Important Information about earning Merit Badges

Merit Badges may be earned at any rank, but are required for advancement to the ranks of Star, Life and Eagle. Scouts working on the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class should place their primary focus on rank advancement. However, as opportunities arise to work on MBs they may take advantage of them.

The difficulty of MBs vary widely depending on the badge, and the age, intellectual maturity, and interests of the scout. Before beginning a badge, several steps should be taken.

1. Review the requirements for the badge and/or scan through the merit badge pamphlet (form the troop library or the scout shop). Requirements may also be viewed online at various sites including http://meritbadge.com The scout should decide if this is a MB he is interested in and able to attempt at this time. He should understand what the questions/requirements are asking and/or why they would be relevant. Some badges require more advanced knowledge or intellectual skills and a first year scout might have significant difficulty achieving them.

2. Find a Merit Badge Counsellor  from the list MeritBadge.pdf willing to supervise the MB. A list of counsellors is available on our troop website http://troop795.org (If the MB is being offered in a clinic setting, the scout should do step 3 prior to step 2.

3. Obtain a bluecard, and have it signed by the Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster will always try to consider if a scout is ready to undertake the merit badge prior to signing the card. A scout must have a signed blue card to begin work on a merit badge. The Scoutmaster normally is available by phone or email if a scout has questions regarding approval to begin.

In general, the Scoutmaster will sign blue cards for a scout who is interested and (somewhat) excited to work on the particular MB provided they do not have too many MBs in progress. Scouts early in their scouting career should restrict their merit badge work to one or possibly two merit badges. Older scouts might have three or four open cards or partials from camp.

When the opportunity arises (such as a field trip led by the Troop) parent's should mention the opportunity, and if there is interest review the requirements with their scout. However it is best not to push the scout. It should be their decision to proceed if they are interested and if they are ready

The Scoutmaster is always available to answer questions.

Check with the scout office for list of merit badge counselors