Citizenship in the Community

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Resources include the Citizenship in the Community merit badge worksheet , links, and cross-references to related badges and awards.  ◀Prev  -  Next ▶ 

This is the Citizenship in the Community merit badge for Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers. Webelos Scouts can earn the Citizen activity badge. Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts can earn the Cub Scout Citizenship belt loop and pin.

Citizenship in the Community merit badge is required for the Eagle Scout rank.

Citizenship in the Community requires prior counselor approval for requirement(s) #4b, 5, 7c.

Citizenship in the Community merit badge
	Status:	Eagle-required
	Created:	1952
	Replaced:	parts of Citizenship
	BSA Advancement ID:	002
	Requirements revision:	2005
	Latest pamphlet revision:	2008

Citizenship in the Community merit badge requirements

Discuss with your counselor what citizenship in the community means and what it takes to be a good citizen in your community. Discuss the rights, duties, and obligations of citizenship, and explain how you can demonstrate good citizenship in your community, Scouting unit, place of worship or school. Do the following: a. On a map of your community, locate and point out the following: 1. Chief government buildings such as your city hall, county courthouse, and public works/services facility 2. Fire station, police station, and hospital nearest your home 3. Historical or other interesting points b. Chart the organization of your local or state government. Show the top offices and tell whether they are elected or appointed. Do the following: a. Attend a meeting of your city, town, or county council or school board; OR attend a municipal, county, or state court session. b. Choose one of the issues discussed at the meeting where a difference of opinions was expressed, and explain to your counselor why you agree with one opinion more than you do another one. Choose an issue that is important to the citizens of your community; then do the following: a. Find out which branch of local government is responsible for this issue. b. With your counselor's and a parent's approval, interview one person from the branch of government you identified in requirement 4a. Ask what is being done about this issue and how young people can help. c. Share what you have learned with your counselor. With the approval of your counselor and a parent, watch a movie that shows how the actions of one individual or group of individuals can have a positive effect on a community. Discuss with your counselor what you learned from the movie about what it means to be a valuable and concerned member of the community. List some of the services (such as the library, recreation center, public transportation, and public safety) your community provides that are funded by taxpayers. Tell your counselor why these services are important to your community. Do the following: a. Choose a charitable organization outside of Scouting that interests you and brings people in your community together to work for the good of your community. b. Using a variety of resources (including newspapers, fliers and other literature, the Internet, volunteers, and employees of the organization), find out more about this organization. c. With your counselor's and your parent's approval, contact the organization and find out what young people can do to help. While working on this merit badge, volunteer at least eight hours of your time for the organization. After your volunteer experience is over, discuss what you have learned with your counselor. Develop a public presentation (such as a video, slide show, speech, digital presentation, or photo exhibit) about important and unique aspects of your community. Include information about the history, cultures, and ethnic groups of your community; its best features and popular places where people gather; and the challenges it faces. Stage your presentation in front of your merit badge counselor or a group, such as your patrol or a class at school. The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: Boy Scout Requirements, 2012 Edition (BSA Supply No. 34765) The text of these requirements is locked and can only be edited by an administrator. Please note any errors found in the above requirements on this article's Talk Page.

Notes

A FREE workbook for Citizenship in the Community is available here! with the maps, charts, links, diagrams, and checklists you need! Or click here to print just the Citizenship in the Community requirements.

meritbadge.org has PDF and DOC versions of Boy Scout merit badge workbooks, Webelos workbooks, and Cub Scout workbooks.

1. Per the BSA: "You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject." Pamphlets (books) are at local Scout Shops and online at ScoutStuff.org.
2. "Get a signed Merit Badge application from your Scoutmaster." An online, printable Word doc file version is available.
3. The BSA Citizenship Troop Program Feature offers meeting and activity plans to include Citizenship in the Community as one of your monthly themes.
4. Citizenship in the Community is a popular merit badge.

Requirement resources

1. Citizenship - Rights - Duties - Jury Duty - Obligations (Responsibilities)
2a. Google Maps - Make and save a map of your community - Sample Google Map Made By A Scout
3a. Find Information about your county's government
4. Major daily US newspapers
4a. Branches of Government
5. Movies With A Meaning
6. Local Government Services
7a. Charitable Organizations - include "nonprofit groups that are religious, charitable, educational, scientific, or literary in purpose, or that work to prevent cruelty to children or animals."

Service must be to an organization "outside of Scouting" that "brings people in your community together to work for the good of your community."

Charitable Organizations "outside of Scouting" might include: Churches, religious organizations, federal, state, and local governments, Salvation Army, Red Cross, CARE, Goodwill Industries, United Way, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, war veteran’s groups, fraternal lodges, and nonprofit schools, hospitals, museums, etc.

IRS online search for charities by name or city

GuideStar Directory of Non-profit Organizations - find charitable organizations in your area.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance - list of charities

8. Presentation resources:

• Cub Scout: Communicating Belt Loop & Pin - Webelos: Communicator - Merit Badges: Public Speaking - Communications
• Speeches & Presentations: How to Choose a topic - How to Write a Speech - How to Give a Speech - Ideas from eHow
• Lesson Videos: ExpertVillage: Giving a Speech - Public Speaking Tips - Public Speaking - Eye Contact - Hand Gestures - Props

The Citizenship in the Community #8 public presentation...of your community
could be given as a Communications #3 five-minute speech
using the techniques from Photography #4b to produce a picture story
and Art #1 to tell a story with...pictures
which could be developed into the Computers #6e short presentation.

Related awards

Personal development-related awards

• Boy Scout merit badges: American Cultures - American Heritage - Citizenship in the Community - Citizenship in the Nation - Citizenship in the World - Communications - Disabilities Awareness - Family Life - Genealogy - Personal Fitness - Personal Management - Public Speaking - Reading - Scholarship - Traffic Safety
• Venturing: Religious and Community Life Bronze Award - TRUST Award - Quest Award - Ranger Award electives: Physical Fitness - Backpacking
• Webelos activity badges: Citizen - Communicator - Family Member -Fitness - Scholar; Other resources: Flag Ceremonies
• Cub Scout belt loops & pins: Citizenship - Communicating - Heritages - Language and Culture - Physical Fitness

See also

Boy Scout portal Varsity Scout portal Venturing portal

Merit Badge information

• An Introduction to Merit Badges – how to get started, who chooses the counselor, etc.
• Merit Badge Worksheets & Requirements – with the revision dates, diagrams, charts, checklists, logs, and links you need.
• Merit Badge Application – offers online resources to let you print "Blue Cards," etc.
• Merit Badge FAQ – answers dozens of questions like: Who can be a counselor? Can requirements be added or removed?
• Merit Badges Requiring Prior Approval – Certain requirements need prior approval. Most do not. Here is the list.
• Also see: Most Popular Merit Badges – Merit Badge Policies – Eagle-Required Merit Badges – Merit Badge Days
• Additionally: List of Merit Badges by Field of Study – Merit Badge Pamphlets & Libraries
• Merit Badge Counselors must complete Youth Protection Training, file an Adult Application (and Merit Badge Counselor Information Form); and be approved by the local council. (See the Guide for Merit Badge Counselors for additional details.)

External links

• Living in an American Community
• US Community Page Index - more about your city and lots of links, too

Movies With a Meaning

Note: Only watch a movie..."With the approval of your counselor and a parent..."' Please do not add links for anything above a mild PG-13. Please note the ratings and reasons for the ratings for each film.

• 12 Angry Men One man, Henry Fonda, sways a jury and saves an innocent man. NR but would be G today.
• Amazing Grace Chronicles the struggle of William Wilberforce to stop the British slave trade in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. PG for disturbing images of slavery.
• A Man For All Seasons The story of Sir Thomas More who challenged King Henry VIII'sdivorce and remarriage. Rated G.
• America's Godly Heritage Chronicles the faith of the nation's forefathers. Not rated.
• Angels in the Outfield A young boy asks for a miracle to bring his family back together and to have his favorite baseball team win the season. PG.
• Balto Animated story of a dog that leads a sledding team across Alaska in order to get medicine for a sick girl. PG [1:14]
• The Blindside The true story of Michael Oher, a homeless boy who became a first round Baltimore Raven draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family. PG-13.
• Cars A hot-shot race-car named Lightning McQueen gets waylaid in Radiator Springs, where he finds the true meaning of friendship and family. G
• Fly Away Home An adventure to save orphaned geese. PG.
• Follow Me Boys The story of how one guy starts a Boy Scout troop to help the town. NR.
• Forrest Gump One slow-witted but good-hearted man is at the center of key events of the 20th century. "Stupid is as stupid does." PG-13 for brief sexual content and war scenes.
• Gettysburg Great historical account of Colonel Joshua Chmberlain who held Little Round Top though greatly outnumbered. Out of ammunition, Chamberlain orders a charge instead of retreating. PG for war scenes.
• Gods and Generals Stonewall Jackson and the Battle of Manassas. PG-13 for war scenes.
• The Great Escape WWII POW escape. NR, but some violence.
• Guns of Navarone WWII Allied soldiers attempt to destroy the German big guns. NR. Some violence.
• High Noon A marshall faces a man just released from prison where he was put by the marshall. His own town refuses to help & the odds are high he will not live. NR. Gunfight at the end.
• Hoot Saving a population of endangered owls. PG for mild obscenities.
• Invincible The true story of Vince Papale, a 30-year-old bartender from South Philadelphia who overcame long odds to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. PG.
• It's A Wonderful Life The message in this film is one of courage and sacrifice for the greater good as George Bailey, a man with big ideas about seeing the world, continually forsakes his own desires to do what is right for the town. The second message is that each life important. No matter how insignificant we feel we are, we are all inextricably linked to each other and play an important part in the fabric of one another's lives.
• Luther All about Luther, the father of the Reformation. Rated PG-13 for violence.
• The Man Who Planted Trees A lone shepherd changes the character of an entire valley.
• Mighty Ducks Emilio Estevez stars as a lawyer doing community

service who becomes coach to a pee wee hockey team. PG.

• Mr. Holland's Opus A frustrated composer (Richard Dreyfuss) finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher. PG.
• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington One of Jimmy Stewart's signature roles as an idealistic senator caught in the corruption of the political machine. NR.
• October Sky The true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry. PG.
• One Night with the King The story of Esther. Rated PG for mild violence, suggestion of sensuality.
• Pay It Forward Like some other kids, 12-year-old Trevor McKinney believed in the goodness of human nature. Like many other kids, he was determined to change the world for the better. Unlike most other kids, he succeeded. Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements.
• Phenomenon - John Travolta is hit by a light and becomes very smart and addicted to learning. PG. 123 minutes.
• The Prince of Egypt Animated story of Moses. Rated PG for violence.
• Remember the Titans The true story of a newly appointed African-American coach and his high school team on their first season as a racially integrated unit. PG.
• Rock and a Heart Place Volunteering never sounded so good.
• Rookie of the Year A twelve year old boy lives every boy's fantasy when he gets to pitch for the Chicago Cubs. PG.
• Rudy True story of a boy who struggles with life in order to realize his dream: to play football for Notre Dame. PG
• Spartacus The slave, Spartacus, leads a revolt against a corrupt Rome. NR.
• The Ten Commandments The story of Moses. NR.
• The Three Musketeers Comedic interpretation of the classic novel.
• We Are Marshall When a plane crash claims the lives of members of the Marshall University football team and some of its fans, the team's new coach and his few surviving players try to keep the football program alive. PG.

Merit badges required for the Eagle Scout rank

First Aid  •  Citizenship in the Community  •  Citizenship in the Nation  •  Citizenship in the World Camping  •  Communications  •  Family Life  •  Personal Fitness  •  Personal Management Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving  •  Environmental Science (OR Sustainability, starting July 2013) Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling  •  Cooking (starting Jan 1, 2014)