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.
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 merit
badge 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. 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.
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. (See the list of Current
Merit Badge Pamphlet Revision Dates 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."
The requirements posted on this system might not
match those in your merit badge pamphlet because the pamphlet may not have been
recently revised.
Source: 2007 Boy Scout Requirements
(33215)