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Merit Badges

Merit badges introduce a Scout to a particular skill or interest area like Camping, Cooking, Backpacking, or Orienteering. The Boy Scout program offers over 100 merit badges that Scouts can earn. Merit Badge Requirements And Worksheetswww.meritbadge.com

Where to work on merit badges

Summer Camp

is an ideal time for to work on merit badges.With a reasonable amount of effort, a Scout can earn 3 to 5 merit badges by the end of summer camp.Several merit badges offered during summer camp have prerequisites that must be completed before arriving at summer camp.

Merit Badge Lock-In

Pathfinder District holds aMerit Badge Lock-In each March where you can earn up to 4 merit badges in one evening.Many of the merit badges presented at the Lock-In have prerequisites that must be completed before arriving.Information is usually available in December for the next Lock-In.

You can earn most of the required merit badges and some of the optional ones in the Troop.

Partial Merit Badges

Often you may not complete all requirements for a merit badge in the available time.This usually happens during Summer Camp or the Merit Badge Lock-in.The camp or Lock-In staff will give the Troop a list of requirements that you completed.Any registered adult leader can sign off the remaining requirements.

Do these things to finish a partial merit badge:

• Get a blue card or some other record of the requirements you have completed.
• Complete all the remaining requirements as currently described, even if they have changed.
• Find an adult leader to sign them off.

You must complete all remaining requirements exactly as they are described in the merit badge pamphlet.Merit badges are periodically updated.If the requirements have changed since you started the badge, you must complete the new requirements.

List of Merit Badge Counselors

Click here to view a list of merit badge counselors.

How to earn merit badges in the Troop

• Decide which merit badge you want to complete.This choice is based on the requirements for Eagle Scout rank.Your patrol advisor has a planning sheet that will help you choose the merit badges you need to complete each rank. Read your Boy Scout Handbook and talk to your patrol advisor.
• Pair up with at least one other Scout to work on a merit badge.The Youth Protection Program prohibits merit badge counselors from working with only one Scout.
• Talk to the Scoutmaster.Tell him which merit badge you want to complete and ask for ablue card.Get the name and telephone number of the counselor for that badge.
• Get the Merit Badge pamphlet for that badge.Check to see if the Troop has a current copy available in the Library (merit badge pamphlets and requirements are updated regularly).If no current copies are available, you can purchase pamphlets at the Council Scout Shop at 7125 Fall Creek Road North, Indianapolis, IN 46256 for about $3 each.The Troop will buy back your pamphlet (in usable condition) for $2 when you are finished to help stock the Troop library.
• Contact the Merit Badge Counselor recommended by the Scoutmaster and make arrangements to meet and go over the requirements. Don't do any work on a merit badge until you have talked to the merit badge counselor.
• You must complete all requirements, exactly as they are described in the merit badge pamphlet.For example, if a requirement requires you to "show" or "demonstrate" a skill, that is what you must do.
• Make sure the Merit Badge counselor initials and dates each requirement and signs the blue card when you have finished.
• To ensure fairness, parents should not sign off their son's merit badge requirements.
• Don't try to work on more than 5 merit badges at a time.Stay focused on completing the merit badges you are currently working on before taking on more.
• When you have completed all the requirements, return the signed blue card to the Scoutmaster for his signature.Keep the "Applicant's Record" section. Give the rest of the blue card to the Advancement Chair immediately.
• The Advancement Chair will record the merit badge for Council records and get the merit badge and card from the Scout Shop.The merit badge will be awarded to you at the next Troop meeting and the card will be awarded at the next Court of Honor.
• Merit badge requirements must be signed off at least TWO WEEKS before a Court of Honor.This gives everyone time to complete their jobs and get the badge properly recorded and awarded on time.