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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 no more than two at
one time until you reach the rank of First Class, and no
more than five at one time thereafter. Keep in mind that
this is only a recommendation and there is no limit to
the number of merit badges a Scout can work on at any
one time. Each Scout must be allowed to work at his own
pace according to the Scout Handbook.
You can find information
about merit badge requirements in the appropriate merit
badge pamphlets and in the current year’s Boy Scout
Requirements book. Some of these should be available in
your troop library or at your public library. All of
them are available from your Scout Shop or Council
Trading Post, or a store which sells Scouting supplies
in your area. If you are finished using merit badge
pamphlets that you own, many troops encourage you to
donate them to the troop library.
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.
You will receive your merit badge shortly after you turn
in the blue card (usually the next troop meeting). Your
wallet-sized certificate card will be presented to you
at the next Court of Honor. |
