Merit Badge Information
Troop 721 Milford, CT - Merit Badge Information
Introduction to Merit Badges
If you are a new Merit badge Counselor, or are interested in becoming one,
check out the Introduction to Merit Badge Counseling
On this web site are the current requirements for all of the current merit badge subjects. In addition,
we have worksheets, which you can download and print, to facilitate working on each merit badge.
You can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit
badges. There are more than 100 merit badges (121 since January 1,2006). Any Boy Scout may
earn any merit badge at any time. You don't need to have had rank advancement to be eligible.
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 or
other relative, or a friend.
Call The Counselor. Get a signed merit badge application from your Scoutmaster. 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 to meet you to explain what is expected of you and to start helping you meet the
requirements. You should also discuss work that you have already started or possibly completed.
Unless otherwise specified, work for a requirement can be started at any time. 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. (See the list of current merit
badge pamphlets posted on this system.)
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.
Get The Badge. When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, he or she
will sign your application. Give the signed application to your Scoutmaster so that your merit badge
emblem can be secured for you.
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."
(Source: 34765)
The requirements listed in the current edition of Boy Scout Requirements (BSA Publication 34765)
are the official requirements of the Boy Scouts of America. However, the requirements on that
publication might not match those in the Boy Scout Handbook and the merit badge pamphlets,
because that publication is updated only on an annual basis.
If a Scout has already started working on a merit badge when a new edition of the pamphlet is
introduced, he should continue to use the same merit badge pamphlet and fulfill the requirements
therein to earn the badge. He need not start all over again with the new pamphlet and possibly
revised requirements.
The requirements posted on this system might not match those in Boy Scout Requirements
because a new edition of the pamphlet may have been issued since the most recent release of Boy
Scout Requirements. Where they differ, and the Scout has already started work on the badge, see
the instructions above. If the Scout is starting the badge, he may use either set of requirements
rather than only those in Boy Scout Requirements.
Note: There is NO DEADLINE for earning Merit Badges, except the Scout's 18th Birthday. Once a
Scout has started working on a Merit Badge (i.e. obtained a signed "Blue Card" Application for Merit
Badge from his Scoutmaster, had an initial discussion with a merit badge Counselor, and started
working on the requirements), he may continue using those requirements until he completes the
badge or turns 18.
THERE IS NO ONE YEAR LIMIT ON SO-CALLED "PARTIALS".
In contrast to the rule for rank advancements, which imposes a specific deadline for using the old
requirements, The rule for Merit Badges is basically as follows:
If the requirements change while a Scout is working on the badge, he should continue to use the
same merit badge pamphlet and fulfill the requirements therein to earn the badge. He need not start
all over again with the new pamphlet and possibly revised requirements. If he wishes, he may also
decide to use the new requirements. It is HIS choice, and his alone.
If a Merit Badge is discontinued, Scouts working on the badge when it is removed from the Boy
Scout Requirements booklet may continue to work toward completing the badge, and get credit for
earning the badge, until they turn 18. However, it may not be possible to obtain an actual merit
badge patch, once the local council's supply is exhausted.
If a Merit Badge that a Scout has already earned is discontinued and replaced with one or more
other Merit Badges covering the same or similar topics (such as Rifle and Shotgun Shooting which
was replaced by Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting, or Skiing which was replaced by Snow
Sports), the Scout may also earn the new badge or badges. If the badge is simply renamed (such
as Auto Mechanics which recently became Automotive Maintenance), Scouts may NOT earn the
badge again. If the badge number in BSA's numbering system is the same before and after the
change, it is a renaming. If a new number is assigned, it is a replacement.