Merit Badges

IMPORTANT: Troop 648 maintains a list of merit badge counselors on this online spreadsheet. Please see the Scoutmaster or the Troop Merit Badge Coordinator if you need any help finding a counselor. At the bottom of this page is a file with instructions on how to complete the blue card. (very helpful!)

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          Use the Scout Buddy System

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Use the Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be another Scout, your parents or guardian, a brother or sister or other relative, or a friend.

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          Call the Merit Badge Counselor

Get in touch with the merit badge counselor and tell them that you want to earn the merit badge. The counselor may ask to meet with you to explain what is expected and to start helping you complete the requirements. You should also discuss work that you have already started or possibly completed.

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          Unless otherwise specified, work for a requirement can be started at any time

Ask your counselor to help you learn the things you need to know or do. You should obtain and read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject. The following webpages has a number of online merit badge pamphlets that you can download.

 

IMPORTANT: Troop 648 maintains a library of merit badge pamphlets. This online spreadsheet provides an inventory of these pamphlets. Please see Troop Librarian if you need help getting access to a merit badge pamphlet.

 

          Show Your Stuff

 

When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment. When you go take along the things you have made to meet the requirements. If they are too big to move, take pictures or have an adult tell in writing what you have done. The counselor will test you on each requirement to make sure you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.

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          Earn the Badge

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When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, he or she will sign your application (the "blue card"). Have your unit leader sign the Applicant’s Record portion of the blue card and then give the signed application to the Troop Advancement Chair so that your merit badge emblem can be awarded to you at the next Court of Honor and your achievement can be recorded in Scoutbook, Scouting America’s advancement tracking tool. Click here to learn more about Scoutbook.

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The current Scouting America Requirements book is available from your local Scouting merchandise distributor. It may also be ordered online at  https://www.scoutshop.org/scouts-bsa-requirements-handbook-660535.html.  Merit badge requirements are revised as needed to reflect updated information and technology. Click here to view new and recently revised merit badges. At the bottom of this page is a file with instructions on how to complete the blue card. (very helpful!)

 

Merit Badge Partials

If you complete part of the merit badge you will have a blue card that is partially complete. We call this a merit badge partial. This often happens when the Scout completes only some of the merit badge requirements at Camp Rodney. Please see the Scoutmaster to figure out how to finish this merit badge. 

The following website also has very useful workbooks for you to use as you complete requirements for your merit badges.

 

Merit Badge Requirements

Merit Badge requirements are occasionally revised to reflect updated information and technology. New and revised merit badge requirements can be found here. You can also order merit badge pamphlets at the online Scoutshop. The BSA Requirements book is another go-to resource for updated program guidelines and essential information for planning a successful Scouting year – you can order one here.

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You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated. If it says, "show or demonstrate," that is what you must do. Just telling about it isn't enough. The same thing holds true for such words as "make," "list," "in the field," and "collect," "identify," and "label."

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If you have already started working on a merit badge when a new edition of the pamphlet is introduced, you may continue to use the same merit badge pamphlet and fulfill the requirements therein to earn the badge. You do not need to start all over again with the new pamphlet and revised requirements.

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A common question from Scouts is whether one activity can fulfill two (or more) Scout requirements. From time to time, it may be appropriate for a Scout to apply what was done to meet one requirement toward the completion of another. Some requirements may have the appearance of aligning, but upon further examination actually differ. These seemingly similar requirements usually have nuances intended to create quite different experiences.

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The Communication merit badge and Citizenship in the Community merit badge are a good examples. Each requires the Scout to attend a public meeting, but that is where the similarity ends. For Communication, the Scout is asked to practice active listening skills during the meeting and present an objective report that includes all points of view. For Citizenship, the Scout is asked to examine differences in opinions and then to defend one side. The Scout may attend the same public meeting, but to pass the requirements for both merit badges the Scout must actively listen and prepare a report, and also examine differences in opinion and defend one side.

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The Unit Leader or Merit Badge Counselor will make the determine if it is appropriate to double-count activities.

 

Blue Cards

​The Troop has decided to continue use Blue Cards to track Scouts’ Merit Badge progress and completion. More importantly, Blue Cards will used during the Eagle Board of Review to demonstrate a Scout has meet the Merit Badge requirements to achieve Eagle. Scouts should take care to keep their Blue Cards safe from the elements.

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*** Don't Let This Happen to You! ***