April, 2010
Tracking was one of four Historic Merit Badges reintroduced during 2010 for the BSA Centennial celebration and is no longer available to be earned.
Some additional restrictions include:
Tracking was one of four Historic Merit Badges reintroduced during 2010 for the BSA Centennial celebration and is no longer available to be earned.
Some additional restrictions include:
- Scouts must start and complete all merit badge work after April 1, 2010 and before Dec. 31, 2010.
- The merit badge will count towards rank advancement.
- No merit badge pamphlets will be printed.
Requirements for the Tracking merit badge:
- Demonstrate by means of a tracking game or otherwise, ability to track skillfully in shelter and wind, etc., showing how to proceed noiselessly and "freeze" when occasion demands.
- Know and recognize the tracks of ten different kinds of animals or birds in his vicinity, three of which may be domestic.
- Submit satisfactory evidence that he has trailed two different kinds of wild animals or birds on ordinary ground far enough to determine the direction in which they were going, and their gait or speed. Give the names of animals or birds trailed, their direction of travel, and describe gait and speed; or submit satisfactory evidence that he has trailed six different kinds of wild animal or birds in snow, sand, dust, or mud, far enough to determine the direction they were going and their gait or speed. Give names of animals or birds, their direction of travel, and describe gait and speed.
- Submit satisfactory evidence that he has tracked a human being and deducted from the trail whether it was man or woman, young or old, the gait or speed, and also give any other information deduced.
- Submit evidence that he has scored at least 30 points from the following groups: Group (f) and 4 of the 5 groups (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) must be represented in the score of 30 and at least 7 points must be scored from (a), (b), or (c).
Make a clear, recognizable photographs of:- Live bird away from nest - 4 points each
- Live woodchuck or smaller wild animal - 3 points each
- Live wild animal larger than woodchuck - 4 points each
- Live bird on nest - 3 points each
- Tracks of live wild animal or bird - 2 points each
- Make satisfactory plaster cast of wild animal or bird tracks with identification imprint on back of cast - 2 points each
Comments:
Jul 02, 2013 - Alex Eisiminger
As an Eagle Scout, I wish that I had the opportunity to earn this merit badge. As an adult, I realize that the subject of tracking assists in training/teaching cognitive and mental acuity, situational awareness, attention to detail, and patience. The fundamentals of scouting have not changed in significant detail since being founded by BP, it would be nice to maintain Scouting's historical roots and keep active merit badges/awards that were initially established in the beginning of scouting. Focus can be given on redefining merit badge requirements/skillsets, versus retirement of merit badges that people believe no longer applies.
Please Bring this merit badge back as a permanent addition to the Scouting Program of Instruction/ Outdoor Skillset.
Jul 02, 2013 - Yukon Jack
@ Alex. As an eagle scout from the window when this badge was not offered (1953-2009), I agree completely. My wife and I were the only certified instructors of this MB (and 2 other centennial badges) in our state in 2010 and it was the most fun I've ever had as a MB councilor. The skills taught are invaluable and old school. But remember, the skills can still be learned even without a badge. I still have all 3 pamphlets we taught and all the supporting materials and still teach the material to scouts as part of other MBs like hiking, camping, and wilderness survival. Enjoy!
Nov 14, 2013 - Donald Judeikis
I agree with Alex. tracking is the basic fundemental of scouting. This merit badge is one that I had the most fun with. I even show my grandchildren how to track animals in the woods to get a closer view. Bring back this merit badge and keep scouting alive.
Dec 28, 2013 - James Lehman
When I instruct in IOLS, I always tell our nascent Scouters, that it is our goal to have our boys SEE, not merely look, to HEAR, not merely listen, and to FIGURE OUT, not merely memorize....
Feb 05, 2014 - G Peter Schmitt Sr.
As a Sportsman, Hunter, Paramedic, Fire Fighter and Veteran tracking is a basic fundamental skill of Scouting, Emergency Services, LIFE and should be brought back to scouting. The skills taught are invaluable to the Scout and apply to many other Merit Badges (Search & Rescue, Emergency Preparedness, Mammal Study, Wilderness Survival) just to name a few... Bring Tracking back to Scouting.
Mar 20, 2014 - Bill Burd
This is a key skill that lasts a lifetime. I spent many hours with a family friend, older than me by several years(also very active in Scouting) walking the woods around their house. We helped each other identify the sounds of the forest, small birds, big birds, small animals and larger animals. These skills are very transferable to urban environments too! Bring it Back.
Feb 08, 2015 - david dupree
As a hunter and outdoorsman, and the father of a boy scout that also loves the outdoors, I would like to see this merit badge reintroduced. I agree with all of the above comments about this skill that is losing ground in todays society. I, too, was a scout, although I didn't achieve high ranking. I do believe it taught me enough to make me the successful person that I am today. To me, the tracking badge would enhance the skills needed in everyday life, such as paying attention to detail and being aware of your surroundings. Please bring it back.
Mar 27, 2015 - bryce sweeney
this badge should be reintroduced this would be very interesting and I would definitely earn it
May 03, 2015 - CJ WELLINGTON
i am a 15 year old life scout working on my eagle. i am a hardcore outdoor enthusiast. i would get this merit badge in a heartbeat. i have done basic research on this badge and think it would be very easy to transfer these skills into urban environments or just life in general. It teaches you to be AWARE of your surroundings. that is something i think so many people could use.
Sep 15, 2015 - Carl McIntyre
This basic skill applies to many other scouting activities such as: hiking, back-packing, orienteering, mammal study, bird study, safety, SAR, wilderness survival, crime prevention and others. As a Police Officer and LE Tactical Tracker, I've forgotten the number of cases made, criminal apprehensions and lost/missing persons found by use of track evidence or visual(Not Dog!)tracking.
As an avid bow-hunter and trapper, tracking is what you do after every shot or before making every set.
Read a Classic: "Blue-Print of a Track" by Jack Kearny.
BSA...Please bring this back. Take the ear-buds out and teach the Scouts to "Open their Eyes!"
As an avid bow-hunter and trapper, tracking is what you do after every shot or before making every set.
Read a Classic: "Blue-Print of a Track" by Jack Kearny.
BSA...Please bring this back. Take the ear-buds out and teach the Scouts to "Open their Eyes!"
Nov 18, 2015 - Janet Dowell
I am a mother of a Star Scout. I personally just spent a weekend learning tracking of animals and completely agree that this badge needs to be brought back permanently. Tracking teaches one so many things: how to be aware and pay attention to your surroundings and the changes that occur (such as weather) that impact every creature (and their tracks); being aware of your own conclusions and the evidence you used to form them; knowing not just what is happening around you, but the who and why and when. It's sad to abandon a key part of Scouting heritage and training in the mistaken guise that this skill is not necessary any more. It is!
Nov 03, 2021 - C.D.
I joined the Boy Scouts in the 1970s and
I took to the outdoors instantly. My
first night I was cold and was up most
of the night shivering. Nothing ever
felt as good as that fire in the
morning. I was hooked.
One of the older boys hunted and tracked
on his parents farm and he showed me how
to. We teamed up during our troops
Saturday night game of “Stalk.” It was
like capture the flag without the flag.
We could track the opposing team to find
their hides. I did some trapping as a
kid but my friend left for the Army and
that was that.
I spent a number of years living
substance. I spent much of the fall
hunting, tracking, and trapping. I had
picked up leatherworking and I was
learning to tan as a source of leather.
Unfortunately, the ex and I broke up and
that was that.
Moving back to my hometown and needing
something to do I went back to my
boyhood troop to volunteer. I was just
in time to become a merit badge
councilor for this merit badge.
I still hunt and track albeit nowhere
near what I had been doing. I still
teach it to anybody wanting to learn. No
matter how long I’ve tracked and how
much experience I’ve gained I still
learn something new every time I am out.
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