Wilderness Survival

Wilderness Survival merit badge requirements

1. Do the following:

   a. Explain to your counselor the hazards you are most likely to encounter while participating in wilderness survival activities, and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, or lessen these hazards.

   b. Show that you know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur in backcountry settings, including hypothermia, heat reactions, frostbite, dehydration, blisters, insect stings, tick bites, and snakebites.

2. From memory, list the seven priorities for survival in a backcountry or wilderness location. Explain the importance of each one with your councelor.
3. Discuss ways to avoid panic and maintain a high level of morale when lost, and explain why this is important.
4. Describe the steps you would take to survive in the following conditions:

   a. Cold and snowy

   b. Wet (forest)

   c. Hot and dry (desert)

   d. Windy (mountains or plains)

   e. Water (ocean, lake, or river)

5. Put together a personal survival kit and explain how each item in it could be useful
6. Using three different methods (other than matches), build and light three fires.
7. Do the following:

   a. Show five different ways to attract attention when lost.

   b. Demonstrate how to use a signal mirror.

   c. Describe from memory five ground-to-air signals and tell what they mean.

8. Improvise a natural shelter. For the purpose of this demonstration, use techniques that have little negative impact on the environment. Spend a night in your shelter.
9. Explain how to protect yourself from insects, reptiles, and bears.
10. Demonstrate three ways to treat water found in the outdoors to prepare it for drinking.
11. Show that you know the proper clothing to wear in your area on an overnight in extremely hot weather and in extremely cold weather.
12. Explain why it usually is not wise to eat edible wild plants or wildlife in a wilderness survival situation.

The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: Boy Scout Requirements, 2016 Edition (BSA Supply SKU #621535)

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

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

• 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.
• "Get a signed Merit Badge application from your Scoutmaster." An online, printable Word doc file version is available.

• Boy Scout ranks: Tenderfoot - Second Class - First Class
• Boy Scout awards: Firem'n Chit - Totin' Chip - Paul Bunyan Woodsman
• Boy Scout Merit Badges: Astronomy - Backpacking - Camping - Canoeing - Climbing - Cooking - Cycling - Fire Safety - Hiking - Orienteering - Pioneering - Rowing - Weather - Water Sports - Whitewater - Wilderness Survival
• Venturing: Ranger Award electives: Backpacking
• Webelos Activity Badges: Forester - Naturalist - Outdoorsman
• Cub Scout Belt Loops & Pins: Astronomy - Map and Compass - Weather

• 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: List of how many boys have earned each Merit Badge – Merit Badge policies – Merit badges required for the Eagle Scout rank – 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.)