Rochester Hills, MI
Merit Badges
You can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit badges. There are more than 135 merit badges, and any Scout, or any qualified Venturer or Sea Scout may earn any of these at any time.
How to Earn Merit Badges
Pick a Subject & Get a Blue Card. Talk to your Scoutmaster about your interests. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you and pick one to earn. The Scoutmaster will give you a Blue Card (Application for Merit Badge, No. 34124 or No. 34130). This card needs to be filled out with your information then returned to the Scoutmaster to sign it. Scoutmaster will also give you a list of merit badge counselors in our area. These individuals have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.
Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be your parent or legal guardian, another scout or another registered adult.
Call the Merit Badge Counselor. Get in touch with the merit badge counselor and explain that you want to earn the badge. The counselor may ask to meet you to explain what is expected and to start helping you meet the requirements. You should also discuss work you have already started or possibly completed. At the first meeting, you and your merit badge counselor will review and may start working on the requirements. In some cases, you may share the work you have already started or completed. Unless otherwise specified, work on a requirement can be started at any time. 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. Many troops, schools, and public libraries have them.
Show Your Stuff. When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment. 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 test you on each requirement to make sure you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.
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Get the Badge. When the counselor is satisfied you have met each requirement, he or she will sign your application. If they use Scoutbook, your parent or leader can connect them to your scoutbook account for that specific merit badge to be signed off in Scutbook. Give the signed application to your unit leader so your merit badge emblem can be secured for you. Merit Badges are given out at Troop Court of Honors held 2-3 times a year.
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Requirements. You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated—no more and no less. You must 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.”
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Merit Badge Books & Workbooks
Merit Badge Books & Workbooks. Each merit badge has a merit badge requirements book and merit badge worksheet. If a new edition of a merit badge pamphlet is introduced with updated requirements after the Scouts BSA Requirements book has been released, a Scout who is starting the badge may choose to follow either set of requirements until the end of the year. At the start of the new year, Scouts who are beginning must use only the new requirements.
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If a Scout has already started working on a merit badge when a
new edition of the pamphlet is introduced, they may continue to
use the same pamphlet and fulfill the requirements therein to
earn the badge. They need not start over again with the new
pamphlet and revised requirements.
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There is no time limit for starting and completing a merit badge,
but all work must be completed by the time a Scout turns 18.
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For copies of each of the current Merit Badge books, please use this website:
https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/
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These are website that have Merit Badge workbooks that can be used to record information learned and provide a reference for scouts when they meet with their Merit Badge counselor:
Merit Badge Sash
Merit Badges are worn on the official scout sash. A merit badge sash is like a trophy case you can wear.
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Each tiny circle represents one of the 138 interest areas a Scout has conquered.
The Guide to Awards and Insignia says you’re limited to a “maximum of three per row as shown, no limit.” You couldn’t fit more than three in a row anyway. As for the badges’ order on the sash, there’s nothing specified. Most Scouts will simply add them as they earn them. Others like to separate the Eagle-required ones (those with a silver border) in some way.
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Scouts aren’t limited to wearing a minimum number of badges on their sash. So right when Scouts earn that first merit badge or three, go ahead and get them a sash so they can show off those new “trophies.”
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Where to wear the sash (and where not to)
There’s only one right place for a merit badge sash: over the right shoulder. It can be worn over or under the epaulet (shoulder loop).
And keep in mind “a merit badge sash is never worn on the belt,” according to the Guide.
Who may wear the sash
Merit badge sashes are worn only by Scouts and Venturers who are earning Scout advancement.
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Miscellaneous patches
Patches that aren’t merit badges, including camporee or event patches, may be worn on the sash, but only on the back.
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Merit badge sash and OA sash
This one’s pretty clear: “The merit badge sash and the Order of the Arrow sash may not be worn at the same time.”
For more on when to wear your Order of the Arrow sash, read this.
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The Guide to Awards and Insignia
This information and more is available in the guide.