Troop 1 Advancement
Eagle Required Merit Badge
“Guidelines”
A badge is recognition of what a young person is able to do, not merely a reward for what he or she has done. The badge is proof of certain abilities, and is
not just a reward for the completion of a task.
“Earning merit badges gives a Scout the kind of self-confidence that comes from overcoming obstacles to achieve a goal. Through the merit badge program,
a Scout also learns career skills, develops socially, and may develop physical skills and hobbies that give a lifetime of healthful recreation. The responsibility
of the Merit Badge Counselor is to impart wisdom, knowledge, skills, and insights. It's not to "check-off boxes" on a Blue Card.”
The Troop 1 philosophy is simple. We want to make the scouting experience the best possible experience for our scouts. To that end, Troop 1 has gathered
a group of dedicated individuals who will work with our scouts to help them learn and grow, while completing their Boy Scout requirements. Troop 1 has at
least one Merit Badge Counselor for each of the 15 “Eagle required” merit badges. The Troop 1 advancement committee has developed a philosophy with
respect to the Eagle Required Merit Badges as shown on the attached grid. This is not intended to replace or supersede BSA requirements. According to
the official BSA Advancement Guidelines "No council, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to or subtract from an advancement
requirement, including merit badge requirements.” Rather, this is a set of guidelines that we as scout leaders, (and parents of scouts) have developed to
inform you and help you guide your scout as they start down their scouting path. Each scout is different and you may find that these guidelines may not
apply in your particular situation. Scouts mature, both physically & mentally at different rates. What may be appropriate or easy for one scout at an age
may not work for his best friend at the same age. Again, our intent is to share our knowledge, experience and expertise in an effort to ensure that our
scouts (and yours) get the most out of the scouting program and from Troop 1.
“Scouting is not about “collecting badges” or "being an Eagle." It's about having fun, hanging with buddies, getting outside, and learning cool stuff. It's
about doing things you don't get to do in school, church, synagogue, team, or club, and having fun doing it.” In the end, it will be the scouting journey that
will be important and that’s what your scout will remember. They won’t remember that they earned such-and-such a badge at a certain age, but they will
remember the experience of working with some dedicated adults who opened new avenues of interest to them. Robert Baden-Powell, who founded Boy
Scouts over a hundred years ago, put it this way: "Advancement's like a suntan—something that happens naturally while you're having fun in the out-ofdoors." That's still how it is today, especially in Troop 1!
Steps to Earning a Merit Badge:
Pick a Subject: Talk to your Scoutmaster/Advancement Chair/Parents about your interests. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might
interest you. A good source for finding merit badge requirements is the US Scouting Service Project website, www.usscouts.org. Go to the Merit Badge Link
and review the requirements. Pick one merit badge to earn. Your Scoutmaster/Advancement Chair can help you find a Merit Badge Counselor, either from
your troop or from elsewhere in the Pacifica District. These counselors 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 another Scout, your
parents or guardian, a brother or sister, a relative, or a friend.
Call the Counselor: Get a Merit Badge application signed by your Scoutmaster from your Scoutmaster/Advancement Chair. 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 him so he can explain what he expects
and start helping you meet the requirements. You should contact a Merit Badge Counselor before you start working on any merit badge 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. Merit Badge pamphlets are available at the Scout shops or the Troop 1 library. Be sure to check the
revision dates of the requirements to make sure you are working on the most recent requirements.
Show Your Stuff: When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment to meet 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 explain in writing what you have done. The counselor will ask
you to do each requirement to make sure that you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.
Get the Badge: When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, he or she will sign your application. Give the signed application to your
Advancement Chair so that your merit badge emblem can be secured for you.
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."
Eagle Required Merit Badges: Twelve Eagle required merit badges must be earned from the following 15 badges. The 12 badges must include Camping,
Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Environmental Science, Family Life, First Aid, Personal
Fitness and Personal Management. One of the following three badges must be earned: Cycling, Hiking, or Swimming. One of the following two badges must
be earned: Lifesaving or Emergency Preparedness.
Merit Badge
Camping
Skill/Age
Level
Medium
Recommend
Minimum Age
Rank Requirements/
Prerequisites
None
Citizenship in the Community
Easier
7th/8th grade
None
Citizenship in the Nation
Medium
End of 8th
grade
None
Citizenship in the World
Difficult
After 9th
grade
None
Communications
Medium
None
Environmental Science
Medium
Recommend 2nd Class Plant
identification & 1st Class
Comments
Basic first aid, knowledge of “Leave no Trace” and
Outdoor Code, equipment needs, camp menus, duty
roster, safety procedures for stoves & other camping
gear. Camp 20 days/20 nights. Conservation project.
No Time Requirement. On-line research required.
Visit with government official, attend city
council/planning meeting. 8 hours of non-boy scout
related community service. Prepare
presentation/speech regarding the community.
No Time Requirement. On-line research required.
Requirements tie in nicely with 8th grade social science
curriculum (US History). Visits to or reports on
historical places, national landmarks. Understanding
of important historical documents and
branches/functions of US government is required.
No Time Requirement. On-line research required.
Understanding of citizenship requirements,
understanding of/knowledge of international
organizations & governments. Scouts younger than
15/16 may have difficulty understanding the concepts
needed for this merit badge.
No Time Requirement. On-line research required.
Involves keeping journals & logs, preparing and giving
speeches & presentations. Interviews, attending
public meetings. Preparing written reports.
No Time Requirement. On-line research required. Do
6 “science fair type” projects. Do outdoor study
Animal identification
None
Family Life
Easy
First Aid
Medium
Personal Fitness
Medium
2nd Class 6a-6c, 1st Class
8b-8d. Recommend at
least 2nd Class rank with
1st Class first aid
requirements completed
None
Personal Management
Difficult
None
Emergency Preparedness
Medium
First Aid Merit Badge
Required
Lifesaving
Medium
2nd Class 7a-7c
1st Class 9a-9c
project, research environmental impact study.
Time Requirement – 90 Days. Chore charts, 2 family
projects. Family discussions regarding substance
abuse, changes to the teen body, responsible decisions
regarding sex, family finances, family crises, impact of
technology on the modern family.
No Time Requirement. Understand and demonstrate
basic first aid for wide variety of health concerns
including hiking, camping, water etc. Understand and
demonstrate the principles of CPR.
Time Requirement – 90 Days. Physical exam, dental
exam, understanding personal fitness, good nutrition.
Do aerobic, flexibility, strength, body comp tests.
Prepare 12 week physical fitness program, do log of 12
week program.
Time Requirement – 90 Days. On-line research
required. Prepare budget, track actual
income/expenses for 13 weeks. Understand financial
concepts, interest, investing, return on investment,
loans, charge card, debit card, credit card, credit
reports & debt. Time management skills, “to do” lists,
scheduling and project planning. Scouts younger than
15/16 may have difficulty understanding the concepts
needed for this badge. More beneficial for older
scouts with income/expenses.
No Time Requirement. On-line research required.
Understand & explain the preparation for various
emergency situations, interview government official
regarding emergency planning, take part in emergency
service project.
No Time Requirement. Demonstrate CPR, Swimming
strokes: front crawl, side stroke, breast stroke, back
stroke. Water rescue and safety. Basic first aid for
water related health concerns.
Cycling
Difficult
None
Hiking
Difficult
2nd Class 5 mile hike, 1st
Class Orienteering
Swimming
Medium
2nd Class 7a-7c
1st Class 9a-9c
No Time Requirement. Knowledge of basic first aid,
knowledge of bike safety. Demonstrate basic bike
repair. 2 10 mile rides, 2 15 mile rides, 2 25 mile rides
and 1 50 mile ride.
No Time Requirement. Understand basic first aid for
hiking related concerns. Understand good hiking
practices, equipment needs/care, hiking safety. 5 10
mile (minimum) hikes and 1 20 mile (continuous) hike.
Prepare hiking plans and written reports.
No Time Requirement. Demonstrate CPR, Swimming
strokes: front crawl, back crawl, side stroke, breast
stroke, back stroke. Diving, water rescue. Basic first
aid for water related health concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: Must individuals who are serving as a merit badge counselor register as a merit badge counselor with the Boy Scouts of America?
Answer: Yes, an Adult Application must be completed for each individual who wants to serve as a merit badge counselor. This Application must be completed
and approved by a BSA local council; the current application process involves a background check. Troop 1 strongly recommends that all Merit Badge
Counselors have a current Youth Protection Training (YPT) certificate as well.
Question: Is group instruction of merit badges allowed?
Answer: A merit badge counselor may make a presentation to a group of Scouts on a merit badge subject. However, unless the merit badge requirements
specifically allow for a group project, each Scout still must complete the requirements individually, and the Scout must meet with a merit badge counselor
(and his buddy) to complete the requirements. The National Executive Board has approved this policy statement on merit badge counseling:
"To the fullest extent possible, the merit badge counseling relationship is a counselor-Scout arrangement in which the boy is not only judged on his
performance of the requirements, but receives maximum benefit from the knowledge, skill, character, and personal interest of his counselor. Group
instruction and orientation are encouraged where special facilities and expert personnel make this most practical, or when Scouts are dependent on
only a few counselors for assistance. However, this group experience should be followed by attention to each individual candidate's projects and his
ability to fulfill all requirements."
In the end, the Scout must be reviewed individually by the counselor to ensure completion of the badge requirements.
In harmony with this policy, a troop or team may use merit badge counselors in unit meetings. The merit badge counselor can make a presentation covering
the highlights of a merit badge subject. Scouts should then be given an opportunity to try some skill related to the badge.
Remember that merit badges represent the individual initiatives, efforts, learning, and skill developments of each Scout as a “Troop of One.” Merit badges
weren’t designed to be accomplished en masse.
Question: Must a Scout complete all Merit Badge requirements within a given time period?
Answer: There is no time limit for completion of merit badges other than age 18.
Question: Does a Scoutmaster have the right to withhold a merit badge “blue card” from a Scout who asks for it, for any reason?
Answer: The procedure for obtaining a merit badge application (aka "blue card") is described on page 187 of the Boy Scout Handbook, there shouldn’t be a
reason why a Scoutmaster would withhold this from a Scout, especially in light of the fact that, on page 22 of the Boy Scout REQUIREMENTS book it is
clearly stated that any Boy Scout can earn any merit badge any time he, the Scout himself and no one else, chooses.
Question: Does a Merit Badge Counselor have to work with any scout that asks?
Answer: In theory, the Merit Badge Counselor should make every effort to work with every scout who is interested in earning their particular badge. In
practicality, Merit Badge Counselors may choose which scouts they can work with. For example, some counselors may choose to only work with scouts from
their own troop. Other counselors may choose to only work with scouts of a certain age for a particular badge.
Summary:
In summary, you will find that there are many venues or programs that promote “Merit Badge Classes” or “Merit Badge Days”. For many different merit
badges, these opportunities are excellent ways for your scout to fulfill their merit badge requirements and to be exposed to fun or challenging merit badges
that they might not otherwise ever have exposure to. The OC Sea Base and their “water” programs are excellent examples of this. Summer Camps are also
other venues that will provide opportunities for your scout to earn merit badges, and there are several Eagle required merit badges that lend themselves
well to instruction in a summer camp environment. However, for most Eagle required merit badges, Troop 1 recommends that you encourage your scout
to utilize the Troop 1 merit badge counselors whenever possible. As part of the Troop 1 program, we endeavor to ensure that our scouts have access to
counselors offering a wide variety of merit badges including all of the “Eagle required” badges. You can be assured that your son will be getting an
experience where they will truly “learn” the material and not just have boxes checked off on a blue card. They will have a one-on-one experience with a
dedicated adult with expertise in a given field, who will work hard to share their expertise with your scout. And when your scout works with a Troop 1
counselor, you can be assured that your son is learning from a YPT certified counselor. If you have any questions regarding merit badges, please feel free to
discuss them with any of the Scoutmaster’s staff or Advancement committee.
Acknowledgements:
Portions of this document were extracted from the following sources:
US Scouting Service Project website – The Net Commish-Ask Andy Column
US Scouting Service Project website – Introduction to Merit Badges
Boy Scouts of America National Council www.scouting.org – Guide for Merit Badges
Boy Scouts of America National Council www.scouting.org – Guide for Merit Badges & Frequently Asked Questions