Merit Badges
Earning merit badges must be Scout-initiated, Scout researched, and Scout learned. To complete a badge a Scout will go through several steps, including working with a registered merit badge counselor. Counselors are not necessarily expected to “teach” the material. They discuss with the Scout (or a group of Scouts) what they have learned through their own initiative, verify their knowledge and completion of the requirements as written, and certify that accomplishment so the Scout can be recognized.
From time to time the troop will offer merit badge classes to help prepare for an specific activity (e.g. canoeing, backpacking). For the most part, however, merit badge work is on the Scout’s initiative.
There are 139 different merit badges a Scout may work on. If your goal is to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, you’ll need a minimum of 21 merit badges, 14 of which are from a list of required badges. Here’s how it works
Step 1
Decide on a Badge
To get started, first identify a badge you’re interested in working on. Badges and requirements are listed online. You can also browse the Troop’s library of merit badge books.
Step 2
Get Your Scoutmaster’s Approval
Before you can start work on a merit badge, you must get a Blue Card (application) from your Advancement Chair and get approval from your Scoutmaster. Your Scoutmaster will recommend an approved counselor(s) for that badge.
How to Earn a Merit Badge
click images to enlarge
Step 3
Contact the Counselor
Get in touch with the merit badge counselor and explain that you want to earn the badge. The counselor may ask to meet you to explain what is expected and to start helping you meet the requirements. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be your parent or legal guardian, or another registered adult.
Step 4
Do the Work
Some merit badges are offered as classes. The merit badge counselor will give you a schedule and you will be expected to meet certain requirements according to their timetable. This is usually true at summer camp and special events (e.g. Aviation Day). If you don’t complete all the requirements, your badge work will considered “partial.” You can complete the remaining requirements at any time but you may need to find another counselor to work with.
Most of the time, merit badge work is completed independently. Your counselor will test you on each requirement to make sure you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.
Step 5
Get the Badge!
When a requirement is completed, your counselor will write the requirement on your card and initial it. When all of your work is complete, your counselor will sign your blue card in two places. They may keep one section for their records. Have your completed Blue Card signed by your Scoutmaster, then give it to the Advancement Chair. They will enter everything in Scoutbook. You’ll be awarded your badge at the next Court of Honor, along with center section of your Blue Card for your records.
Troop Policies
Equal Opportunity
If a registered merit badge counselor within the troop is providing structured instruction such as an online or in-person class, field trip, workshop, etc., it is strongly encouraged that the opportunity be publicized and made available to anyone in the troop who wishes to participate.
Five Badge Limit
It is important for Scouts to learn from and interact with a variety of adults. This is one of the methods of Scouting. To encourage this, a Scout may earn no more than 5 badges with one counselor, of which no more than 3 may be Eagle-required badges.*
Parents as Counselors
A Scout may work with any registered merit badge counselor, including their parent. However, we strongly encourage Scouts to broaden their horizons by working with other counselors. If a Scout does choose to work with their parent, it is highly recommended that at least one other Scout be present for any instruction and/or sign-offs.
Online Classes
Face-to-face, real-world interaction is highly preferred to virtual classes. This doesn’t apply so much to counselors within our troop; is more directed at online merit badge services. We generally discourage the use of these paid services. We highly discourage use of these services for Eagle-required badges.
Merit Badge Fairs
Badge camps, midways, etc. provide hands-on opportunities in a variety of fun and exciting fields. While we sometimes participate in these activities, we highly discourage “earning” Eagle-required badges in these large group settings.
*Exceptions to this limit are: the Scoutmaster and ASMs who, during the course of our regular programming, may sign off on requirements related to camping, hiking, cooking, etc. If a Scout faces special circumstances, reasonable accommodation may also be made.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A blue card is literally a small blue card. It is your application for a merit badge.
You can obtain one by asking our advancement chair for one. When you start a merit badge with a counselor or at summer camp, you should be given one. In some cases you can use a “digital” blue card card through Scoutbook.
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If you lose your Blue Card, or it goes through the wash or is otherwise unreadable, you cannot get credit for your badge work.
Don’t lose it!
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You can check your entire Scouting progress in Scoutbook. This is your official record.
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Only your Scout Leadership and approved Merit Badge Counselors may enter, modify and approve of your Scoutbook entries, as appropriate.
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Green Checkmark: When a Scout feels they have complete a requirement, they can check it off in Scoutbook, indicating that they are ready to be tested or have their work reviewed. It does not signify official approval.
Blue Checkmark: Represents that a requirement has been approved by the assigned merit badge counselor.
Yellow Checkmark: Indicates that the badge has been presented to the Scout, usually at a Court of Honor.
Note: The green checkmark is a useful indicator of progress, but only the blue checkmark signifies the official approval. Scoutbook allows the Advancement Chair or Scoutmaster to mark requirements as “leader approved” but this should only be done if those leaders have personally seen a signed/initialed blue card and are updating Scoutbook on the merit badge counselor’s behalf.
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Yes, your own parent can be your counselor for the badges they are registered for, but you are encouraged to work as a group with other Scouts, not just one-on-one with your parent.
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One of the methods of Scouting is youth association with adults. It is important for Scouts to learn from and interact with a variety of adults. To encourage this, we limit the number of merit badges a Scout can earn with one counselor to 5, of which no more than 3 can be Eagle-required badges.
There are more that 1,200 registered merit badge counselors in our district, most of whom are qualified for multiple badges. We will help you find someone to work with.
Exceptions to this limit are: the Scoutmaster and ASMs who, during the course of our regular programming, may sign off on requirements related to camping, hiking, cooking, etc. If a Scout faces special circumstances, reasonable accommodation may also be made.
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A Scout must earn at least 14 of the following 18 “required” merit badges in order to become an Eagle Scout:
First Aid
Citizenship in the Community
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the World
Citizenship in Society*
Communication
Cooking
Personal Fitness
Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving
Environmental Science or Sustainability
Personal Management
Swimming or Hiking or Cycling
Camping
Family Life
In situations where there are multiple “required” merit badge options (i.e., 9, 10, 12 above), only one of the merit badges counts towards the 14 required merit badges. Any of the other merit badges would then count towards the nine additional merit badges needed to become an Eagle Scout. For example, if a Scout earns the Swimming, Hiking, and Cycling merit badges, one of those merit badges would count toward the 14 required merit badges and the other 2 would count towards the 9 other merit badges.
*Requires a Scout to be 14 and have their parents’ and Scoutmaster’s approval.
We have several registered merit badge counselors in the troop. This is always a great place to start. There are also more than 1,200 registered merit badge counselors in the Golden Gate Area Council.
Troop Merit Badge Counselors
| Eagle Required | Merit Badge | Troop Counselors |
|---|---|---|
| American Business | Katherine Dulany | |
| American Labor | Katherine Dulany | |
| Art | Christopher Simmons, Katherine Dulany | |
| Backpacking | Christopher Simmons | |
| Camping | Christopher Simmons, Cyrus Colangelo | |
| Chemistry | Heather Nye | |
| Citizenship in Society | Christopher Simmons | |
| Citizenship in the Community | Cyrus Colangelo, Katherine Dulany | |
| Citizenship in the World | David Dulany | |
| Communication | Christopher Simmons, Cyrus Colangelo | |
| Cooking | Cyrus Colangelo | |
| Crime Prevention | David Dulany | |
| Cycling | Katherine Dulany | |
| Emergency Preparedness | Christopher Simmons | |
| Entrepreneurship | David Dulany | |
| Family Life | Cyrus Colangelo, Heather Nye | |
| Fingerprinting | Cyrus Colangelo | |
| First Aid | Heather Nye | |
| Graphic Arts | Christopher Simmons | |
| Health Care Professions | Heather Nye | |
| Hiking | Christopher Simmons, Cyrus Colangelo, Heather Nye | |
| Law | Katherine Dulany | |
| Movie Making | Cyrus Colangelo | |
| Music | Heather Nye | |
| Personal Fitness | Cyrus Colangelo | |
| Personal Management | Cyrus Colangelo, Heather Nye | |
| Public Speaking | Christopher Simmons, David Dulany, Heather Nye | |
| Reptile & Amphibian Study | Christopher Simmons | |
| Salesmanship | David Dulany | |
| Scouting Heritage | David Dulany | |
| Sports | Katherine Dulany | |
| Sustainability | Christopher Simmons | |
| Wilderness Survival | Christopher Simmons |