golf and earn a badge! Good intro to graphic arts and includes a field trip. Eagle alternate badge (swimming or cycling). This is a good one to do over a longer period of time based on troop hikes/events. Make the folks happy by becoming Mr. Fix-it. I'm for this one!!! Thrift vs. the money pit (a house)!
FLY FISHING
10
Medium
1 - ? Weeks none
FORESTRY
7+
Hard
1 - 8 Weeks none
GAME DESIGN (NEW)
8
Medium
1-8 Weeks
none
GARDENING
8
Medium
2 Months
none
GENEALOGY
9
Medium
2-4 Weeks
none
GEOCACHING
9
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
GEOLOGY
5+
Medium
1-16 Weeks none
GOLF GRAPHIC ARTS
8 7+
Easy Medium
1-4 Weeks 2-4 Weeks
none none
HIKING (E Opt)
7
Medium
1-4 Weeks
1st Class First Aid
HOME REPAIRS
6+
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
HORSEMANSHIP
11
Medium
2 Months
Helps to have a horse
INDIAN LORE
4+
Easy
1 Week
none
INSECT STUDY
11
Hard
1-3 Months none
INVENTING
9
Medium
2-12 Weeks none
JOURNALISM
5
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
KAYAKING (NEW)
8
Medium
1-4 Weeks
Swimmer
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
6
Easy
1 Week
none
LAW
11
Medium
2 Weeks
none
LEATHERWORK
5
Easy
1 Week
none
LIFESAVING (E Opt)
15+
Medium
1-4 Weeks
Swimming MB, CPR
MAMMAL STUDY
5
Medium
1 Week
none
MEDICINE
10+
Hard
1 Month
none
METALWORK
5+
Medium
1 Week
none
MODEL DESIGN AND BUILDING
6
Medium
2 Weeks
none
MOTORBOATING
6+
Medium
1-6 Weeks
CPR
MUSIC
4
Easy
1-6 Months none
NATURE
4+
Medium
1-4 Weeks
NUCLEAR SCIENCE
8
Medium
1-3 Months none
OCEANOGRAPHY
9
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
ORIENTEERING
10+
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
PAINTING
8
Easy
1-2 Weeks
none
PERSONAL FITNESS (E)
9+
Medium
3 Months
none
PERSONAL MANAGEMENT (E)
10+
Medium
3 Months
none
PETS
4+
Easy
4 Months
none
PHOTOGRAPHY
5
Easy
2-4 Weeks
none
PIONEERING
10
Medium
1 Week
none
7+
Hard
1-3 Months none
PLUMBING
7
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
POTTERY
8
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
PUBLIC HEALTH
8
Medium
1-2 Months none
PUBLIC SPEAKING
5
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
PULP AND PAPER
8
Medium
2-6 Weeks
none
RADIO
9+
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
RAILROADING
8+
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
READING
4+
Easy
1-4 Weeks
none
REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN
10+
Medium
1 Month
none
RIFLE SHOOTING
2+
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
ROBOTICS
7+
Medium
1-3 Months none
ROWING SAFETY
11+ 8
Medium Medium
1 Week 1-4 Weeks
CPR, Swim Test none
SALESMANSHIP
7
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
SCHOLARSHIP
5
Medium
1-4 Weeks
none
SCOUTING HERITAGE
8
Easy
1-8 Weeks
none
SCUBA DIVING
6+
Hard
A good one to do if you have a horse or like animals. You even get to be "in harmony" with your horse. You could be the next horse whisperer! Could go well with history. This is a nice introductory level approach to the topic. Kudos to the authors. If your school biology class still requires an insect collection, this will be a natural, otherwise the bug collection could be a show stopper. Has definite summer camp possibilities! Looks like a good introductory type badge. Expect to design your own invention and build a prototype. This is a nice introductory level approach and very useful for understanding what you read and hear in the news. Similar to other boating badges, this requires knoweledge of the equipment and demostrating some skills, but is a lot of fun! This is fairly straightforward and a good intro to landscaping. Pamphlet combined with Architecture in 2009. I expected a high-falutin' set of requirements, but found these quite reasonable. A good intro. Good camp badge in terms of having the materials you need, but can be done at home too. Good camp badge for pool, etc. This is Eagle required, but optional if Emergency Preparedness has been earned. A good one to do regardless. Has many options, some more time-consuming than others. Good introduction, but prepared by zealots. Lots of details in this one. Might be able to get into med school after this! A good one to do in conjunction with metal shop. Access to proper tools is helpful. Should be able to forge the tetsighga with these skills. Project planning and model creation required, but a fun one. This is a good one to be an older scout, having 1st Class swimming requirements and CPR (via First Aid or other merit badges) - access to a motorboat is required. Don't let 6 months scare you off -- one option is being in a band or choir for that long. Good introduction to music. Good summer camp or merit badge trail activity. Would go well with high school science. Not hard, but involves research and projects. Good in conjunction with high school biology, good selection of options to choose from. Might be better to be 2nd Class or above, but not essential. You'll know map reading and compass use well after earning this one! Still as a male you may only ask for directions as a last resort! An easy one, but useful none-the-less. You do not have to paint the counselor's house! Eagle required. This'll get you in shape! Eagle required. This is medium because it requires planning and discipline, but provides good life skills! Easier that Dog and Horse MBs, but you need 4 months of pet care to earn it. Rewritten in 2006 and 2013, this badge is now more of a general introduction to the subject. Should be an easy one to complete. Good scout weekend or summer camp badge. Helps to earn this one on your way to Emergency Preparedness and after First Aid (or rank-level First Aid). If you like camp gadgets, you like this!
none
PLANT SCIENCE
Good companion to gardening MB. Does require growing some plants, hence 1-3 Months. The 2006 rewrite move this into the difficult and "created by zealots" category. It's more like 15 requirements than 7. Does require using a torch and solder, and some plumbing materials and equipment. You might find a ceramic/pottery shop offering a course or your counselor providing resources to assist you in doing the projects. Requires a few visits, so you'll need some extra time for logistics. And remember to wash your hands! Good to do in conjunction with a high school speech class, or possibly find a Toastmaster's Club! A good skill to acquire. A close companion of the Communications MB. Requires some time to arrange a visit and carry-out your projects. Almost zealot status, but fairly straight forward. Find a local ham (radio operator) if your counselor isn't one! Good Merit Badge trail or local model RR club activity. Now has a spiffy new patch. Includes a good service project. The reading can likely be done in conjunction with school or sr. citizens home. Requires keep a reptile or amphibian for a month ... tell mom you have to for your badge. This does get a zealot award. Good Summer Camp badge. Options include rifle shooting, air rifle or black-powder rifle shooting. Good introduction, but will require some expense and pretty involved. However, robots are pretty cool and there are kits to help. I don't believe you are allowed to fight them though … Do this one after First Aid and 1st Class or swimming MB. Fairly easy with one project involved. You are likely already a pro based on school and scout sales alone ... might as well earn the badge! Good student or improving those grades, get credit with a MB. Does have some writing, interviewing and visits. A good introspective introduction to scouting. Learn some history, dig up some Troop history, make a collection of scouting stuff, and talk to some old scouters and you have a merit badge. Might be able to do in conjunction with collecting.
BSA Merit Badges Merit Badges are the second main area of the Boy Scout advancement program. Unlike ranks, there is a degree of choice in the merit badge program. A sub-group of merit badges are known as Eagle required merit badges. To earn Eagle Scout, most of these badges must be earned although some are "either/or" badges. The remainder of the badges help with earning ranks as well as Eagle Palms after the Eagle Scout award has been earned. The online Merit Badge Application is a Word doc file. Boy Scouts may work on merit badges from they time they join a Scout troop until they turn 18 years old. There is no time limit for completion of merit badges other than age 18. See the Merit Badge FAQ. Some Merit Badges Require Prior Approval before starting certain requirements. Most do not
Merit Badge Procedures, Tips, and Information Merit Badge Procedures, Tips, and Information Merit badges are a great way to learn about a new subject, or to delve a little deeper into an area that interests you. While none is overly difficult, some require more preparation and time to complete than others. If you need a particular badge for advancement, make sure you allow enough time to complete it. (If there’s a requirement to keep a log for 90 days, for example, allow yourself longer than that to complete the merit badge). Big, helpful hint!! --> The internet is a fabulous source for merit badge information. There are checklists, worksheets, background materials, and outlines available online for almost every merit badge. As I run across merit badge sites, I put links on the "links" page on this web site. Check it out . . . it may jump start your merit badge work. Procedures for getting a merit badge are as follows: 1. Pick a merit badge. Sounds easy doesn’t it? It is, but make sure you have access to the merit badge manual and an approved counselor for that merit badge. Also, it's very important to make sure that the requirements of the merit badge are within your capabilities. For example, the Chemistry merit badge is best obtained after taking high school chemistry. Finally, a word of caution . . . merit badge requirements change from time to time, so make sure you have the most current edition of the merit badge book. If you need help finding a counselor, ask one of the troop’s adult leaders. 2. Get a blue card. Fill in your name, address, and the name of the merit badge (on all three parts). 3. Get the blue card signed by Mr. Donnell or one of the assistant scoutmasters. 4. Familiarize yourself with the requirements and contact the merit badge counselor. Ask for guidance on any areas you don’t understand. Remember, the counselor is there to provide assistance and to steer you in the right direction, not to serve as a substitute for studying the book. You and your counselor may decide on a number of progress checks to sign off on requirements as they're accomplished (particularly on some of the more complex or lengthy requirements). 5. IMPORTANT! If you visit a counselor you MUST always go with a buddy. This can be a friend, parent, or sibling, but you cannot go alone. A counselor cannot, by Boy Scout regulations, meet with a Scout (other than his/her own son) without another person present. When you visit, you’re expected to be prepared, polite, and dressed in a Class A uniform. 6. What's expected? You’re expected to fulfill the requirements of the merit badge -- nothing more, nothing less. The merit badge book has the background needed to answer questions relating to the requirements -- use it as your guide. Pay careful attention to the requirements. If it says, "demonstrate", this means "demonstrate", not "discuss". 7. After you have completed all requirements, the merit badge counselor will sign your blue card. He/she keeps one part, you keep one part, and the third part is turned in to the Advancement Chair (Ms. Armstrong). The ultimate responsibility for doing this rests with YOU! Until a blue card is properly completed and turned in, you have NOT completed the merit badge. Keep your copy! It's your record in case something gets lost (and that has been known to happen). 8. Your merit badge will then be presented at the next Court of Honor. From my experience, the most common mistakes people make are 1) not having the Scoutmaster sign the blue card when starting to work on a merit badge, 2) not properly filling out the blue card (I’ve served as an adult leader at summer camp many times and each time I’ve gotten blue cards back at the end of camp with no name, or no merit badge name filled in), or 3) not reading the merit badge book -- the book is specific and comprehensive, and it’s pretty obvious when a Scout hasn’t taken the time to read it. A few more tips . . . Merit badge workshops are generally "self-contained" -- that means they teach you what you need to know, give you materials to complete all projects, and evaluate your work. The idea is to walk away with a signed blue card. But, sometimes, there are requirements that must be completed in advance -- unless you do so, you’ll walk away with a "partial" and could likely find it very difficult to get back with a counselor to complete the requirements. To maximize the number of badges you get at summer camp, look carefully at the requirements and complete as much in advance as possible. At camp you will have access to a wide range of counselors who are more than happy to sign you off . . . but obviously can’t sign off that a badge is completed until all requirements have been met. Leaving even one requirement incomplete means finding a counselor when you get home to sign off that last requirement -- far better to walk away from camp with a completed blue card. When you complete a merit badge at camp, give the blue card to your acting scoutmaster. That way all blue cards get handed in and processed at the same time. Otherwise, they tend to disappear into corners of backpacks, jean pockets, or other strange places
Merit Badge Requirements The following is a list of all of the 133 current Merit Badges, arranged into 14 logical fields of activity (categories) as they appear in the BSA Pamphlet "Worksheet for Building a Merit Badge Counselor List" (No. 04439) (with new badges added in appropriate locations). 1. AGRIBUSINESS ANIMAL SCIENCE, FARM MECHANICS, PLANT SCIENCE 2. ARTS AND CRAFTS ART, BASKETRY, BUGLING, LEATHERWORK, METALWORK, MUSIC, POTTERY, SCULPTURE, THEATER, WOOD CARVING 3. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AMERICAN BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, PULP AND PAPER, SALESMANSHIP, TEXTILE 4. CONSERVATION ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, FORESTRY, SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION, SUSTAINABILITY 5. HOBBIES BACKPACKING, CAMPING, CHESS, COIN COLLECTING, COLLECTIONS, COOKING, DOG CARE, GARDENING, HIKING, HOME REPAIRS, INDIAN LORE, MODEL DESIGN AND BUILDING, PETS, PIONEERING, RADIO, ROWING, SCOUTING HERITAGE, STAMP COLLECTING 6. NATURAL SCIENCE ARCHAEOLOGY, ASTRONOMY, BIRD STUDY, GEOLOGY, INSECT STUDY, MAMMAL STUDY, NATURE, OCEANOGRAPHY, REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN STUDY, WEATHER 7. COMMUNICATIONS CINEMATOGRAPHY, JOURNALISM, PHOTOGRAPHY 8. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AMERICAN CULTURES, AMERICAN HERITAGE, CITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY, CITIZENSHIP IN THE NATION, CITIZENSHIP IN THE WORLD, COMMUNICATION, DISABILITIES AWARENESS, FAMILY LIFE, GENEALOGY, PERSONAL FITNESS, PERSONAL MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC SPEAKING, READING, SCHOLARSHIP, SEARCH AND RESCUE, TRAFFIC SAFETY, WILDERNESS SURVIVAL 9. PHYSICAL SCIENCE CHEMISTRY, COMPUTERS, ELECTRICITY, ELECTRONICS, ENERGY, NUCLEAR SCIENCE, SPACE EXPLORATION 10. PROFESSIONS ARCHITECTURE, DENTISTRY, ENGINEERING, GAME DESIGN, INVENTING, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, LAW, MEDICINE, PROGRAMMING, ROBOTICS, SURVEYING, VETERINARY MEDICINE 11. PUBLIC SERVICE CRIME PREVENTION, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, FINGERPRINTING, FIRE SAFETY, FIRST AID, LIFESAVING, PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY 12. SPORTS ARCHERY, ATHLETICS, CANOEING, CLIMBING, CYCLING, FISHING, FLY FISHING, GOLF, GEOCACHING, HORSEMANSHIP, KAYAKING, MOTORBOATING, ORIENTEERING, RIFLE SHOOTING, SCUBA DIVING, SHOTGUN SHOOTING, SKATING, SMALL-BOAT SAILING, SNOW SPORTS, SPORTS, SWIMMING, WATER SPORTS, WHITEWATER 13. TRADES AMERICAN LABOR, AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE, COMPOSITE MATERIALS, DRAFTING, GRAPHIC ARTS, PAINTING, PLUMBING, WELDING, WOODWORK 14. TRANSPORTATION AVIATION, RAILROADING, TRUCK TRANSPORTATION Page updated on: July 30, 2013 04:38 PM
2013 Boy Scout Requirement Changes Astronomy
Automotive Maintenance
Chess
Citizenship in the Community Communication
Composite Materials Merit Badge changes: Emergency Preparedness Gardening
Hiking
Dog Care Fire Safety
Fishing
Home Repairs Law
Oceanography Orienteering Photography New Merit Badges:
Bird Study
Safety
Wilderness Survival
Wood Carving
Kayaking
Search and Rescue
2013 Boy Scout Requirements The requirements for rank advancement, Eagle Palms, and merit badges are effective January 1, 2013, through December 2013. The requirements listed in this book are the official requirements of the Boy Scouts of America. However, the requirements on the following pages might not match those in the Boy Scout Handbook and the merit badge pamphlets, because this publication is updated only on an annual basis. These merit badge requirements also appear on the BSA’s official website (http://www.scouting.org). The requirements posted on the website will coincide with this publication and will be updated at the same time, only on an annual basis. If a Scout has already started working on a merit badge when a new edition of the pamphlet is introduced, he may continue to use the same merit badge pamphlet and fulfill the requirements therein to earn the badge. He need not start over again with the new pamphlet and possibly revised requirements. No council, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to, or to subtract from, any advancement requirements. For more detailed information, see the Guide to Advancement.
MeritBadgeDotOrg Editor's note Unlike merit badges, modifications to rank requirements become effective immediately upon release from the National Council. If you have not yet had your Board of Review for one of the above ranks, you must meet the new/changed requirements.
New Sustainability Merit Badge to Be an Eagle-Required Option Starting in summer 2013, when the Sustainability merit badge becomes available, those working toward the Eagle Scout rank may choose to earn either the Sustainability merit badge OR the Environmental Science merit badge. Earning one or the other merit badge will be required. Scouts who have already earned Environmental Science may also earn Sustainability, but only one of the two merit badges will count as “Eagle-required.” The other may count as an elective merit badge necessary to reach the total of 21 required merit badges.
Starting Jan. 1, 2014, Cooking Merit Badge to Be Required for Eagle. Effective Jan. 1, 2014, the Cooking merit badge will be required to obtain the Eagle Scout rank. Regardless of when a Scout earned the Life rank or began working toward Eagle, unless he fulfills all the rank requirements—with the exception of his board of review— before Jan. 1, 2014, he must earn the Cooking merit badge to become an Eagle Scout.
Rank requirement changes for Second Class—See requirements 3e, 3f, and 3g. First Class—See requirement 4a. Star—See requirement 5. Life—See requirement 5. Eagle—See requirements 4 and 7. Eagle Scout rank alternative requirements
Minor merit badge requirement updates for Astronomy (3b, 9) Automotive Maintenance (1, 8d) Bird Study (7b) Chess (3) Citizenship in the Community (3a) Communication (1a, 1b) Composite Materials (1) Dog Care (10) Emergency Preparedness (2b) Fire Safety (7c) Fishing (1) Gardening (1, 3, 6) Hiking (5, 6) Home Repairs (1, 6b) Law (11) Oceanography (8b) Orienteering (6c) Photography (3) Safety (6, 7) Wilderness Survival (1) Wood Carving (1)
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