Scouts can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit badges. There are more than 100 merit badges. Any Boy Scout may earn any merit badge at any time. You don't need to have had rank advancement to be eligible.
Pick a Subject. Talk to your Scoutmaster about your interests. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you. Pick one to earn. Your Scoutmaster will give you the name of a person from a list of counselors. These counselors have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.
Discuss with your Scoutmaster. The scout must approach the Scoutmaster or his assigned Assistant Scoutmaster to discuss the merit Badge he wishes to complete and receive a recommended Merit Badge Counselor's contact information from the Scoutmaster or his Assistant.
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 or other relative, or a friend.
Call the Counselor. Get a signed merit badge application from your Scoutmaster. 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 to meet you to explain what is expected of you and to start helping you meet the requirements. You should also discuss work that you have already started or possibly completed.
Unless otherwise specified, work for 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. Our troop has some books and school or public libraries have them as well.
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 tell 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 Scoutmaster so that your merit badge emblem can be secured for you.
A list of available Merit Badges, including the requirements to earn each one, can be found at http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges.aspx.
There is a great YouTube presentation
for scouts on the process of completing a merit badge done by a group
of scouts. Scouts, please check with your parents first, then view this video with your parent's permission. The video
is a little corny with a touch of humor and includes all the important steps a scout must go through to complete a merit badge. The video story is about
two scouts that decide that they are bored with video games and they
decide to work on "Rat Study Merit Badge", walking the viewer through
each step of the merit badge process.