Boy Scout Program

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Boy Scouting is a program of the Boy Scouts of America. It is available to boys under the age of 18 who meet any of the following qualifications:

boys at least 10 years old who have earned the Arrow of Light

boys at least 10 years old who have completed the fifth grade

boys who are at least 11 years old.

Prior participation in Cub Scouting is not required.

The Boy Scout program is designed to develop a boy's character, citizenship, and personal fitness using the following methods: a structured advancement program, high ideals, the patrol method, outdoor activities, adult association, personal growth, leadership development, and uniforming. This program and development structure is referred to as the Aims and Methods of Scouting.

Structured advancement and recognition

Ranks

The Boy Scout advancement program is divided into three main areas. The first and primary advancement area is a series of Ranks that the Scout progresses through known as the Eagle Scout trail. The rank system occurs in two distinctly different phases.

After earning the Scout Badge (which is simply the way boys join Boy Scouts, not a rank), boys work on the Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks. During this phase, all three ranks may be worked on at the same time. These ranks focus on Scouting skills - the outdoors, physical fitness, citizenship, patrol/troop participation, and personal development. After completing these ranks, a Scout should be adept at participating in all of the activities in the Boy Scout program, literally a First Class Scout.

During the second phase, Scouts work on the Star Scout, Life Scout, and Eagle Scout ranks. These ranks are worked on one at a time and must be earned in order. Here the focus of advancement switches from Scouting skills to personal development and community service. Merit badges are an integral part of this part or rank advancement.

After earning the Eagle Scout award, a Scout still has the opportunity for advancement recognition by earning Eagle Palms.

Merit badges

Merit badges are the second main area of the Boy Scout advancement program. Unlike ranks, there is a degree of choice in the merit badge program. A sub-group of merit badges are known as Eagle required merit badges (listed in bold in the table below). To earn Eagle Scout, most of these badges must be earned although some of them are optional. The remainder of the badges help with earning ranks as well as Eagle Palms after the Eagle Scout award has been earned.

Boy Scouts may work on merit badges from they time they join a Scout troop until they turn 18 years old. There is no time limit for completion of merit badges other than age 18. Merit badges currently available to Boy Scouts include:

Boy Scout Merit Badge resources include the the Merit Badge Worksheets, Online Blue Card, FAQ,
maps, charts, links, checklists, and cross-references for related Merit Badges and Scout Awards.

Shortcut: MB

Merit Badges are the second main area of the Boy Scout advancement program. Unlike ranks, there is a degree of choice in the merit badge program. A sub-group of merit badges are known as Eagle required merit badges. To earn Eagle Scout, most of these badges must be earned although some are "either/or" badges. The remainder of the badges help with earning ranks as well as Eagle Palms after the Eagle Scout award has been earned. The online Merit Badge Application is a Word doc file.

Boy Scouts may work on merit badges from they time they join a Scout troop until they turn 18 years old. There is no time limit for completion of merit badges other than age 18. See the Merit Badge FAQ. Some Merit Badges Require Prior Approval before starting certain requirements. Most do not.

1 Structured advancement and recognition
- 1.1 Ranks
- 1.2 Merit badges
2 Introduction
3 List of current Merit Badges
4 Discontinued merit badges
- 4.1 2010 Historic merit badges reissues
5 See also
6 External links
- 6.1 Awards
7 See also

Merit Badge Worksheets
Worksheets can help you organize notes, listen actively, find resources, and document your work.

Introduction

The official source for the information shown in this article or section is:
Boy Scout Requirements, 2012 Edition (BSA Supply No. 34765)

“

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 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 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.

At the first meeting, you and your merit badge counselor will review and may start working on the requirements. In some cases, you may share with your counselor the work that you have already started or accomplished.

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 here.)

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 listed in this book are the official requirements of the Boy Scouts of America. However, the requirements on the following pages might not match those in the Boy Scout Handbook and the merit badge pamphlets, because this 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 may 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.

”

— Boy Scout Requirements pp.22-23

“

Boy Scout awards are for young men not yet 18 years old. Merit badges, badges of rank, and Eagle Palms are for registered Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, or qualified Venturers. Any registered Boy Scout or Varsity Scout may earn these awards until his 18th birthday. Any Venturer who achieves the First Class rank as a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout in a troop or team may continue working for the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks and Eagle Palms while registered as a Venturer up to his 18th birthday.

Youth members with special needs may work toward rank advancement after they are 18. (See section titled “Advancement for Youth Members With Special Needs,’’ page 39.)

”

— Advancement Policies #33088, p. 24

See:Merit Badges Requiring Prior Approval‎, Merit Badge Policies, and Merit Badge FAQ for more information.

Click here for the Merit Badge Worksheets.

List of current Merit Badges

The following are all the Merit Badges currently offered by the Boy Scouts of America:

Note: Merit badges shown in bold italics are Eagle-required merit badges.

Discontinued merit badges

Main article: Discontinued merit badges

"Scouts may not begin working on discontinued merit badges. If actual effort has already begun by the time discontinuation becomes effective, and work actively continues, then the badge may be completed and can count toward rank advancement, but presentation of the badge itself will be subject to national inventory. It is a misconception that discontinued merit badges may be earned as long as the patch and requirements can be found."
Source: BSA Guide To Advancement, Section 7.0.4.4: Discontinued Merit Badges

Agribusiness

Agribusiness: Agribusiness, Farm Arrangement, Farm Arrangements, Farm Home and Its Planning, Farm Layout and Building Arrangement, Farm Records, Farm Records and Bookkeeping, Farm and Ranch Management
Animal husbandry: Animal Industry, Beefarming, Bee Keeping, Beekeeping, First Aid to Animals, Poultry Farming, Poultry Keeping, Pigeon Raising, Beef Production, Hog Production, Hog and Pork Production, Sheep Farming, Animal Industry, Rabbit Raising, Dairying
Plant cultivation: Agriculture, Gardening, Landscape Gardening, Food Systems, Forage Crops, Fruit Culture, Fruit and Nut Growing, Citrus Fruit Culture, Nut Culture, Corn Farming, Small Grains, Small Grains and Cereal Foods, Cotton Farming, Grasses, Legumes, and Forage Crops, Landscape Gardening, Landscaping

Arts and crafts: Leathercraft, Leatherworking

Building: Blacksmithing, Carpentry, Cement Work, Craftsmanship, Foundry Practice, Handicraft, Machinery, Farm Mechanics, Woodwork, Metallurgy, Metalwork, Masonry, Mechanical Drawing, Wood Turning, Painting, Plumbing, Electricity, Chemistry

Business and industry: Bookbinding, Business, Consumer Buying, Invention, Textiles

Citizenship: Civics, Citizenship, Citizenship in the Home, Interpreting, World Brotherhood

Communication: Dramatics, Printing, Printing/Communication, Signaling, Wireless

Conservation: Conservation, Conservation of Natural Resources, Soil Management, Wildlife Management

Outdoor sports: Angling, Marksmanship, Rifle and Shotgun Shooting, Skiing, Waterskiing

Personal development: Personal Finances, Personal Health, Physical Development, Handicapped Awareness, Handicap Awareness

Safety: Firemanship, Safety First

Science: Atomic Energy, Botany, First Aid to Animals, General Science, Insect Life, Mammals, Mining, Ornithology, Reptile Study, Reptiles, Rocks and Minerals, Taxidermy, Veterinary Science, Zoology

Transportation

Automobiling: Automobiling, Automotive Safety, Auto Mechanics
Aviation: Aviation (original), Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, Airplane Design, Airplane Structure
Seamanship: Seamanship

2010 Historic merit badges reissues

The following 2010 Historic (a.k.a. "Centennial") merit badges could be earned through December 31, 2010:

Carpentry – Pathfinding – Signaling – Tracking

External links

Advancement Policies
Advancement (Report)	Boy Scouts (Resources)	Service Projects
Rules and Regulations	First Class-First Year	Eagle Scout Project
What is Scout Spirit?	Scoutmaster Conferences	Lifesaving Awards
When is a Scout Active?	Time Extensions	Summer Camp
When is a Scout in Uniform?	Boards of Review - Appeals	Merit Badges, Events & FAQ
Scouts with Special Needs	Advancement Campout	Cub Scouts (Resources)
Religious Principle	Courts of Honor	Varsity (Resources)
Books & References	12 Steps From Life to Eagle	Venturing & Sea Scouts

Click here for Many more Advancement Policies

Awards

Awards are the third area of the advancement. Unlike the first two areas or advancement, awards are completely optional. However, they are still an important part of the program providing opportunities not available in the other areas. Awards currently available to Boy Scouts include:

Venture Patrol

Honor Awards

Varsity Scouts and qualified Venturers may earn Boy Scout awards.
List of all Scouting Awards
Scouter Awards for leaders

Boy Scout Program

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Structured advancement and recognition

Ranks

Merit badges

Contents

Introduction

List of current Merit Badges

Discontinued merit badges

2010 Historic merit badges reissues

See also

External links

Awards

See also

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