top of page

MERIT BADGES

Merit Badges

Merit Badges are tools that Scouts can use to pursue their individual interests.

Example of Merit Badge:

“Earning merit badges gives a Scout the kind of self-confidence that comes from overcoming obstacles to achieve a goal. Through the merit badge program, a Scout also learns career skills, develops socially, and may develop physical skills and hobbies that give a lifetime of healthful recreation.”

 

“The steps to follow in the merit badge program are outlined in the current Boy Scout Requirements. This books lists the requirements a Scout meets to earn each of the more than 100 merit badges that are available. Scouts must be tested individually, and they must meet all the requirements.”

 

Merit Badges are not required until a scout goes for his Star, Life, and Eagle Ranks. For each of these three ranks, a scout must earn a certain number of Eagle Required Merit Badges (see below) and a certain number of Elective Merit Badges

There are currently 136 Merit Badges offered in Boy Scouting. Each scout must earn 13 specific merit badges, called “Eagle-Required” Merit Badges before they get their Eagle Rank. All other merit badges are called Elective merit badges. Each scout must earn any 9 of these before they get their Eagle Rank.  A scout can continue earning merit badges even after they get 21, as there is no limit to the number of merit badges they can earn.

Click for the Merit Badge Website to get the worksheets.

 

Eagle Required Badges

Most new scouts are encouraged to take the Eagle-Required Merit badges first and “Get them out of the way”, so that in their upcoming years they are free to pursue whichever ones best match their interests.

 

Note: In the picture above, it is said that scouts need to get “Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving”, and “Cycling OR Hiking OR Swimming”. This means they only have to earn one out of each group. If they earn more than one out of each group, then the first one earned (chronologically) will count towards Eagle-Requireds, while the other one will count towards the elective merit badges.

Historical Merit Badges

To celebrate the centennial year in Boy Scouting, the BSA reinstated four merit badges that had been previously discontinued. These merit badges (Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signaling, and Tracking) can only be earned in the year 2010. These badges count as a normal elective merit badge. They have a gold border around them, making them instantly identifiable. It is not required to earn one, but the BSA’s goal is to have most members earn at least one of these merit badges.

Merit badge Pamphlets

Before taking a merit badge, scouts are encouraged to check out merit badge books. Merit badge books are pamphlets specific to each merit badge which provides detailed information on what that merit badge is about, the requirements for that merit badge, and ways to complete the aforementioned requirements. When going to merit badge days or summer camps, most counselors stress the importance of having merit badge books in scouts’ possession at all times throughout the class.

 

Our troop possesses an extensive library of merit badge books that are available to you free of charge. The library is kept in the possession of the elected troop librarian. If the merit badge book you seek is not in the inventory or the library, you can check it out at a local town library, contact another troop, or buy it at the scoutshop.

 

Blue Cards/Application Forms

You can get blue cards at your local scout shop or through your Unit Advancement Chair.

​

​

You must fill out the following

  • The right side of the front, including

    • Write your Name

    • Write your Address

    • Write your City

    • Check “Boy Scout”

    • Write “Troop” No. “394”

    • Write “Frontier” for the district

    • Write “Los Angeles Area” for your Council

  • The back, including

    • The counselor’s information (given to you by the counselor) on the left side

    • Your name & the name of the merit badge on the middle part

    • Your name for Applicant, Check “Troop”, Write “394” for Unit Number, & the name of the merit badge on the right

Your Scoutmaster must sign

  • The right side of the front at the bottom, and date it as well (Signature of Unit Leader)

  • The middle part of the back at the bottom (Signature of Unit Leader)

The Counselor will fill out (assuming you pass)

  • The middle part of the front

    • “PASS” will be written if you completed all of the requirements

    • If you got a partial, all of the requirements that you did complete will be written (by number) and signed

  • The left part of the back, in the middle (Signature of Counselor & Date)

  • The middle part of the back, in the middle (Signature of Counselor)

  • The right part of the back, on the bottom (Date Completed & Remarks)

Upon completing the merit badge,

  • The counselor will take the left side of the front (which includes the right side of the back). This is known as the Counselor’s record, which he/she should keep for a year for recording purposes

  • The Unit Advancement Chair (who you give the blue card to upon getting it) will take the right side of the front (which includes the left side of the back. This is the Unit’s record, and will stay in the Troop records until you leave the Troop

  • You keep the middle part of the front (which includes the middle part of the back), which the Unit Advancement Chair will give you along with your Merit Badge Patch upon processing your blue card. YOU MUST KEEP THIS FOR YOUR PERMANENT RECORDS. WITHOUT THIS CARD, YOU DO NOT HAVE EVIDENCE THAT YOU EARNED THE MERIT BADGE.

 

 

Merit Badge Days

 

Merit badge days are held two to three times a year and are coordinated by the district. For more ambitious scouts, other troops hold their own merit badge days, any of which you can go to for the appropriate price.

Here is the schedule for a standard merit badge day:

 

  • Registration- 8:00AM

  • Flag Ceremony- 8:45AM

  • Session 1- 9:00AM to 11:30AM (Classes close at 9:15AM)

  • Lunch- 11:30AM to 12:00PM

  • Session 2- 12:00PM to 2:30PM

  •  

Here are the guidelines for merit badge days:

 

1) Print out the flyer from the frontier district website or whatever merit badge day you are going to

2) Choose a merit badge from the available classes. Make note of classes that take two sessions

3) Read the MOST RECENT edition pamphlet of the merit badge(s) if your choice

4) CALL THE COUNSELOR IMMEDIATELY! There are requirements for each merit badge that must be completed by you before Merit Badge Day. Ask the counselor questions about prerequisites and any equipment, notebooks, pens or pencils, etc. you need to bring.

5) Do the prerequisites and bring the pamphlet (Merit Badge book) with you to Merit Badge Day.

6) You must be in FULL UNIFORM or you will NOT BE ALLOWED in class.

7) Bring a sack lunch or $3.00 to buy your lunch

8) Bring a phone or change for a phone call if you need to make one

9) Bring a Merit Badge Application Card (or blue application paper form is OK) signed by your Scoutmaster.

10) Remember: Classes close after the first 15 minutes

Summer Camps

Aside from Merit Badge days, Summer Camp is one of the only officially organized merit badge sessions there are. In merit badge days, you can take up to 2 merit badges, but at summer camp, one can take up to 6 or maybe even 7 merit badges (providing that time allows). Summer camps are weeklong camps that are usually held in late July or August, and span over the course of seven days. Merit badges offered at Summer Camps are usually those that will not be offered at Merit Badge Days. This is because the teachers have 5 days to teach everything that the students need to know, and there are more facilities available. For example, Camp Emerald Bay is famous for its aquatic program, which includes waterskiing, wakeboarding, scuba diving, snorkeling, and motorboating.

Self Orginized Events

If you are looking to earn a merit badge that is not usually offered at merit badge days, and you do not want to wait for summer camps, the best way to get a start on that merit badge is to call up a counselor on your own. You can obtain a list of merit badge counselors from your scoutmaster or advancement chair. This practice is commonly availed for eagle-required merit badges like swimming, hiking, or cycling. Those merit badges are not offered at merit badge days due to their outdoor status, and you would not want to waste a class at summer camp for something you could easily do at home.

Scouts in a troop often call counselors and arrange dates for them to meet. Then, the scout will take a head count of who in their troop wishes to attend the session. This is an easy way to earn merit badges if they are uncommon.

Boy Scouts of America

TROOP 394

bottom of page