Merit Badges

Posted by Prescott on March 14, 2009

Basics

On their trail to Eagle, Scouts will earn 21 Merit Badges out of a list of over 120.  Merit Badges serve two important purposes.  First, they teach in-depth Scout Skills like First Aid, Camping, Hiking, and Citizenship.  Second, they allow Scouts to get a taste of activities they may want to build a career around or just take-up as a life-long hobby.

Until a Scout reaches First Class Rank, they don’t need any Merit Badges.  However, in Troop 16 we promote every Scout learning First Aid and Swimming as soon as they can.  As well, there are some great badges, “just to get their feet wet,” like Leatherworking, Wood Carving, Indian Lore, and others. 

To earn Eagle Rank, a Scout must complete all of the “Eagle Required” Merit Badges (though there are some substitutions possible.)

Merit Badge Books

Merit Badges are taught by Counselors using Merit Badge Books.  These booklets lay out the basic knowledge and requirements.  The Troop Librarian (an appointed boy position) is in charge of our extensive library of merit badge books.  You can also check out http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Merit_Badges to find specific information and helpful worksheets for each Merit Badge.

Counselors

Being a Merit Badge Counselor is an easy and fun way of being involved with the Troop.  Just check out the list of badges and pick one (or more) that you know something about.  You don’t have to be an expert, but Counselors who really get-into their subjects are much more interesting to the boys.  Then, let our Merit Badge Coordinator know and she’ll give you a form to fill out.  Then you are ready to get started.  How you decide to teach your Badge is up to you.  Some folks announce that they will be available at 6pm before the meetings for a few weeks.  Others teach at Merit Badge Colleges.  And, others get two or more Scouts together in their home on their schedule. 

Lisa Denton is currently our Merit Badge Coordinator, see her for more details.

Merit Badges

• American Business
• American Cultures
• American Heritage
• American Labor
• Animal Science
• Archaeology
• Archery
• Architecture
• Art
• Astronomy
• Athletics
• Auto Mechanics
• Aviation
• Backpacking
• Basketry
• Bird Study
• Bugling
• Camping
• Canoeing
• Chemistry
• Cinematography
• Citizenship in the Community
• Citizenship in the Nation
• Citizenship in the World
• Climbing
• Coin Collecting
• Collections
• Communications
• Composite Materials
• Computers
• Cooking
• Crime Prevention
• Cycling
• Dentistry
• Disabilities Awareness
• Dog Care
• Drafting
• Electricity
• Electronics
• Emergency Preparedness
• Energy
• Engineering
• Entrepreneurship
• Environmental Science
• Family Life
• Farm Mechanics
• Fingerprinting
• Fire Safety
• First Aid
• Fish and Wildlife Management
• Fishing
• Fly Fishing
• Forestry
• Gardening
• Genealogy
• Geology
• Golf
• Graphic Arts
• Hiking
• Home Repairs
• Horsemanship
• Indian Lore
• Insect Study
• Journalism
• Landscape Architecture
• Law
• Leatherwork
• Lifesaving
• Mammal Study
• Medicine
• Metalwork
• Model Design and Building
• Motorboating
• Music
• Nature
• Nuclear Science
• Oceanography
• Orienteering
• Painting
• Personal Fitness
• Personal Management
• Pets
• Photography
• Pioneering
• Plant Science
• Plumbing
• Pottery
• Public Health
• Public Speaking
• Pulp and Paper
• Radio
• Railroading
• Reading
• Reptile and Amphibian Study
• Rifle Shooting
• Rowing
• Safety
• Salesmanship
• Scholarship
• Sculpture
• Shotgun Shooting
• Skating
• Small-Boat Sailing
• Snow Sports
• Soil and Water Conservation
• Space Exploration
• Sports
• Stamp Collecting
• Surveying
• Swimming
• Textile
• Theater
• Traffic Safety
• Truck Transportation
• Veterinary Medicine
• Water Sports
• Weather
• Whitewater
• Wilderness Survival
• Wood Carving
• Woodwork