Merit badge (Boy Scouts of America)

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For history regarding merit badge types, see History of merit badges (Boy Scouts of America).

Merit badges are awards earned by youth members of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), a U.S.-based organization, 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 avocation. 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 published by the Boy Scouts of America associated with it; the pamphlet contains information on completing the requirements for the badge. There are designated merit badge counselors for each badge, and a Scout would meet with a counselor to demonstrate that he's completed the requirements. The counselor would then 'sign off' on each one.

The current library of Merit Badge Books is planned to be replaced in late 2008 with a color series.

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 Boy Scout uniform on formal occasions.

Every year the National Council reviews and updates a certain number of merit badges. The most recent new merit badges are Nuclear Science, created in 2005, originally named 'Atomic Energy'; Snow Sports, created in 1999 originally as 'Skiing'; and Fly Fishing, split off from the Fishing merit badge in 2002. The most recent merit badges to be created are Composite Materials (created in 2006;[1]) Archaeology and Climbing (both created in 1997), and Entrepreneurship (created in 1998). The total number of badges available is 121, as of 2006.

Aside from the BSA, Scouting organizations in the following countries issue or have issued merit badges: Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. Austria has a program similar to merit badges for certain age groups.

A sample merit badge sash: From left to right, starting at top; 1 Swimming, Mammal Study, Environmental Science; 2 Basketry, Wood Carving, Dog Care; 3 Wilderness Survival, Emergency Preparedness, Bird Study; 4 Public Speaking, Scholarship, Law; 5 Rifle Shooting, Archery, Metalwork; 6 Fish and Wildlife Management, Citizenship in the Nation, Orienteering; 7 Citizenship in the Community, Communications, Personal Management; 8 Soil and Water Conservation, Reptile Study, Lifesaving; 9 Forestry, Citizenship in the World, Safety
A sample merit badge sash: From left to right, starting at top; 1 Swimming, Mammal Study, Environmental Science; 2 Basketry, Wood Carving, Dog Care; 3 Wilderness Survival, Emergency Preparedness, Bird Study; 4 Public Speaking, Scholarship, Law; 5 Rifle Shooting, Archery, Metalwork; 6 Fish and Wildlife Management, Citizenship in the Nation, Orienteering; 7 Citizenship in the Community, Communications, Personal Management; 8 Soil and Water Conservation, Reptile Study, Lifesaving; 9 Forestry, Citizenship in the World, Safety

Contents

[edit] Eagle Scout requirements

The current requirements for Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouting, includes earning 21 merit badges, including twelve from a required list:

  • Camping
  • Cycling or Hiking or Swimming
  • Citizenship in the Community
  • Citizenship in the Nation
  • Citizenship in the World
  • Communications
  • Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving
  • Environmental Science
  • Family Life
  • First Aid
  • Personal Fitness
  • Personal Management

[edit] List of current merit badges

[2]

The last revision date indicates the date of the latest requirement changes; the copyright or printing dates of merit badge pamphlets may have a different date.
Name Created Requirements revision Pamphlet revision Notes Further reading
American Business 1967c 2003 2002 Business, economy of the United States
American Cultures 1979 2006 2005 Culture of the United States
American Heritage 1975 2006 2005 History of the United States
American Labor 1987 2006 2006 Trade union
Animal Science 1975 2007 2006 Animal Science
Archaeology 1997 2007 2006 Archaeology
Archery 1911 2005 2004 Archery
Architecture 1911 1995 2004 Architecture
Art 1911 2007 2006 Art
Astronomy 1911 2006 2004 Astronomy
Athletics 1911 2007 2006 Athletics
Auto Mechanics 1992 2001 2000 Auto mechanic
Aviation 1911 2007 2006 Aviation
Backpacking 1982 2003 2002 / 2007 2007 requirements become effective in 2008 Backpacking
Basketry 1927 2004 2003 Basket weaving
Bird Study 1914 2006 2005 Ornithology
Bugling 1911 2004 2003 Shares a pamphlet with Music Bugle (instrument)
Camping 1911 2007 2005 Eagle-required Camping
Canoeing 1927 2005 2004 Canoeing
Chemistry 1911 2006 2004 Chemistry
Cinematography 1990 2002 2001 Cinematography
Citizenship in the Community 1952 2005 2005 Eagle-required Citizenship
Citizenship in the Nation 1951 2005 2005 Eagle-required Citizenship
Citizenship in the World 1972 2006 2005 Eagle-required Global citizenship
Climbing 1997 2007 2006 Climbing
Coin Collecting 1938 2003 2002 Coin collecting
Collections 1991 2004 2003 Collecting
Communications 1965 2004 2003 Eagle-required Communication
Composite Materials 2006 2006 2006 Composite material
Computers 1967 2006 2005 Computers
Cooking 1911 2007 2007 Cooking
Crime Prevention 1996 2006 2005 Crime prevention
Cycling 1911 2005 2003 Eagle-required (this or Hiking or Swimming) Cycling
Dentistry 1975 2007 2006 Dentistry
Disabilities Awareness 1993 2006 2005 Disability
Dog Care 1938 2004 2003 Dog
Drafting 1965 1993 1993 Technical drawing
Electricity 1911 2005 2004 Electricity
Electronics 1963 2005 2004 Electronics
Emergency Preparedness 1972 2005 2003 Eagle-required (this or Lifesaving) Emergency management
Energy 1976 2006 2005 Energy
Engineering 1967 2001 2000 Engineering
Entrepreneurship 1997 2007 2006 Entrepreneurship
Environmental Science 1972 2006 2006 Eagle-required Environmental science
Family Life 1991 2005 2005 Eagle-required, takes at least 90 days Family values
Farm Mechanics 1928 1998 1997 Agricultural machinery
Fingerprinting 1938 2004 2003 Fingerprint
Fire Safety 1995 2005 2004 Fire safety
First Aid 1911 2005 2002 / 2007 2007 requirements become effective in 2008;Eagle-required First aid
Fish and Wildlife Management 1972 2005 2004 Wildlife management
Fishing 1952 2003 2002 Fishing
Fly Fishing 2002 2003 2002 Fly Fishing
Forestry 1911 2006 2005 Forestry
Gardening 1911 2006 2005 Gardening
Genealogy 1972 2006 2005 Family history
Geology 1953 2006 2005 Geology
Golf 1976 2003 2002 Golf
Graphic Arts 1987 2006 2006 Graphic Arts
Hiking 1921 2000 2001 / 2007 2007 requirements become effective in 2008;Eagle-required (this or Cycling or Swimming) Hiking
Home Repairs 1943 2003 2002 Home repair
Horsemanship 1911 2004 2004 Equestrianism
Indian Lore 1931 1995 2003 Native American mythology
Insect Study 1985 2003 2002 Entomology
Journalism 1927 2007 2006 Journalism
Landscape Architecture 1967 2003 2002 Landscape Architecture
Law 1974 2003 2002 Law
Leatherwork 1951 2003 2002 Leather
Lifesaving 1911 2001 2001 Eagle-required (this or Emergency Preparedness) Lifesaving
Mammal Study 1985 prior to 1979 2003 Mammal
Medicine 1991 2005 2002 Medicine
Metalwork 1927 2005 2001 / 2007 2007 requirements become effective in 2008 Metalworking
Model Design and Building 1963 2004 2003 Scale model
Motorboating 1961 1998 1992 Motorboat
Music 1911 2004 2003 Shares a pamphlet with Bugling Music
Nature 1952 2004 2003 Nature
Nuclear Science 2005 2005 2004 Atomic nucleus
Oceanography 1964 2004 2003 Oceanography
Orienteering 1973 2004 2003 Orienteering
Painting 1911 2003 2002 Painting
Personal Fitness 1952 2007 2006 Eagle-required, takes at least 90 days Physical fitness
Personal Management 1972 2004 2003 Eagle-required, takes at least 90 days Personal finance, time management
Pets 1958 1995 2005 Takes at least 4 months Pet
Photography 1911 2006 2005 Photography
Pioneering 1911 2006 2006 Knot, trestle
Plant Science 1974 2006 2005 Botany
Plumbing 1911 2005 2004 Plumbing
Pottery 1927 2003 2002 Pottery
Public Health 1911 2006 2005 Public health
Public Speaking 1932 2003 2002 Public speaking
Pulp and Paper 1972 2006 2006 Pulp and Paper Merit Badge
Radio 1923 2002 2001 Radio
Railroading 1952 2005 2003 Railroad
Reading 1929 2004 2003 Reading
Reptile and Amphibian Study 1993 2006 2005 Reptile, amphibian
Rifle Shooting 1988 2002 2001 Was originally part of the combined Rifle and Shotgun Shooting merit badge. Rifle, shooting
Rowing 1933 2006 2007 2006 Sport rowing
Safety 1927 2007 2006 Safety
Salesmanship 1927 2003 2003 Sales
Scholarship 1911 2006 2004 Scholarship
Sculpture 1911 2002 2002 2007 requirements become effective in 2008 Sculpture
Shotgun Shooting 1988 2007 2005 formerly part of Rifle and Shotgun Shooting Shotgun, shooting
Skating 1973 2006 2005 Ice skating, roller skating
Small-Boat Sailing 1964 2005 2004 Sailing
Snow Sports 1999 2007 2007 Winter sport
Soil and Water Conservation 1952 2005 2004 Soil conservation, water conservation
Space Exploration 1965 2005 2004 Space Exploration
Sports 1972 2007 2006 Sport
Stamp Collecting 1932 2007 2007 Stamp collecting
Surveying 1911 2005 2004 Surveying
Swimming 1911 2002 2002 Eagle-required (this or Cycling or Hiking) Swimming
Textile 1973 2004 2003 Textile
Theater 1967 2005 2005 Theater
Traffic Safety 1975 2007 2006 Road-traffic safety
Truck Transportation 1973 2006 2005 Truck
Veterinary Medicine 1995 2006 2005 Veterinary medicine
Water Skiing 1969 1999 1999 / 2007 2007 requirements become effective in 2008; renamed to Water Sports Water skiing
Weather 1927 2007 2006 Weather
Whitewater 1987 2006 2005 Whitewater
Wilderness Survival 1974 2002 2001 / 2007 2007 requirements become effective in 2008 Wilderness, survival skills
Wood Carving 1923 2002 2006 Wood carving
Woodwork 1923 2004 2003 Woodworking

[edit] Merit badge colleges

Merit badge colleges (or merit badge universities), which are also called merit badge weekends or merit badge midways when held at a camporee or jamboree, are events held where several troops or merit badge counselors come together and focus on teaching merit badges. There is some controversy whether Eagle-required merit badges should be available. Some believe that Scouts wishing to earn the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout should be able to seek out counselors for those badges themselves and do the requirements solo. Others believe all merit badges should be available to all Scouts.

[edit] See also

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[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^  Requirements for new Composite Materials merit badge. US Scouts.org. Retrieved on 2006-01-18.
  2. ^  Merit Badge Requirements. US Scouts.org Advancement section. Retrieved on 2006-02-09.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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