Themed Graphic 1 Troop 240, Bronx, N.Y.
 Merit Badge Program 
"The Eagle's Nest"
Themed Graphic 2
 

 

Background and Purposes

As chartered by the Congress of the United States, the Boy Scouts of America is a movement dedicated to supplementing and enlarging the education of youth. The merit badge program, which provides opportunities for youth to explore more than 100 fields of skill and knowledge, plays a key role in the fulfillment of this educational commitment.

A vital part of the BSA's advancement plan, the merit badge program is one of Scouting's basic character-building tools. Through participation in the program (which may begin immediately upon registration in a troop or team), a Scout acquires the kind of self-confidence that comes only from overcoming obstacles to achieve a goal. Instruction is offered in everything from animal science and public speaking to swimming and communications, providing a young man with invaluable career, physical, and interpersonal skills.

Camping Merit Badge Lifesaving Merit Badge Personal Management Merit Badge First Aid Merit Badge Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge

Merit Badge Pamphlets

Each merit badge subject is outlined and explained in a pamphlet that contains short, introductory information written for Boy Scouts/Varsity Scouts by recognized authorities. More than a million pamphlets are sold yearly, and many are used as approved reference texts in libraries and school curricula.

Counselors

People who are knowledgeable about the various merit badge subjects are selected, approved, and trained by council and district advancement committees to serve as merit badge counselors. For example, a dentist might be asked to serve as a counselor for the Dentistry merit badge. A counselor must not only possess the necessary technical knowledge but have a solid understanding of the needs, interests, and abilities of Scouts. A counselor must also be a registered adult with the BSA.

Procedure

When a Scout has an interest in earning a particular merit badge, he obtains his Scoutmaster's/Varsity Scout Coach's approval and identifies another Scout with similar interests to become his partner. They are then directed to the appropriate merit badge counselor. The counselor reviews the badge requirements with the young men and decides with them what projects should be undertaken and when they should be completed. After the counselor has certified that the Scouts have qualified for the merit badge, it is presented to them at a troop/team meeting and can be applied toward rank advancement.

Badges for Eagle

To qualify for the Eagle Scout Award, Scouting's highest advancement rank, a Scout must -- along with meeting five other requirements -- earn a total of 21 merit badges, including First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Personal Fitness, Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, Environmental Science, Personal Management, Camping, Hiking OR Cycling OR Swimming and Family Life.

New Badges

To meet the changing interests of boys, new merit badges are added from time to time. In addition, all merit badges are reviewed and revised periodically.

MERIT BADGE 2001 TOTAL 1911 THROUGH 2001
Agribusiness (discontinued) 43 6,692
American Business 608 44,351
American Cultures 1,940 34,841
American Heritage 5,164 90,390
American Labor 619 12,351
Animal Science 3,220 15,829
Archaeology 3,372 68,020
Archery 41,076 1,003,132
Architecture 1,993 178,989
Art 30,603 906,443
Astronomy 16,891 458,838
Athletics 4,258 1,012,376
Atomic Energy 5,106 108,441
Auto Mechanics 8,069 50,818
Aviation 18,297 357,044
Backpacking 6,175 148,036
Basketry 53,473 2,041,877
Bird Study 3,097 506,750
Bugling 888 161,252
Camping 68,997 3,853,865
Canoeing 47,691 2,483,333
Chemistry 5,396 253,445
Cinematography 2,946 30,237
Citizenship in the Community 65,463 2,722,497
Citizenship in the Nation 68,626 2,398,126
Citizenship in the World 64,878 1,430,324
Climbing 24,148 103,360
Coin Collecting 5,406 423,428
Collections 6,511 72,473
Communications 60,560 1,301,269
Computers 18,421 323,441
Cooking 40,091 3,906,138
Crime Prevention 6,281 41,682
Cycling 9,004 480,114
Dentistry 3,866 80,352
Disabilities Awareness 2,783 58,684
Dog Care 3,799 387,059
Drafting 1,552 205,345
Electricity 10,751 660,948
Electronics 4,824 131,509
Emergency Preparedness 51,216 1,194,669
Energy 1,812 40,972
Engineering 2,561 55,573
Entrepreneurship 915 2,732
Environmental Science 70,974 1,754,386
Family Life 54,303 447,222
Farm Mechanics 1,803 191,662
Fingerprinting 45,954 1,080,367
Firemanship 11,481 2,421,849
First Aid 96,965 5,817,974
Fish and Wildlife Management 15,425 455,101
Fishing 31,123 1,609,635
Forestry 15,678 947,007
Gardening 2,089 360,761
Genealogy 5,309 159,983
Geology 16,334 377,703
Golf 6,223 84,188
Graphic Arts 1,799 16,865
Hiking 10,126 1,223,172
Home Repairs 6,497 2,351,420
Horsemanship 11,278 479,783
Indian Lore 28,552 820,322
Insect Study 1,525 132,302
Journalism 1,021 90,952
Landscape Architecture 2,814 57,596
Law 4,977 101,701
Leatherwork 61,001 1,754,611
Lifesaving 32,651 2,660,172
Mammal Study 29,258 815,478
Medicine 2,901 23,259
Metalwork 29,179 977,087
Model Design and Building 2,009 185,633
Motorboating 12,992 413,822
Music 12,748 1,122,935
Nature 13,360 1,450,798
Oceanography 7,731 156,406
Orienteering 22,430 551,395
Painting 3,753 501,042
Personal Fitness 54,162 1,772,038
Personal Management 46,940 1,129,914
Pets 6,803 573,903
Photography 6,266 325,352
Pioneering 25,966 2,114,102
Plant Science 409 24,660
Plumbing 5,013 314,886
Pottery 14,707 246,302
Public Health 1,221 1,496,336
Public Speaking 2,492 567,848
Pulp and Paper 2,761 54,838
Radio 3,623 94,552
Railroading 5,800 143,573
Reading 7,585 1,396,876
Reptile and Amphibian Study 10,842 513,142
Rifle Shooting 46,417 672,700
Rowing 18,843 1,508,349
Safety 5,451 2,880,511
Salesmanship 4,943 250,055
Scholarship 6,423 1,191,421
Sculpture 5,825 165,326
Shotgun Shooting 18,192 201,442
Skating 5,857 126,255
Skiing 159 260,876
Small-Boat Sailing 16,410 412,751
Snow Sports 13,277 31,125
Soil and Water Conservation 12,651 934,505
Space Exploration 18,407 268,524
Sports 12,162 1,005,628
Stamp Collecting 992 374,383
Surveying 934 134,383
Swimming 70,626 5,286,628
Textile 2,609 96,498
Theater 1,392 55,531
Traffic Safety 3,084 76,472
Truck Transportation 2,869 96,090
Veterinary Science 2,065 39,959
Water Skiing 4,097 194,826
Weather 14,502 356,469
Whitewater 3,212 37,792
Wilderness Survival 38,866 1,077,432
Wood Carving 43,747 1,679,002
Woodwork 4,037 905,304
TOTAL 2,029,064 103,415,920


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Last Updated: 02/07/08
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