Scouts BSA

Troop 29

Merit Badges and Requirements

Merit Badge Requirements

With 135 different merit badges offered encompassing 12 different categories of interest (Agribusiness, Arts, Building, Business, Citizenship, Communications, Conservation, Outdoor Sports, Personal Development, Safety, Science, & Transportation) there are definately lots of choices and opportunity for stimulated intrest.

The bigger question is frequently which badge should I choose? There are two questions we encourage all scouts to ask themselves before they attempt to complete any merit badges:

  1. What merit badge sounds like fun and do I feel comfident I can commit myself to completing?
  2. Am I attempting to fulfill rank requirements with a badge? And, if so which badge meets the rank requirements? ie. Eagle required?

Remember you are undertaking merit badges to explore new ideas, find new interests, and develop new relationships with your adult counselors. Advancement is just a side benefit.

All merit badges are not equally difficult or time consuming. And, each scout may see a merit badge differently based on his maturity, level of interest, and experiences.

Below is a list of merit badges that we have sorted categorizing them into four levels of difficulty. (Difficulty being largely based on amount of work; so Farm Mechanics is a Moderately difficult, but if you don't live on a farm perhaps it is Difficult) Eagle Required badges are emphasized with a red outline. It is IMPORTANT TO NOTE that this list is simply an opinion and the suggestions of ages/ranks for completing these badges is meant as a guide for informational purposes only. If you disagree with the assigned difficulty level we've chosen you've missed the point.

We want our scouts to be successful working on merit badges and offer this as a tool to provide perspective.

I will note that the troop Advancement Chair or Scoutmaster may question a scouts decision to undertake a merit badge but the decision rests with the scout.

And...for those of you who don't like this new view into merit badges (you know who you are...) I am providing on the right the old alphabetical list. :-)

Level 1
Easiest to complete;
Great 1st year scout badges.

Level 2
Not to difficult
First Year, 2nd Year

Level 3
Moderate difficulty
First Class/Star Scouts

Law

Level 4
Difficult
Older Scout, Star/Life Rank

Eagle Required Merit Badges

Eagle required merit badges are easily recognized amidst all of the others. The border color on Eagle required badges is outlined in silver thread.

Frequently we are asked, "Which Eagle Merit Badge should I do first?". This is a great question since Eagle required merit badges range in difficulty and complexity level. While there is no correct sequence or age requirement for a badge a scouts maturity, ability to grasp complicated concepts, and available time is frequently the deciding factor.

And, oh yeah, how close a scout is to turning 18 is a hugh factor!

Alphabetical List of Merit Badges

American Business
American Cultures
American Heritage
American Labor
Animal Science
Animation
Archaeology
Archery
Architecture and Landscape Architecture
Art
Astronomy
Athletics
Automotive Maintenance
Aviation
Backpacking
Basketry
Bird Study
Bugling
Camping
Canoeing
Chemistry
Chess
Citizenship in the Community
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the World
Climbing
Coin Collecting
Collections
Communication
Composite Materials
Cooking
Crime Prevention
Cycling
Dentistry
Digital Technology
Disabilities Awareness
Dog Care
Drafting
Electricity
Electronics
Emergency Preparedness
Energy
Engineering
Entrepreneurship
Environmental Science
Family Life
Farm Mechanics
Fingerprinting
Fire Safety
First Aid
Fish and Wildlife Management
Fishing
Fly-Fishing
Forestry
Gardening
Genealogy
Geocaching
Geology
Golf
Graphic Arts
Hiking
Home Repairs
Horsemanship
Indian Lore
Insect Study
Inventing
Journalism
Kayaking
Landscape Architecture
Law
Leatherwork
Lifesaving
Mammal Study
Medicine
Metalwork
Mining in Society
Model Design and Building
Motorboating
Moviemaking
Music
Nature
Nuclear Science
Oceanography
Orienteering
Painting
Personal Fitness
Personal Management
Pets
Photography
Pioneering
Plant Science
Plumbing
Pottery
Programming
Public Health
Public Speaking
Pulp and Paper
Radio
Railroading
Reading
Reptile and Amphibian Study
Rifle Shooting
Robotics
Rowing
Safety
Salesmanship
Scholarship
Scouting Heritage
Scuba Diving
Sculpture
Search and Rescue
Shotgun Shooting
Signs, Signals, and Codes
Skating
Small-Boat Sailing
Snow Sports
Soil and Water Conservation
Space Exploration
Sports
Stamp Collecting
Surveying
Sustainability
Swimming
Textile
Theater
Traffic Safety
Truck Transportation
Veterinary Medicine
Water Sports
Weather
Welding
Whitewater
Wilderness Survival
Wood Carving
Woodwork