Troop 373 Merit Badge List
and the Complete Merit Badge List below

Please read the Troop 373 Merit Badge Procedure page.

A)  Things to Know About Interactive Digital Merit Badge Pamphlets new for 2016

1) Some Merit Badges have more than one Troop 373 Counselor.

2) * Bold = Eagle Required MB  ( Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving * ) (Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling * )
  See What Badge Should I work on?

3) The Merit Badge Counselor Chair will work to find Merit Badges Counselor for any MB. See The Official BSA MB Web site).  For guidance you can talk to a Scoutmaster (or the Advancement Chair) about your interests or your current requirements for advancement.

4) Some Counselors and all camps will ask you to use a Worksheets for working on the requirements. These are found at the end of each MB at http://www.usscouts.org/usscouts/meritbadges.asp. Here you will find the sheets in both Word Doc and PDF format. Worksheets are also found at this link.  Arcadia Wilderness Park Camp Trask MBCabrillo Youth Camp MB ,(UCR when posted) and Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center also requires the worksheets.  See Merit Badge Day rules.

5) (**) = Is part of World Conservation Award. (panda badge)

6) Outside of a Merit Badge Class setting: The Counselor may or may not teach some of the requirements, it is up the Counselor. Counselors will answer any questions about the requirements, but are not required to teach the MB.

7) A Scout must have a Troop Leader Signed Blue Card before calling the Troop Merit Badge Counselor Chair or a Counselor, also before going to non-Troop 373 Class.  On a blue card a "Unit Leader" is a Troop 373 leader that knows the Eagle MBs, like your Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster.

8) Contact the Troop Merit Badge Counselor Chair for the name and phone # of the Counselor.

Current Troop Merit Badge Counselor Chair is:      Da v e  S a   r g e n t

12)  World Conservation Award: If you have earned these three MBs you have earned the World Conservation Award:

        1. Environmental Science OR Sustainability merit badge     2. Soil and Water Conservation OR Fish and Wildlife Management merit badge    3. Citizenship in the World merit badge

       Report to the Troop Awards Chair that you have earned the award.  Turn in the form at this link 

13)  Rollout of interactive digital merit badge pamphlets started. 

https://www.scoutstuff.org/bsa/literature-media/interactive-digital.html

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Scouts Some Merit Badges Require Prior Approval from your Counselor. 

Cooking: requirement reads: "Note: The meals prepared for Cooking merit badge requirements 4, 5, and 6 will count only toward fulfilling those requirements and will not count toward rank advancement or other merit badges. Meals prepared for rank advancement or other merit badges may not count toward the Cooking merit badge. You must not repeat any menus for meals actually prepared or cooked in requirements 4, 5, and 6." "Much of this merit badge builds on rank advancement requirements, so scouts might want to double-count meals for merit badges and ranks. That is not allowed for this Cooking merit badge. Please see the note before requirement #4 below."

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The following is a list of all the BSA Merit Badges (list as of early 2019)

The official list from BSA with a picture of each patch

Link for current Merit Badges from http://www.usscouts.org with worksheets


List A to Z see:  https://boyscouttrail.com/boy-scouts/merit-badges.asp

Eagle Required MB  note:( Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving *) (Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling *) (Environmental Science OR Sustainability *)      21 MBs are needed for Eagle Rank 


By Feild for Study:

  1. AGRIBUSINESS
    ANIMAL SCIENCE, FARM MECHANICS, PLANT SCIENCE
     
  2. ARTS AND CRAFTS
    ART, BASKETRY, BUGLING, LEATHERWORK, METALWORK, MUSIC, POTTERY, SCULPTURE, THEATER, WOOD CARVING
     
  3. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
    AMERICAN BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, PULP AND PAPER, SALESMANSHIP, TEXTILE
     
  4. CONSERVATION
    ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, FORESTRY, SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION, SUSTAINABILITY
     
  5. HOBBIES
    BACKPACKING, CAMPING, CHESS, COIN COLLECTING, COLLECTIONS, COOKING, DOG CARE, GARDENING, HIKING, HOME REPAIRS, INDIAN LORE, MODEL DESIGN AND BUILDING, PETS, PIONEERING, RADIO, ROWING, SCOUTING HERITAGE, STAMP COLLECTING
     
  6. NATURAL SCIENCE
    ARCHAEOLOGY, ASTRONOMY, BIRD STUDY, GEOLOGY, INSECT STUDY, MAMMAL STUDY, NATURE, OCEANOGRAPHY, REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN STUDY, WEATHER
     
  7. COMMUNICATIONS
    MOVIEMAKING, JOURNALISM, PHOTOGRAPHY, SIGNS, SIGNALS, AND CODES
     
  8. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
    AMERICAN CULTURES, AMERICAN HERITAGE, CITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY, CITIZENSHIP IN THE NATION, CITIZENSHIP IN THE WORLD, COMMUNICATION, DISABILITIES AWARENESS, EXPLORATION, FAMILY LIFE, GENEALOGY, PERSONAL FITNESS, PERSONAL MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC SPEAKING, READING, SCHOLARSHIP, SEARCH AND RESCUE, TRAFFIC SAFETY, WILDERNESS SURVIVAL
     
  9. PHYSICAL SCIENCE
    CHEMISTRY, DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, ELECTRICITY, ELECTRONICS, ENERGY, NUCLEAR SCIENCE, SPACE EXPLORATION
     
  10. PROFESSIONS
    ANIMATION, ARCHITECTURE, DENTISTRY, ENGINEERING, GAME DESIGN, INVENTING, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, LAW, MEDICINE, MINING IN SOCIETY, PROGRAMMING, ROBOTICS, SURVEYING, VETERINARY MEDICINE
     
  11. PUBLIC SERVICE
    CRIME PREVENTION, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, FINGERPRINTING, LIFESAVING, PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY
     
  12. SPORTS
    ARCHERY, ATHLETICS, CANOEING, CLIMBING, CYCLING, FISHING, FLY FISHING, GOLF, GEOCACHING, HORSEMANSHIP, KAYAKING, MOTORBOATING, ORIENTEERING, RIFLE SHOOTING, SCUBA DIVING, SHOTGUN SHOOTING, SKATING, SMALL-BOAT SAILING, SNOW SPORTS, SPORTS, SWIMMING, WATER SPORTS, WHITEWATER
     
  13. TRADES
    AMERICAN LABOR, AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE, COMPOSITE MATERIALS, DRAFTING, GRAPHIC ARTS, PAINTING, PLUMBING, WELDING, WOODWORK
  14. TRANSPORTATION
    AVIATION, RAILROADING, TRUCK TRANSPORTATION

 

Online Books:

https://www.troop109nj.com/app/download/5843777/Sustainability+Merit+Badge+Pamphlet.pdf

For MB C.

These merit badge(s) have been approved and are in development with the following tentative launch dates. Coming "soon"

1) Computer-Aided Design  MB Estimated release:?  CAD Description: Teaching boys to use computer systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design.  (to replace Drafting)

2) Advanced Computing MB Estimated release: ?  Description:  The next generation of computing.  

3) Multimedia  Estimated release: ?

4) Biometrics (a "replace and a major Fingerprinting update!"),

5?) A "Life Skills" badge , no name yet

___

        **  NEW Merit Badges, since 1997:
2016

Exploration merit badge   

Write up

2015

Animation  May 2015       Computer or traditional animation tasks that will test a Scout's creativity, artistic skills, and storytelling abilities.

Signs, Signals, and Codes    2015  MB Requirements
         American Sign Language (ASL) is the third most used language in the United States.
         The Signs, Signals, and Codes merit badge will cover Morse code, ASL, Braille, signaling, trail markings,
         and other nonverbal communications.

2014

New Released April 16, 2014
Digital Technology (will replace Computers)  2014
Description: Technology has come a long way since Computers merit badge was first introduced in 1967. This badge, which replaces Computers, will teach Scouts about technology in the digital age.
Requirements

* New Mining in Society  MB Launch: February 2014 Description: Mining has been an important part of the United States since the 19th century. Today, the U.S. mining industry employs 3 million people, directly and indirectly, and is a major contributor to the global mining landscape. I expect this merit badge will cover the history of mining, explore the status of mining in the 21st century, and introduce Scouts to modern mining career

* Major Updates in Cooking MB in 2014 Changed and Now Eagle MB

2013

New  Game Design, NEW effective March 6, 2013. Description: Slated to include both traditional games and video games, this sure to be popular merit badge will test Scouts’ creativity, computer skills, and planning abilities.

New Programming   Effective July 15, 2013   (A tech focused merit badge for the 21st Century.)

New  Sustainability MB  NEW effective July 15, 2013.   Note: This merit badge is Eagle required. Scouts must earn either this or Environmental Science.  Description: A badge to teach Scouts to use resources responsibly.

* Cycling Cycling now has Mountain Biking option. Effective July 15, 2013. Changed

2012

* Welding Merit Badge. March, 2012

*  Kayaking  started New  June 12, 2012.

* Search and Rescue  8-2012 New.

2011

* Robotics merit badge approved new as of April 2011.

Chess Merit Badge : Started Sept. 10, 2011
 

2010

* Geocaching Merit Badge his here, started Feb. 24, 2010

* Scouting Heritage: his here, started April , 2010

* INVENTING Merit Badge his here, started June 2010. INVENTING

 * Scuba: Merit Badge became effective January 1, 2010

2008
Automotive Maintenance    - Change from  Auto Mechanics.
2006
Composite Materials   from the SGVC
2005
Nuclear Science    was in past Atomic Energy,
2002
Fly Fishing
1999
Snow Sports
1997
Entrepreneurship

________________
To be released in the Future  See http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/merit-badge-calendar/

_____________
Patch Samples

Sample Merit Badges, Note Non- Eagle are Gold Trim

 

Camping Merit Badge. Eagle with Sliver Trim

 

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Cooking and Sustainability Merit Badges
New Eagle Required List

Cooking Merit Badge Required for Eagle Scout Rank
Cooking MB

Effective Jan. 1, 2014, the Cooking merit badge will be required in order to obtain the Eagle Scout rank.
Regardless of when a Scout earned the Life rank or began working on Eagle, he must earn the
Cooking merit badge to become an Eagle Scout. Using the New Cooking MB in 2014 is optional. 

In 2015 the new book must be used.

Cooking Merit Badge Targeted for Revision
During 2013 the Cooking merit badge  under went a major revision. The process for implementing
changes to merit badges is covered in the Guide to Advancement, topic 7.0.4.2, “What to Do When
Requirements Change.” The changes to Cooking will first appear in a revised merit badge pamphlet
that will be released during 2013. The new requirements then become effective Jan. 1, 2014, with the
release of Boy Scout Requirements, No. 34765. The Guide then allows the following options for the
period of time between the release of the revised pamphlet and the Jan. 1, 2014, effective date:

 If Scouts have already started on the merit badge, they may switch to the new requirements or
continue with the old ones until the badge is completed.
 If Scouts have not already started on the merit badge, they may opt to use the new requirements
and the new pamphlet.
 If work on the merit badge begins before Jan. 1, 2014, they may use the old requirements and old
pamphlet until the badge is completed.

The Guide to Advancement, under the same topic, goes on to say, “There is no time limit between
starting and completing a badge, although a counselor may determine so much time has passed since
any ef«ßTîU«ßTîUÝTîUÐÝTîUh«ßTîU «ßTîU3 «ßTîU>

Regardless of the Requirements Used, Cooking Will Count
Scouts completing the requirements for the Eagle Scout rank after Jan. 1, 2014, must earn the Cooking
merit badge under either the existing requirements or under the requirements as revised during 2013.
Scouts are not required to earn the badge under the new Cooking requirement in order to qualify for Eagle.

_____________________________

About New Sustainability Merit Badge
Environmental Science or Sustainability for Eagle
Sustainability

The Sustainability merit badge, in essence, takes conservation and environmental science to another
level. The protection, preservation, and management of wildlife and natural resources involved in
conservation provide a foundation for what we call environmental science. The latter integrates
physical and biological sciences such as ecology, biology, soil science, atmospheric science, and others
in order to generate solutions to environmental issues. Sustainability takes off from there by taking
responsibility for balancing long-term environmental, social, health, and economic needs with progress
and development. It further suggests that development, while meeting the needs of the present,
cannot compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

In summary the Environmental Science merit badge studies the following:
• Ecology
• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Land pollution
• Endangered species
• Pollution prevention, resource recovery, and conservation
• Ecosystem—living and nonliving
• Environmental impact

The requirements for Sustainability have not yet been finalized, but initial discussions include the
following topics:

  What is sustainability?
 Examining our current needs and our choices in meeting them, with attention to extraction,
production, distribution, consumption, and disposal  Impact on our natural resources  Problems we must address, including plastic, electronic, and medical waste; species extinction, and climate change.  New habits to adopt, including green chemistry, recycling, zero waste, and sustainability-conscious citizens.  Careers related to sustainability

Q and A

What’s the Procedure?

COOKING MERIT BADGE REQUIRED FOR EAGLE
Effective Jan. 1, 2014, the Cooking merit badge will be required to obtain the Eagle Scout rank. Here are some details.

WHAT ABOUT SCOUTS WHO STARTED WORKING TOWARD EAGLE BEFORE 2014?
Regardless of when a Scout earned the Life rank or began working towards Eagle, unless he fullls all the requirements
before Jan. 1, 2014 – with the exception of his board of review – he must earn the Cooking merit badge to become an Eagle Scout.

WILL THE COOKING MERIT BADGE REQUIREMENTS CHANGE?
Yes. During 2013 the Cooking merit badge will undergo a major revision. The process for implementing
changes to merit badge requirements is covered in the Guide to Advancement, topic 7.0.4.2,
“What to Do When Requirements Change.” The changes to Cooking will ?
First appear in a revised merit badge pamphlet to be released sometime in 2013.

ONCE THE REVISED REQUIREMENTS ARE RELEASED, WHICH VERSION WILL COUNT?
The new requirements become effective Jan. 1, 2014, with the release of the 2014 Boy Scout Requirements,
No. 34765. The Guide to Advancement then allows the following options for the period of time between the
release of the revised pamphlet and the Jan. 1, 2014, effective date:

• If Scouts have already started on the merit badge, they may switch to the new requirements (using the
new merit badge pamphlet) or continue with the existing ones (and using the existing pamphlet) until the
badge is completed. • Scouts who have not already started on the merit badge may opt to use the new requirements and the new pamphlet.

• Scouts who begin work on the merit badge before Jan.1, 2014,  may use the existing requirements and pamphlet until the badge is completed.

• Under the same topic, the Guide to Advancement goes on to say, “There is no time limit between starting
and completing a badge, although a counselor may determine so much time has passed since any effort
took place that the new requirements must be used.” This will apply to Scouts working on the Cooking merit badge as well.

LET’S SAY A SCOUT HAS ALREADY EARNED COOKING.  WILL HE HAVE TO RE-EARN IT
WITH THE REVISED REQUIREMENTS TO  OBTAIN THE EAGLE RANK?
No. Scouts who complete the requirements for the Eagle Scout rank after Jan. 1, 2014, must earn the Cooking
merit badge under either the existing requirements or the requirements as revised during 2013. Scouts are
not required to earn the badge under the new requirements in order to qualify for Eagle.
 

New Sustainability Merit Badge a Required-for-Eagle Option
Upon its release set for summer 2013, the Sustainability merit badge becomes an Eagle-required merit badge as an option to Environmental Science.
This means once the Sustainability merit badge and pamphlet become available in 2013,
Scouts may choose to earn the Sustainability merit badge in place of the currently required Environmental Science merit badge.

Here are some additional facts.

If A SCOUT EARNS BOTH THE SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MERIT BADGES,
DO BOTH COUNT TOWARD EAGLE?
Scouts who have already earned Environmental Science may also earn Sustainability,but only one of the
two merit badges would count as “Eagle-required.”

The second badge may be counted among his electives to reach the total of 21 required merit badges.

CAN YOU GIVE ME A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE SUSTAINABILITY  MERIT BADGE WILL COVER?
The Sustainability merit badge, in essence, takes conservation and environmental science to another level.
The protection, preservation, and management of wildlife and natural resources involved in conservation
provide a foundation for what we call environmental science. It integrates physical and biological sciences
such as ecology, biology, soil science, atmospheric science, and others in order to generate solutions to environmental
issues. Sustainability takes it a step further by emphasizing responsibility for balancing long-term
environmental, social, health, and economic needs with progress and development. It further suggests that development,
while meeting the needs of the present, cannot compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

WHAT SUBJECT AREAS WILL SCOUTS STUDY IN THE SUSTAINABILITY  MERIT BADGE?
• Ecology
• Air, water, and land pollution
• Endangered species
• Pollution prevention, resource recovery, and conservation
• Ecosystem—living and nonliving
• Environmental impact

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY?
The requirements for Sustainability have not yet been finalized, but initial discussions include the following
topics:
• What is sustainability?
• Examining our current needs and our choices in meeting them, with attention to extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal
• Impact on our natural resources
• Problems we must address, including plastic, electronic, and medical waste; species extinction; and climate change
• New habits to adopt, including green chemistry, recycling, zero waste, and sustainability conscious citizenship
• Careers related to sustainability
 
 

______________________________________________________
Historical Merit Badge Program Past.

Just for 2010 (sorry this program is over):
A merit badge called Computers would sound just a crazy to a 1910 Boy Scout as a merit badge called Tracking sounds to Scouts today. That's because the BSA’s list of available merit badges has evolved through the years as the interests of boys have changed. In honor of the BSA’s 100th Anniversary, though, today's generation of Scouts will get the unique opportunity to experience some of the activities their predecessors enjoyed. That's possible thanks to the BSA’s new Historical Merit Badge Program, a set of four discontinued merit badges that today's Scouts can earn.
Signaling   -  Tracking   -   Pathfinding    -   Carpentry