Merit Badges...

Overview
Earning merit badges gives a Scout the kind of self-confidence that comes from overcoming obstacles to achieve a goal. Through the merit badge program, a Scout also learns career skills, develops socially, and may develop physical skills and hobbies that give a lifetime of healthful recreation.

You can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business and future careers as you earn these merit badges. There are more than 100 merit badges. Any Boy Scout may earn any merit badge at any time. You don't need to have had rank advancement to be eligible.

The steps to follow in the merit badge program are outlined in the current Boy Scout Requirements. This books lists the requirements a Scout meets to earn each of the more than 100 merit badges that are available. Scouts must be tested individually, and they must meet all the requirements.No additional requirements may be added.

Pick a Subject. Talk to your Scoutmaster about your interests. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you. Pick one to earn. Your Scoutmaster will give you the name of a person from a list of counselors. These counselors have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.

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, a relative, or a friend.

Call the Counselor. Get a signed merit badge application from your Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster (Blue Card). Get in touch with the merit badge counselor and tell him or her that you want to earn the merit badge. The counselor may ask you to come and see him so he can explain what he expects and start helping you meet the requirements.

Blue Jacket District Merit Badge Counselor List - For privacy reasons, this list is in a secure area of our site and you will be prompted for a username and password. If you are a member of Troop 128, contact the webmaster with your name and patrol to receive credentials to enter this secured area.

Would You Like to Be a Merit Badge Counselor?

When you know what is expected, start to learn and do the things required. Ask your counselor to help you learn the things you need to know or do. You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject. Many troops and school or public libraries have them.

Show Your Stuff. When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment to meet the requirements. 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 ask you to do each requirement to make sure that you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.

Requirements. You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated -- no more and no less. You are expected to do exactly what is stated in the requirements. 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."

Get the Badge. When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, he or she will sign your application. The counselor will keep their part of the application (blue card) and give you the other two parts. Give the signed application to your Scoutmaster so that your merit badge emblem can be secured for you. Keep your copy for your records . . . this can be very important.

The requirements posted on the right might not match those in the merit badge pamphlets because the pamphlets may not have been recently revised.

Merit Badge Opportunities
There are many opportunities for Scouts to earn merit badges. Some merit badges are done within the troop during our weekly meetings.

Summer Camp is also a great opportunity to earn several merit badges at one time. See our calendar for details on the next summer camp in June.

Every year the Dan Beard Council has a Merit Badge Challenge at a local facility. This is typically in February and is usually on Saturday's for several weekends. This is an opportunity for Scouts from the Council to earn up to three merit badges during these sessions. Check our calendar around February for details on this year's Merit Badge Challenge.

Eagle Scout Rank Required Merit Badges
There are several merit badges that are required to reach the rank of Eagle. Those badges are in boldface type on our list. Check your Boy Scout Handbook for details.

Important Tip
The use of requirement worksheets can truly help Scouts to ensure they have met all the requirements for a specific Merit Badge. It also can serve as a vehicle to show the Merit Badge Counselor that you have done all the requirements. We highly recommend printing out a worksheet for the Merit Badge and completing it along the way. Worksheets can be found here.