Merit badge (Boy Scouts of America)

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Merit badges
First Aid Merit Badge.png
First Aid merit badge
Owner Scouting America
Created1910
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Merit badges are awards earned by members of Scouting America, based on activities within the area of study by completing a list of periodically updated requirements. [1] The purpose of the merit badge program is to allow Scouts to examine subjects to determine if they would like to further pursue them as a career or vocation. Originally, the program also introduced Scouts to the life skills of contacting an adult they had not met before, arranging a meeting and then demonstrating their skills, similar to a job or college interview. Increasingly, though, merit badges are earned in a class setting at troop meetings and summer camps. [2]

Contents

The award of a merit badge is represented by a circular patch with an image representing the badge's topic. The patches for the Eagle-required merit badges are distinguishable by the silver ring on the outside edge. Merit badges required for Eagle rank can be selected based upon the individual Scout's preferences or conditions. Merit badges are displayed on a sash which can be worn with the Boy Scout uniform on formal occasions. Every year the National Council reviews and updates a certain number of merit badges. There are over 100 merit badges (138 as of December 2022).

Scouting organizations in other countries issue or have issued merit badges, including Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. Austria has a program similar to merit badges for certain age groups.

A sample merit badge sash: From left to right, starting at top; 1 Swimming, Mammal Study, Environmental Science; 2 Basketry, Wood Carving, Dog Care; 3 Wilderness Survival, Emergency Preparedness, Bird Study; 4 Public Speaking, Scholarship, Law; 5 Rifle Shooting, Archery, Metalwork; 6 Fish and Wildlife Management, Citizenship in the Nation, Orienteering; 7 Citizenship in the Community, Communications, Personal Management; 8 Sustainability, Reptile Study, Lifesaving; 9 Forestry, Citizenship in the World, Safety Merit badge sash.png
A sample merit badge sash: From left to right, starting at top; 1 Swimming, Mammal Study, Environmental Science; 2 Basketry, Wood Carving, Dog Care; 3 Wilderness Survival, Emergency Preparedness, Bird Study; 4 Public Speaking, Scholarship, Law; 5 Rifle Shooting, Archery, Metalwork; 6 Fish and Wildlife Management, Citizenship in the Nation, Orienteering; 7 Citizenship in the Community, Communications, Personal Management; 8 Sustainability, Reptile Study, Lifesaving; 9 Forestry, Citizenship in the World, Safety

Current badges

The last revision date indicates the date of the latest requirement changes; the copyright or printing dates of merit badge pamphlets may have a different date. The Eagle Scout required merit badges are shaded in gray (see above paragraph for details). [3]
NameCreatedRequirements
revision		Pamphlet
revision		Number earned (2020) [4] Number earned since creation (through 2020) [4] Related subjects
American Business1967202320134,96761,953 Business, Economy of the United States
American Cultures1978200620132,90683,032 Ethnic groups in the United States
American Heritage197520202019, 20206,700192,552 History of the United States, Historic preservation
American Labor1987200620151,89229,926 Trade unions
Animal Science1975202320202,77883,893 Animal husbandry
Animation [5] 2015202220154,44529,817 Animation
Archaeology1997202120082,671192,293 Archaeology
Archery19112023200810,4871,797,351 Archery
Architecture1911202320082,734237,322 Architecture
Art19112013201313,9531,436,561 Art
Astronomy1911202220137,474727,496 Astronomy
Athletics1911202220081,5571,081,697 Track and field athletics
Automotive Maintenance2008200820127,108225,956 Auto mechanics
Aviation1952200620088,064684,527 Aviation
Backpacking1982200720081,640233,724 Backpacking
Basketry1927200320087,3882,523,871 Basket weaving
Bird Study1914200520083,950612,616 Ornithology
Bugling191120202008476172,979 Bugle
Camping19112005200830,4904,954,170 Camping
Canoeing1927202220089,8533,166,116 Canoeing
Chemistry1911202020087,166412,187 Chemistry
Chess20112011201115,454239,164 Chess
Citizenship in the Community19522005201341,9873,753,138 Citizenship
Citizenship in the Nation19512022200843,2473,517,139 Citizenship
Citizenship in Society202120212021 Diversity, Inclusion
Citizenship in the World19722005200842,7382,593,491 Global citizenship
Climbing1997202220087,228521,055 Climbing
Coin Collecting1938202220084,639524,111 Coin collecting
Collections1991202120086,429168,524 Collecting
Communication19682003200836,6752,352,069 Communication
Composite Materials2006202320081,01122,472 Composite materials
Cooking19112023201436,4734,648,594 Cooking
Crime Prevention1996202020085,628174,749 Crime prevention
Cycling1911202320085,247610,301 Cycling
Dentistry1975202220081,924152,381 Dentistry
Digital Technology2014202320148,81254,274 Technology
Disabilities Awareness1993202320086,334156,539 Disability
Dog Care1938200320084,136449,515 Dogs
Drafting1965200820081,026231,905 Technical drawing
Electricity1911202120086,235859,444 Electricity
Electronics1963202120084,063259,193 Electronics
Emergency Preparedness19722023201624,7332,082,381 Emergency management
Energy1976200520082,16296,783Energy
Engineering1967200820087,800213,737 Engineering
Entrepreneurship1997200620083,28442,254 Entrepreneurship
Environmental Science19722023200823,5713,016,109 Environmental science
Exploration2017202020171,46410,012 Exploring
Family Life19912023201348,4081,455,287 Family values
Farm Mechanics1928202320081,424233,871 Agricultural machinery
Fingerprinting19382003200818,8981,891,477 Fingerprinting
Fire Safety1995200420087,9182,675,073 Fire safety
First Aid19112022200831,6367,370,988 First aid
Fish and Wildlife Management1972202120084,874718,006 Wildlife management
Fishing19522021200813,6012,126,476 Fishing
Fly Fishing2002202120082,43952,650 Fly fishing
Forestry1911200520084,2691,213,719 Forestry
Game Design2013202320137,74092,506 Game Design
Gardening1911200220082,782397,570 Gardening
Genealogy1972202320086,020261,683 Genealogy, Family history
Geocaching2010201020105,811149,929 Geocaching
Geology1953202320087,484747,259 Geology
Golf1976202320082,369185,837 Golf
Graphic Arts1987200620082,22869,365 Graphic design
Healthcare Professions202120212021 Health care, medicine
Hiking1921202320085,9771,370,957 Hiking
Home Repairs1943202220083,4422,435,429 Home repairs
Horsemanship1911201120084,798693,845 Equestrianism
Indian Lore1931200820087,2401,292,119 Native American culture
Insect Study1985200820081,734180,460 Entomology
Inventing [6] 2010202320101,83329,178 Invention
Journalism1927200620081,516113,468 Journalism
Kayaking20122020201611,083261,710 Kayaking
Landscape Architecture1967200820081,40090,412 Landscape architecture
Law1974200320085,962218,325 Law
Leatherwork19512002200810,8552,637,286 Leather crafting
Lifesaving1911202120085,8423,150,759 Lifeguarding
Mammal Study1985202320087,8451,302,419 Zoology
Metalwork1927200720084,2731,202,235 Metalworking
Mining in Society2014202220143,78929,397 Mining
Model Design and Building1963202020081,359235,108 Scale models
Motorboating1961202120082,638635,883 Motorboat
Moviemaking2013201320135,77961,305 Filmmaking
Music19112003200810,0691,388,218 Music
Nature1952202320086,0561,737,920 Nature
Nuclear Science2005201120083,493210,965 Nuclear physics
Oceanography1964200320084,442336,423 Oceanography
Orienteering1973200320085,337888,402 Orienteering
Painting1911202020083,163584,778 Paint
Personal Fitness19522023200840,3552,793,990 Physical fitness
Personal Management19722003200840,8972,100,383 Personal finances, time management
Pets1958200320088,333690,228 Pets
Photography19112021201511,618590,968 Photography
Pioneering1911202220086,1292,492,888 Pioneering
Plant Science1974202320081,65358,456 Botany
Plumbing1911200420082,761417,612 Plumbing
Pottery1927200820082,842427,803 Pottery
Programming2013202320134,47329,163 Computer programming
Public Health19112021200811,5101,539,459 Public health
Public Speaking1932200220085,570684,343 Public speaking
Pulp and Paper1972200620084,054150,884 Pulp, Papermaking
Radio1923200820083,550205,747 Radio
Railroading1952202220084,105275,919 Rail transport
Reading1929202220085,6351,508,324 Reading
Reptile and Amphibian Study1993202320083,526682,587 Herpetology
Rifle Shooting19882001200811,0811,533,240 Rifle, Shooting
Robotics2011201120115,452123,337 Robotics
Rowing1933202120082,1181,763,164 Rowing
Safety1927202020086,3052,959,333 Safety
Salesmanship1927202320085,121362,051 Sales
Scholarship1911200420087,2871,307,274 Scholarship
Scouting Heritage2010201020106,51762,290 History of the Boy Scouts of America
Scuba Diving2009200920091,32324,100 Scuba Diving
Sculpture1911200720083,188350,848 Sculpture
Search and Rescue2012201220124,08279,782 Search and rescue
Shotgun Shooting1988200520085,631627,238 Shotgun, shooting
Signs, Signals, and Codes2015201520154,58038,454 Signs, signals, codes
Skating1973200520081,700184,647 Ice skating, Roller skating
Small-Boat Sailing1964202320083,142725,921 Sailing
Snow Sports1999202320085,860493,109 Skiing, Snowboarding
Soil and Water Conservation1952200420085,0671,174,015 Soil conservation, Water conservation
Space Exploration1965202020088,750667,365 Space exploration
Sports1972202320083,5571,184,127 Sports
Stamp Collecting1932200720081,278395,283 Stamp collecting
Surveying191120042008603157,073 Surveying
Sustainability2013202020138,47749,748 Sustainability
Swimming19112023200821,2206,659,181 Swimming
Textile1973200320081,929157,902 Textiles
Theater1967202120081,59297,833 Theatre
Traffic Safety1975202220085,758194,271 Road traffic safety
Truck Transportation1973200520081,991151,364 Truck driver
Veterinary Medicine1995200520082,55292,251 Veterinary medicine
Water Sports1969200720081,064266,295 Waterskiing
Weather1927200620089,215651,891 Weather
Welding2012201220124,70986,233 Welding
Whitewater1987202020081,508105,245 Whitewater rafting
Wilderness Survival19742007200811,6041,805,803 Wilderness, Survival skills
Wood Carving1923200620089,4302,462,368 Wood carving
Woodwork1923202120083,066999,863 Woodworking

    Historical program

    Offered only in 2010, the Historical Merit Badge program, part of the Boy Scouts of America centennial, allowed Scouts to earn the discontinued Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signalling, and Tracking (originally called Stalking) merit badges. The patches for these historical merit badges are distinguished by a gold ring on the outside edge. All were based on merit badges that were among the original 57 issued in 1911. [7] [8]

    See also

    References

    1. ↑ "Merit Badges – Boy Scouts of America". www.scouting.org.
    2. ↑ "Merit Badge Day - MeritBadgeDotOrg". meritbadge.org.
    3. ↑ "Merit Badge Requirements". US Scouts.org Advancement section. Retrieved February 9, 2006.
    4. 1 2 Wendell, Bryan (February 24, 2021). "2020 merit badge rankings: A list rewritten by the pandemic". Bryan on Scouting. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
    5. ↑ "Boy Scouts of America Introduces Animation Merit Badge". PR Newswire (Press release). Retrieved May 19, 2015.
    6. ↑ "Boy Scouts and Lemelson-MIT Program introduce Inventing merit badge". Scouting. June 17, 2010. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
    7. ↑ "Historical merit badges help Boy Scouts celebrate Scouting's past". Scouting. Boy Scouts of America. January 12, 2010. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
    8. ↑ "Historic Signaling Merit Badge". www.usscouts.org.

    Bibliography

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