MERIT BADGES

Earning merit badges allows you to explore many fields, helps you round out your skills, and introduces you to subjects that will perhaps become lifelong interests or a rewarding career. There are more than 100 merit badges for you to choose from. You may earn any merit badge at any time, with Scoutmaster approval. Don’t wait for someone to tell you when and which merit badge to work on. You don’t need to reach a certain rank in order to be eligible. However, you should concentrate on achieving the rank of First Class before devoting a lot time to working on merit badges.

Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to complete too many badges at one time. We recommend that you actively work on just a couple at one time until you reach the rank of First Class and no more than five at one time thereafter. You can find information about merit badge requirements in the appropriate merit badge pamphlets and in the current year’s Boy Scout Requirements book. These are available in the troop library or at the public library. Please let the Troop librarian know if there are any Merit Badge books you cannot find.

Here are the steps to earning a merit badge:

1. Get a blue merit badge card from the Advancement Chairman or Scoutmaster, fill in your name, address, and the name of the badge, and ask the Scoutmaster to sign it. Then get the name and phone number of a qualified counselor from the Advancement Chairman or Scoutmaster.

2. Call the counselor and set up an appointment. This can be at any place that is suitable to both of you. Along with a buddy (another Scout, a family member, or a friend), meet with the counselor. The counselor will explain the requirements for the merit badge and help you get started.

3. Work on the badge requirements until you complete them, meeting with the counselor (along with your buddy) whenever necessary. You must complete the stated requirements and satisfy the standards of each merit badge. The merit badge counselor may encourage you to do more than the requirements state but he or she may not require it. YOU (not the counselor, Scoutmaster, or Advancement Chairman) keep the merit badge card until you have completed the requirements and the counselor has signed the card. If you lose this card, you will have to start the badge over unless the counselor is willing and able to vouch for what you already completed. If you change counselors for any reason, it is up to the new counselor whether or not he or she will accept the work you did with the previous counselor. Normally the new counselor will ask you a few questions, and if the counselor is satisfied that you actually did the work that was signed off, he or she will accept it.

4. After you complete the merit badge and the counselor signs your merit badge card, he or she will keep the Counselor's section and return the rest of the card to you. Bring the rest of the card to the Advancement Chairman, who will keep the troop section and return the Scout section to you. It is VERY important to keep your section of the blue cards in a safe place throughout your Scouting experience. They are your official record of advancement and will be required to resolve any discrepancies. We recommend strongly that you keep all of these cards in clear plastic three-ring binder sleeves (baseball card holders.) Do NOT carry the Merit Badge cards back and forth to Troop meetings - they may get lost. Keep them in a safe place at home until they are needed.

You will receive your merit badge shortly after you turn in the Troop's portion of the blue card (usually the next troop meeting). Your wallet-sized certificate card will be presented to you at the next Court of Honor. Store this card in your binder with the corresponding blue card.