Merit badges, unlike ranks, do not need to be earned in any specific order. There is a sub-group of merit badges which are known as Eagle required merit badges. There are 15 merit badges that fall under the Eagle requirement--10 are mandatory while the other two allow the scout an either/or choice e.g. Emergency Preparedness or Life Saving; as well as Cycling, Hiking, or Swimming. The remainder of the merit badges helps with advancing ranks. Once a scout has earned his Eagle rank he can use the merit badges to earn Eagle Palms.
Boy scouts may work on merit badges from the time they join a scout troop until they turn 18 years old. There is no time limit for completion of merit badges. A partial can be earned and completed at any time. After age 18 any merit badges not completed may not be finished.
You can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit badges. There are more than 100 merit badges available. Any boy scout may earn any merit badge at any time. You do not need to have achieved any particular rank advancement to be eligible.
Each merit badge offered has a printed reference book that is available to help guide you to successfully completing the requirements and receiving the award. When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, he or she will sign your blue card. Next, the scout is to give the signed blue card to their Scoutmaster or Advancement chair so that the merit badge can be secured for him. You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated -- no more and no less. You are expected to do exactly what is stated in the requirements. If it says "show or demonstrate", that is what you must do. Just telling about it is not enough. The same holds true for such words as "make", "list", "in the field", "collect", "identify", and "label."
The following list of merit badges are the Merit Badges you can do. If you want to see the requirements or worksheet for that Merit Badge then click the Merit Badge it’s self. |
