Camping Merit Badge

CAMPING



1. Do the following:
2. Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in camping activities and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
3. Show that you know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur while camping, including hypothermia, frostbite, heat reactions, dehydration, altitude sickness, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.

Bugling Merit Badge

BUGLING

1. Give a brief history of the bugle.
2. Do the following:
3. Explain and demonstrate how the bugle makes sound, and explain how the bugle is related to other brass wind instruments.

Bird Study Merit Badge

BIRD STUDY

1. Explain the need for bird study and why birds are useful indicators of the quality of the environment.
2. Show that you are familiar with the terms used to describe birds by sketching or tracing a perched bird and then labeling 15 different parts of the bird. Sketch or trace an extended wing and label six types of wing feathers.

Basketry Merit Badge

BASKETRY

1. Describe precautions you should take to safely use basketry tools and materials.
2. Do the following:
1. Show your counselor that you are able to identify each of the following types of baskets: plaited, coiled, ribbed, and wicker.
2. Describe three different types of weaves to your counselor.
3. Plan and weave EACH of the following projects:
1. a square basket
2. a round basket
3. a campstool seat

Backpacking Merit Badge

BACKPACKING

1. Discuss the prevention of and treatment for the health concerns that could occur while backpacking, including hypothermia, heat reactions, frostbite, dehydration, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, and blisters.
2. Do the following:
1. List 10 items that are essential to be carried on any backpacking trek and explain why each item is necessary.

Aviation Merit Badge

AVIATION

1. Do the following:
1. Define "aircraft." Describe some kinds and uses of aircraft today. Explain the operation of piston, turboprop, and jet engines.
2. Point out on a model airplane the forces that act on an airplane in flight.
3. Explain how an airfoil generates lift, how the primary control surfaces (ailerons, elevators, and rudder) affect the airplane's attitude, and how a propeller produces thrust.

Automotive Maintenance Merit Badge

AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE

You will need access to a car or truck and its owner's manual to meet some of the requirements for this merit badge.

1. Discuss with your counselor the safety equipment, tools, and clothing used while checking or repairing a motor vehicle. Use this equipment, tools, and/or clothing (when needed or called for) in meeting the requirements for this merit badge.
2. General Maintenance, Safety, and Registration. Do the following:

Athletics Merit Badge

ATHLETICS

1. Do the following:
1. Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter during athletics activities, and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
2. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while participating in athletics events, including sprains, strains, contusions, abrasions, blisters, dehydration, and heat reactions.
2. Explain the following:
1. The importance of the physical exam

Astronomy Merit Badge

ASTRONOMY

1. Do the following:
1. Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in astronomy activities, and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
2. Explain first aid for injuries or illnesses such as heat and cold reactions, dehydration, bites and stings, and damage to your eyes that could occur during observation.

Art Merit Badge

ART

1. Tell a story with a picture or pictures or using a 3-D rendering.
2. Do ONE of the following:
1. Design something useful. Make a sketch or model of your design and get your counselor's approval before you proceed. Then create a promotional piece for the item using a picture or pictures.

Architecture Merit Badge

ARCHITECTURE

1. Do the following:
1. Tour your community and list the different types of buildings you see. Try to identify buildings that can be associated with a specific period of history or style of architecture. Make a sketch of the building you most admire.
2. Select an architectural achievement that has had a major impact on society. Using resources such as the Internet (with your parent's permission), books, and magazines, find out how this achievement has influenced the world today. Tell your counselor what you learned.
2. In the Outdoor Code, a Scout pledges to “be conservation-minded.” Discuss the following with your counselor:

Archery Merit Badge

ARCHERY

1. Do the following:
1. State and explain the Range Safety Rules:
1. Three safety rules when on the shooting line
2. Three safety rules when retrieving arrows
3. The four whistle commands used on a range and their related verbal commands
2. State and explain the general safety rules for archery. Demonstrate how to safely carry arrows in your hands.

Archaeology Merit Badge

ARCHAEOLOGY

1. Tell what archaeology is and explain how it differs from anthropology, geology, paleontology, and history.
2. Describe each of the following steps of the archaeological process: site location, site excavation, artifact identification and examination, interpretation, preservation, and information sharing.
3. Describe at least two ways in which archaeologists determine the age of sites, structures, or artifacts. Explain what relative dating is.

Animal Science Merit Badge

ANIMAL SCIENCE

1. Name four breeds of livestock in each of the following classifications: horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, hogs. Tell their principal uses and merits. Tell where the breeds originated.
2. List five diseases that afflict the animals in each of the classifications in requirement 1. Also list five diseases of poultry. Describe the symptoms of each disease and explain how each is contracted and how it could be prevented.

American Labor Merit Badge

AMERICAN LABOR

1. Using resources available to you, learn about working people and work-related concerns. List and briefly describe or give examples of at least EIGHT concerns of American workers. These may include, but are not limited to, working conditions, workplace safety, hours, wages, seniority, job security, equal-opportunity employment and discrimination, guest workers, automation and technologies that replace workers, unemployment, layoffs, outsourcing, and employee benefits such as health care, child care, profit sharing, and retirement benefits.

American Heritage Merit Badge

AMERICAN

HERITAGE

1. Read the Declaration of Independence. Pay close attention to the section that begins with “We hold these truths to be self-evident” and ends with “to provide new Guards for their future security.” Rewrite that section in your own words, making it as easy to understand as possible. Then, share your writing with your merit badge counselor and discuss the importance of the Declaration to all Americans.

American Cultures Merit Badge

AMERICAN

CULTURES

Choose THREE groups that have different racial, cultural, national, or ethnic backgrounds, one of which comes from your own background. Use these groups to meet requirements 1, 2, and 3.

1. Do TWO of the following, choosing a different group for each:
• Go to a festival, celebration, or other event identified with one of the groups. Report on what you see and learn.
• Go to a place of worship, school, or other institution identified with one of the groups. Report on what you see and learn.
• Talk with a person from one of the groups about the heritage and traditions of the group. Report on what you learn.
• Learn a song, dance, poem, or story that is traditional to one group, and teach it to a group of your friends.
• Go to a library or museum to see a program or exhibit featuring one group's traditions. Report on what you see and learn.

American Business Merit Badge

AMERICAN

BUSINESS



1. Do the following:
1. Explain four features of the free enterprise system in the United States. Tell its benefits and responsibilities. Describe the difference between freedom and license. Tell how the Scout Oath and Law apply to business and free enterprise.
2. Describe the Industrial Revolution. Tell about the major developments that marked the start of the modern industrial era in the United States. Tell about five people who had a great influence on business or industry in the United States. Tell what each did.

Oreinteering Merit Badge

ORIENTEERING

1. Show that you know first aid for the types of injuries that could occur while orienteering, including cuts, scratches, blisters, snakebite, insect stings, tick bites, heat and cold reactions (sunburn, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, hypothermia), and dehydration. Explain to your counselor why you should be able to identify poisonous plants and poisonous animals that are found in your area.

Tenderfoot Requirement 3

There is one thing that tends to bring everyone together... Food!  You will find that your fellow patrol members are your brothers.  You will create amazing bonds with the members of your patrol and troop.  Some of my fondest memories of camping are those of cooking...sitting around the campfire after a full day of hiking and canoeing with a big bowl of blackberry cobbler

Topographic Map Activity

Looking at a topographic map for the first time can be a confusing experience.

One way to understand what all the squiggly lines are for is to complete the topographic hand activity:

Fingerprinting Merit Badge

FINGERPRINTING

1. Give a short history of fingerprinting. Tell the difference between civil and criminal identification.
2. Explain the difference between the automated fingerprint identification systems (AFIS) now used by some law enforcement agencies and the biometric fingerprint systems used to control access to places like buildings, airports, and computer rooms.

The Scout Basic Essentials

When going on outings, there are always a few items that you will ALWAYS want to take with you.  These items are called "Essentials". Taking these items will help make an awesome camping or hiking experience.

Scout Basic Essentials:

Tenderfoot Requirement 1

As a Scoutmaster, there have been many times when scouts show up unprepared for the overnight campout.  My personal favorite is the scout who shows up for a 5 mile hike with two gym bags, one on each shoulder, and a cot... its going to be a long hike!  If ye are prepared.... Ye shall have an awesome time camping!

When preparing for any campout, pack the following:

Boy Scout Eagle Palms

After becoming an Eagle Scout, you may earn Palms by completing the following requirements:

1. Be active in your troop and patrol for at least three months after becoming and Eagle Scout or after award of last Palm*
2. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life.
3. Make a satisfactory effort to develop and demonstrate leadership ability.
4. Earn five additional merit badges beyond those required for Eagle or last Palm.**
5. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
6. Complete a board of review.

You may wear only the proper combination of Palms for the number of merit badges you earned beyond the rank of Eagle.  The Bronze Palm represents five merit badges, the Gold Palm 10, and the Silver Palm 15.

* Eagle Palms must be earned in sequence, and the three-month tenure requirement must be observed for each Palm.
** Merit badges earned any time since becoming a Boy Scout may be used to meet this requirement.