Merit Badge Program

Introduction

The document serves as guide for the Troop 12 Merit Badge Program (The document is created by Brother Tauha Shahab as part of his Wood Badge ticket). While anyone who is interested in learning more about the Merit Badge program can benefit from this guide, the primary audiences include:

  • Scouts (current as well as future scouts)
  • Parents of the scouts
  • Adult members of scouting troops
Merit Badge Awareness Session, recorded Mar 2020

Merit Badge (MB) Basics

While we have other resources that cover this topic in a lot more detail, let us list a few essential items
that are important to note:

  • A Merit Badge is an award earned by a scout in an area of knowledge or skill.
  • The BSA (Boy Scouts of America) currently offers more than 135 MBs to scouts. However, scouts
    are required to complete only a much smaller number of MBs as they advance through scouting
    ranks. For example, an Eagle Scout needs to complete at least 21 MBs. However, they are
    always encouraged to complete more than 21 MBs in order for them to grow their knowledge
    and skills.
  • These MBs covers a wide variety of topics, which allows scouts to pick and choose MBs in areas of interest to them. The idea is for the scouts to learn about sports, crafts, science, trades,
    business, etc., through these MBs.
  • MB like Chemistry, Dentistry, Medicine and Electronics. These MBs are specifically very useful
    for our scouts to help with their future career paths!
  • Merit badges may be earned by any registered Scout until their eighteenth birthday.

Some examples of MBs include Swimming, Cycling, First Aid, Public Speaking, Chemistry, Dentistry, Medicine, Electronics.

Merit Badge Requirements

Merit Badges are part of the scout advancements. Advancement here refers to the process of scouts
moving up their scouting ranks. There are a total of seven ranks as below:

  1. Scout rank
  2. Tenderfoot rank
  3. Second Class rank
  4. First Class rank
  5. Star rank
  6. Life rank
  7. Eagle rank.

As we can see below, not all ranks have a Merit Badge completion requirement:

  1. Scout rank: None
  2. Tenderfoot rank: None
  3. Second Class: None
  4. First Class: None
  5. Star rank: 6 MBs with at least 4 from the Eagle rank requirements
  6. Life rank: 5 more MBs with at least 3 from the Eagle rank requirements
  7. Eagle rank – 10 more MBs (so a total of 21) with 6 more from Eagle rank requirements
    The first four ranks do not have a MB completion requirement; however, the last three ranks do.

Merit Badges by Choice (Optional MBs)

Here the scouts are allowed to pick and choose any Merit Badge of their choice. Let’s look at these on a rank by rank basis:

  • Star rank: 2 out of the 6 total MBs required are by choice
  • Life rank: 2 out of the 5 total MBs required are by choice
  • Eagle rank: 4 out of the 10 total MBs required are by choice

Eagle Required Merit Badges

There are a total of 14 Eagle required Merit Badges as listed below:

  1. First Aid
  2. Citizenship in the Community
  3. Citizenship in the Nation
  4. Citizenship in the World
  5. Citizenship in the Society
  6. Communication
  7. Cooking
  8. Personal Fitness
  9. Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving
  10. Environmental Science OR Sustainability
  11. Personal Management
  12. Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling
  13. Camping
  14. Family Life

NOTE: Scout must choose only one of the merit badges listed in #9, #10 and #12. Any additional merit badge(s) earned in those categories may be counted as one of the seven optional merit badges used to make the total of 21.

Merit Badge Process

This section provides all the steps needed to complete a Merit Badge

While not a separate step in itself, it is extremely Important that we follow the Youth Protection
guidelines throughout the Merit Badge completion process. The idea is to provide maximum safety to
the scouts while also protecting MB counselors. We achieve these goals by following the BSA Youth
Protection guidelines, which include:

  • NO one-on-one contact between adults and youth members
  • Two-deep leadership on all occasions, including digital communication. For example, a scout should always include a parent when emailing a merit badge counselor or leader

More details on Youth Protection can be found in the parent’s guide available at:
https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/ypt/pdf/100-015.pdf

Steps for Merit Badge completion:

  1. Blue Card signed by the Unit Leader (Scoutmaster). Blue cards can be printed from Scoutbook, Tentaroo (the council events system) or purchased from the scout store.
  2. Merit Badge Counselor selection/assignment
  3. In some cases, as applicable, the counselor considers any work toward requirements
    completed prior to the initial meeting/discussion (with the approval of the unit leader)
  4. Scout starts working with the counselor towards completion of all requirements
  5. Scouts are supposed to complete each MB requirement exactly as it is stated in the MB
    requirement list. In other words, they are not expected to do any less or any more than
    what the requirement is asking them to do. The counselors are available to help each scout
    with understanding requirements, as well as making sure that each requirement is
    completed properly.
  6. After completing all requirements successfully, the counselor signs-off on the Blue card, or log the requirements in Tentaroo.
  7. Once a merit badge has been completed and all requirements have been signed off, the scout is encouraged to email the certificate of completion (which is either a copy of the physical blue card or digital one on Tentaroo) to the scoutmaster following two-deep leadership.
  8. The Scoutmaster then also makes sure that this gets recorded in the Scout’s profile in the
    online Scoutbook service. Scoutmaster either does this personally or assigns another troop
    leader to do it.
  9. Scouts are encouraged to check their Scoutbook profile a few days later to make sure the
    completion is recorded.
  10. Once recorded, the troop reports the merit badge completion to the council and order the merit badges.
  11. Finally the scout receives the merit badge. Many times this part is saved for the upcoming
    Court-of-Honor (COH) where all scouts are recognized for their recent achievements.

NOTE: If for some reason a scout is not able to complete a MB with one counselor, they can always finish the rest of the requirements for this MB with another counselor who offers the same MB. This is done via coordination between the original counselor and the second counselor. The troop leadership provides assistance as needed.

Merit Badge Completion Opportunities

Many different opportunities are available throughout the year for scouts to work on their Merit
Badges. The following is a list of such opportunities:

Internal MB Counselors:

Internal MB Counselors are among the best options available for the scouts to get their MB complete.

  • They are conveniently accessible during regular troop meetings
  • In many cases they are already aware of the individual scouts needs (as far as rank and MB
    requirements and applicable deadlines)
  • They can schedule a dedicated session for a group of scouts where they can all work on
    requirements at the same time.

As part of the troop adult member’s awareness, we encourage adult members and volunteers to
participate in the MB program by enrolling as a MB Counselor. More details on this can be found at the following link: https://masatlanta.org/programs/scouting/boyscouts/mbc/

MB Counselors from other nearby troops that are available:

When internal MB Counselors are not available, scouts also have the option to reach out to MB
Counselors from other troops in the nearby areas.

  • Troop 12 leadership helps scouts in finding a MB counselor for a specific MB.
  • Upon finding the MC Counselor, scouts make appointment to get started with the MB
    requirements
  • Scouts don’t always have to meet in person when they need help. They utilize remote options
    like emails & conference calls.
  • A list of available MB counselors in the area can be requested by contacting the council office https://counselor.atlantabsa.org

Summer and Winter Camps:

Summer and winter camps also bring along a great opportunity to complete MBs. Week long summer camps typically always offer a wide variety of MBs.

  • Summer camps advertise the MB offerings in advance which gives scouts enough to plan on the merit badges they want to complete. Based on experience in past many summer camps, we recommend scouts to sign-up for MBs as soon as possible since the classes get filled pretty soon.
  • Each MB class has scouts from many different troops which allows scouts to make new friends
    while learning new skills
  • In many cases, a MB class has more than one counselor helping the scouts which brings in more
    learning opportunities for the scouts.
  • Summer camp MB classes are probably the only time throughout the year where scouts can
    spend many days in a row to work on the MBs. This allows them to complete all requirements
    for MBs that need extended period of time for completion.
  • While summer camps offer many different types of MBs, they provide special opportunity for
    MBs for outdoor skills, aquatics, nature, etc.

For more details on the summer camps available around the Atlanta area, use the following links:

Monthly camps

The regular scheduled monthly campouts also provide opportunities to work on many different MBs

  • Camping brings along many activities that require special skills. In many instances, these skills are requirements for some merit badges. This way scouts get to complete requirements while having fun and bonding with their peers. Examples include, cooking, fishing, environmental science, etc.
  • Some camps include one or two MB as part of their weekend camping agenda. This way all of
    the participating scouts work on these MBs as one group and learn together
  • These camps also provide scouts a chance to discuss requirements with troop leadership and
    other adult members of the MBs they are currently on, and get clarification on any questions
    they may have.

MB Workshops organized by the Troop

Another very useful option is for the troop to organize a Merit Badge workshop themselves. Such
workshops are very similar in nature as the MB classes offered by the Merit Badge Summits.

  • These workshops allow the troop to be selective in the following ways:
    o Offer the MB classes that are most needed by the troop scouts
    o Pick a convenient venue of choice
    o Pick a weekend which is best for the troop members
  • The list of Merit badges being offered is made available well in advance which provides enough
    time for all scouts to work on the MB prerequisites as applicable.
  • Even though these workshops are organized internally, there is still a nominal fees associated
    with registering in this workshop. This covers the related expenses, and also pays for the lunch
    for scouts & counselors.
  • Some of these workshops are limited to the own troop scouts but some are open to scouts of
    any troops.
  • For workshops that have scouts from other troops, participants get to meet and work with
    scouts from many different troops.
  • Overall, such workshops requires a have a lot of planning and execution efforts but at the same
    time they provide a great benefit. Actually, troop leadership involves many senior scouts in the
    planning and execution tasks which provide useful hands-on experience to these scouts.

Other Merit Badge Opportunities:

Merit Badges offered through council: Both Atlanta Area Council and the Northeast Council offer many Merit Badge opportunities throughout the year. For example, Merit Badge Summit is a one-day training program which offered via the local area council. This is offered a few times each year, and provides a unique opportunity to attend wide range of classes ranging from the beginning level all the way to much advanced training sessions.

  • Venue is always a convenient location which is easy to access from anywhere in the metro area.
  • Schedule of the Merit badges being offered is advertised well in advance which provides enough
    time for scouts to search and find the MB they are interested in.
  • There is a nominal fees associated with registering a class at the summit
  • Scouts are responsible for their transportation. Many times parents do a carpooling when
    dropping and picking the scouts
  • Scouts get to meet and work with scouts from many different troops
  • The class experience in these settings is usually more diverse which brings additional value to
    the overall learning.

For more details on other Merit Badge Opportunities that is offered via AAC and NEGA councils, use the following links:

We encourage scouts, parents and leaders to regularly check the councils’ calendars for details.