Merit Badge Overview

Scouts need to accumulate at least 21 merit badges before earning the Eagle Scout rank. Of those 21 badges, 14 must come from this list of Eagle-required merit badges and the rest can be any badges not used for these 14.

Here are all the current available Merit Badges: https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to download and print the Worksheets, which can be found here: http://usscouts.org/mb/worksheets/list.asp

Here are the Eagle required badges: https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/eagle-required/

Other Merit Badge Resources:



Troop 564 has several Merit Badge Counselors whom all are counselors for several merit badges. A list of who in Troop 564 you can contact to be your MBC, log in to Scoutbook and check out the Merit Bade section.

If Troop 564 doesn't have a Merit Badge Counselor (MBC) for the badge you're interested in, perhaps a counselor in the surrounding area can help you out! MBCs are available all over and can guide you at other Scouts BSA functions, such as: Merit Badge College, Long-Term Camp, Jamboree, Camporee, and other special events.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR MERIT BADGE BLUE CARDS AND EARNED CARDS IN A SAFE PLACE! If you lose your merit badge or there is a computer catastrophe, these cards are your proof!

====== FROM THE TROOP 564 HANDBOOK=====

Introduction to Merit Badges

Merit Badges are the second main area of the 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 requirement for Eagle Scout involves earning 21 merit badges, 13 which are Eagle required. The remainder of the badges help with earning ranks as well as Eagle Palms after the Eagle Scout award has been earned.

You can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit badges. There are more than 100 merit badges. Any Scout may earn any merit badge at any time. You don't need to have rank advancement to be eligible.

Pick a Subject. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you. Pick one to earn. Your Scoutmaster or Advancement Chair will give you the name of a person from a list of Merit Badge Counselors. These counselors have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.

Call the Counselor. Get a signed Merit Badge application from your Scoutmaster commonly called a blue card. 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 you to come and see them so they can explain what they expect and start helping you meet the requirements.

When you know what is expected, start to learn and do the things required. 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. Troop 564 has a library of merit badge books- ask the troop librarian or look into school or public libraries.

Show Your Stuff. When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment to show evidence that you met 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 about each requirement to make sure that you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.

Merit Badge 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."

I am done, now what? After the merit badge requirements are complete and the blue card has been signed by the merit badge counselor you need to return to the Scoutmaster and they will also sign the completed merit badge. You will then need to turn that final signed blue card in to the Troop Advancement Chair so it can be entered in the computer. You will receive the merit badge at the next Court of Honor.