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The BSA merit badge program includes over 120 different areas of knowledge and skills. As soon as a scout joins a troop, he can start earning merit badges. The only limitations are his ambition and availability of adult merit badge counselors.
Merit Badge Pamphlets: Each BSA merit badge has an official pamphlet which contains requirements, introductory information and supplemental references. Scouts can purchase pamphlets from a scout shop or find them in their troop library. Pamphlets are updated every few years, so be sure to get the most recent copy.
Merit Badge Counselors: Volunteers are selected, trained, and approved by council or district committees to teach scouts about specific merit badges. They are knowledgeable in the topic and understand the goals of scouting and the merit badge program.
Process: When a scout decides to earn a merit badge, he first obtains approval to begin from his Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster provides the scout with names of appropriate BSA merit badge counselors. The scout finds a scout buddy to be his partner for meetings with the merit badge counselor to follow safe scouting guidelines. He then contacts the counselor to start working on the badge. The counselor reviews the requirements with the scouts and they decide on projects and a schedule. Expertise, advice, and guidance as needed is offered by the counselor to the scouts. The counselor certifies their completion and the merit badge is presented at a troop meeting.
Required Merit Badges: A scout can start earning merit badges as soon as he joins a troop, but merit badges are not required for advancement until Star rank. Star, Life, and Eagle ranks are reached by performing leadership, service, and merit badges. Eagle rank requires completion of at least 21 merit badges.
More Boy Scout Information to Use:
Merit Badges - requirements and aids
Boy Scout Activities - great scout activity ideas
Boy Scout Awards - see what awards are available to Boy Scouts
Boy Scout Ceremonies - a few ceremony ideas
Boy Scout Games - patrol or troop games
Boy Scout Graces - fun meal graces
Boy Scout Jokes - funny, gross, and silly jokes for scouts
Boy Scout Projects - community projects for Boy Scout patrols or troops
Boy Scout Recipes - tasty food recipes for scout camping
Boy Scout Skits - skits that Boy Scouts like to do
Boy Scout Songs - songs for scouts
Boy Scout Stories - stories that Boy Scouts will enjoy and understand
Boy Scout Uniform - make sure you put all those badges and patches in the right spots
Boy Scout Tests - online tests for Boy Scouts to test their knowledge
Boy Scout Schedule - sample schedule to reach First Class rank in 12-18 months
Eagle Scout Schedule - sample schedule to reach Eagle Scout
Boy Scout Monthly Themes
