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From Basketry to Robotics, merit badges are where Scouts meet the wider world. These posts share counselor tips, workbook debates, new badge announcements and the stories behind favorite badges.
637 posts · 2007–2020
Showing 1–50 of 85 posts
Posted in Careers and VocationsScience Engineering Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Engineers use their knowledge to solve a wide variety of problems. Boy Scouts can investigate this profession by earning the Engineering merit badge. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in...
A year or so ago I came across an article about how PMI (Project Management Institute) was looking to propose a Merit Badge specifically for Project Management. As I manage projects for a living, this piqued my interests and I've …
Posted in Careers and VocationsThe Arts and Creativity Drafting Merit Badge for Boy Scouts I took a drafting course in college and enjoyed it. Boy Scouts can learn more about this precise way of drawing a design by earning the Drafting merit badge.
Posted in Careers and VocationsNature and the WorldScience Oceanography Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Boy Scouts learn about marine science and the delicate balance of life in our oceans while earning the Oceanography merit badge. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in...
Staff spots are filling fast for next summer's national Scout jamboree . And if you want to be among the first counselors to teach a merit badge at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, now's the time to make that interest known. They're already full at Programming and Robotics merit badges, but Janice Downey and the Innovation team…
Posted in Be PreparedCitizenship Crime Prevention Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Our local police department holds a Crime Prevention merit badge skill center for Boy Scouts every year. If there is nobody in the lockup, they even get put in jail, which is always what they talk about...
I'm helping to organize a new troop charter and met with a couple of the leaders the other night. The subject of a Merit Badge Day came up as a possible fund raiser. As a pragmatist, I don't have any …
Posted in A Game with a PurposeScholarship Collections Merit Badge for Boy Scouts If your Boy Scouts aren't interested in the Coin Collecting merit badge or Stamp Collecting merit badge, maybe they will like the more general Collections merit badge.
Posted in Science Veterinary Medicine Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Boy Scouts will learn all about keeping animals in good health when they earn the Veterinary Medicine merit badge. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing [ This is a content summary only.
Effective Jan. 1, 2014, the Cooking merit badge will be required in order to obtain the Eagle Scout rank. Regardless of when a Scout earned the Life rank or began working on Eagle, unless he fulfills all the requirements-with the exception of his board of review-before Jan.
When I announced that Cooking merit badge and the new Sustainability merit badge would join the Eagle-required list in 2013 and 2014, a lot of you had questions. You asked about rollout plans, what happens with Scouts nearing the end of the Eagle trail, and an explanation of what will be covered under Sustainability merit…
Scouts aren't exactly stumbling over themselves to take Personal Management, Emergency Preparedness, or Citizenship in the Community/Nation/World. But with a little advance planning and creativity, you can bring seemingly dull merit badges to life. Start by studying every requirement for ways to turn lectures or pen-and-paper exercises into something hands-on.
Posted in Be PreparedSafety Safety Merit Badge for Boy Scouts The Safety merit badge is not required for Eagle Scout like it used to be, but it still teaches Boy Scouts valuable lessons. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing [ This is a content summary…
Mark your calendars for an upcoming webinar that outlines the slate of merit badges being introduced this year and how to use the pre-launch excitement around them to promote Scouting. Oct. 30, 2012 – 9 a.m. or 3 p.m. (Central) – Register Online See the complete 2012 schedule of Marketing webinars here .
Posted in Fitness Climbing Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Boy Scouts might be able to earn the Climbing merit badge in their own neighborhood. Our local climbing gym gives Scouts the opportunity to earn this badge. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Cub Scouting, Boy...
Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, this badge will get a silver border. Moms and dads, prepare the needle and thread! Sustainability and Cooking merit badges will join the list of Eagle-required merit badges over the next 14 months, the Boy Scouts of America's National Executive Board announced today.
Posted in A Game with a Purpose Railroading Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Boy Scouts who are fascinated by trains can earn the Railroading merit badge. Our local Museum of Transportation offers several skill centers for this badge. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in...
The October issue of Marketing News has been published and is available online. In this issue, learn about an Oct. 30 webinar that outlines the slate of merit badges launching this year and how to use the pre-launch excitement around them to promote Scouting.
Posted in Science Electricity Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Boy Scouts can learn all about circuits and energy while earning the Electricity merit badge. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing [ This is a content summary only.
We love new badges in Scouting. We love ‘em even more here at the Summit if they are based on the great outdoors - and that's exactly where one of the newest Scouting merit badges, Kayaking, will take you. The skills you'll learn can take you anywhere from a lake to the wild whitewater or over…
Posted in Culture American Cultures Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Boy Scouts will learn to appreciate the rich cultural diversity of our country when they earn the American Cultures merit badge. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and...
Whitewater Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Boy Scouts can choose between a canoeing option and a kayaking option when they earn the Whitewater merit badge. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing [ This is a content summary only.
Rifle Shooting Merit Badge for Boy Scouts Many of our Boy Scouts earned their Rifle Shooting merit badges at our August campout. Shooting is always a popular activity for our Scouts. Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing [ This is a content summary only.
Earning the Traffic Safety merit badge will help Boy Scouts know how to stay safe, whether as drivers or pedestrians. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
I have always been a Scoutmaster that encourages advancement and using all of the methods of Scouting. I have always put a priority on the Scouts having fun, seeking new adventures and in the process, rank, merit badges, and other goodies will happen.
BSA has just released the Search and Rescue merit badge requirements. This new merit badge teaches Boy Scouts what is involved in search and rescue missions, so they will be prepared to help out if the need arises in their area.
Stamp collecting is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. Boy Scouts can earn the Stamp Collecting merit badge. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
The search is over. The hotly anticipated debut of Search and Rescue merit badge - the BSA's 130th current merit badge - has finally arrived. Search and Rescue merit badge, or SAR for short, has an official earn date of Monday, Aug.
In the last blog post we answered some questions that were asked by participants and leaders at the Summit shakedown. This edition answers a few more. Garden Ground Mountain Trek The model for 2013 has some activities that are new for a national jamboree.
Aug. 20 is the date that the Search and Rescue merit badge will be available and ready to earn! You should start seeing the pamphlet and patch appear in Scout shops and online very soon. The best places for units and Scouts to start looking for merit badge counselors include local SAR groups, fire or…
Boy Scouts who like to tinker with their family cars can earn the Automotive Maintenance merit badge. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
For scouts attending WashJam this next week, they will have an opportunity to be some of the first scouts to possibly earn the new Search and Rescue merit badge . Via the WashJam Facebook page, I learned yesterday that one of the requirements is for scouts to take and pass FEMA’s ICS-100 online training and exam…
I realize the title of this post may raise a few eyebrows (and tempers) but let me explain. Last night I met with a young man in my ward who just turned 14, and his mother. This young man has just recently started coming back to church (good for him).
Earning the Scouting Heritage merit badge helps Boy Scouts learn about the history of the Scouting movement and understand how the Boy Scout program developed. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Boy Scouts will learn how to make their own paper when they earn the Pulp and Paper merit badge. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Last night at our Troop meeting I gave my annual Summer Camp talk with the Scouts. This is never a popular talk with the parents because I kind of go against the grain when it comes to conventional wisdom regarding "Camp".
Boy Scouts learn about the connection between living things when they earn the Nature merit badge. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
When a few of our Boy Scouts earned their Small-Boat Sailing merit badge a couple of years ago, they would yell "Pirate Adventure!" as they walked down to the waterfront at camp. They loved doing this badge. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
Whitewater kayaking has been a part of the Whitewater merit badge, but now there is a merit badge for flat-water kayaking, which will make this one a good merit badge to earn while out on the lake at summer camp.
Whenever a new merit badge comes out, a handful of well-meaning volunteers usually ask that question. "If you're adding Welding merit badge ," they write, "which one will you take away?" For me, though, the beauty of the BSA's merit badge program lies in its diverse selection.
Boy Scouts who enjoy the design and beauty of outdoor spaces can pursue their interests by earning the Landscape Architecture merit badge. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
I am proud and excited to join in our announcement about the availability of our latest merit badge-Search and Rescue. We talk often about our Scouts being Prepared. For Life.™, but the meaning behind that identity jumps to an even higher level when it comes to learning the skills that may help save a life-or…
The requirements for the new Kayaking merit badge page are now available on usscouts.org http://usscouts.org/mb/mb149.asp .The page also contains some information from the pamphlet specifically aimed at counselors, and a link to the requirements for the Kayaking BSA award patch at http://usscouts.org/advance/boyscout/kayaking.asp .
You can always find the area of Boy Scout summer camp where they are working on the Leatherwork merit badge by the noise of boys busily stamping leather. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
When it comes to life-changing experiences, there's no substitute for camping. And when it comes to the Eagle-required Camping merit badge, there's no substitute for Requirement 9a. It reads as follows: 9. Show experience in camping by doing the following: a.
The Insect Study merit badge makes a good elective for Boy Scouts who enjoy watching butterflies and observing tiny creatures on the ground. [ This is a content summary only. Click on the article title for full links, other content, and more! ]
The BSA announced the new Search and Rescue merit badge today at a casino in Nevada. Why there? The 2012 National Search and Rescue Conference is going on there today, so it makes sense. The requirements aren't public yet, but should be available soon.
New Merit Badge for Boy Scouts
The Search and Rescue merit badge will be announced this week at the 2012 National Search and Rescue Conference . The conference is hosted by the National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR) and the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
But that's a good thing. At least, it is for Scouts who love to mountain bike. The BSA has approved a mountain biking option for Cycling, a merit badge mainstay since 1911. So for the first time, Scouts who prefer fat tires instead of thin can earn the badge.
