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Danville, California
B.S.A. Fleur De LisBoy Scouts of America (R) Troop 805

How To Work On A Merit Badge

blue-card-infographic2You can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit badges. There are more than 130 merit badges. Any Scout may earn a merit badge at any time. You don’t need to have had rank advancement to be eligible.

Scouting is not about collecting badges. It’s about collecting the lessons, experiences and relationships that shape your life. Behind each small, round patch is a story with infinite endings. One by one, these stories come together to form the person who writes them — confident, courageous, and prepared to make a difference in the world.

– Excerpted from Northern Star Council’s Annual Report

Here’s How You Work On A Merit Badge:

Step 1: Pick a Subject. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you. Choose one to earn.

Step 2: Get the Blue Card. Discuss your interest in beginning a merit badge with your Scoutmaster at a Troop Meeting for a Blue Card. The Blue Card is the nickname for the “Application for a Merit Badge.” DO NOT LOSE YOUR BLUE CARD!!! It is the record of your work on the merit badge. You must have Scoutmaster approval to begin any merit badge.

Step 3: Contact a Merit Badge Counselor. Please email meritbadges@troop805.org to help find an approved Merit Badge Counselor. The Counselor will schedule time to meet with you to go over requirements and how to complete them.

  • Scouts and Parents, Please be wary of selecting Merit Badge Counselors you find on Facebook or online.  You must work with a BSA approved Merit Badge Counselor. If you complete a merit badge with an MBC that is not in good standing with BSA, your Merit Badge may not be accepted.  Please do not work with an MBC that asks for “donations” or charges fees, this is a BSA violation and an MBC can and should be reported to their council for doing so.  If you find an MBC online that you’d like to work with, please contact our Troop’s Merit Badge Counselor Coordinator at meritbadges@troop805.org so he can validate that MBCs standing with BSA and their registered Council.  And please remember you need Scoutmaster approval to begin any merit badge even if it’s an offering you find online.
  • Summer Camp or other Council Offered or Approved Camps: If you are working on a merit badge during summer camp or other council offered camp (e.g. GGAC Exploration Camp, Advance Camp), the MBCs selected to run these sessions are approved and are in good standing with BSA.  You do not need to check with our Troop’s MBC Coordinator or email meritbadges@troop805.org to validate your MBC for a Council offered or approved camp like Summer Camp.

Step 4: Use the Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the Merit Badge Counselor. This can be another Scout, parent, sibling, etc. The best way is to find another scout who wants to work on the same badge with you!

Step 5: Get the Book.  Get a copy of the merit badge pamphlet on the subject.  Merit badge pamphlets can be checked out from the Troop library (contact the Troop Librarian for details), public libraries, or purchased from the Scout shop.  There are also free workbooks you can download and print that can be helpful.

Step 6: Do the Work. With your Merit Badge Counselor’s approval, start working on the requirements.  Your Counselor will tell you what type of proof they need for requirements you do on your own (such as photos, etc.).  You will likely meet with your Counselor multiple times to complete the badge.

  • Requirements: You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated—no more and no less. You must do exactly what is stated in the requirements. If it says “show or demonstrate,” that is what you must do. Just telling about it isn’t enough. The same thing holds true for such words as “make,” “list,” “in the field,” and “collect,” “identify,” and “label.”  Also, watch out for requirements that say things like “with your counselor’s approval.”  That means your counselor must approve your plan before you do that requirement.

Step 7: Complete the Badge. When your Counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, they will sign your Blue Card.  The Counselor will keep one section of the Blue Card.  You must turn in the other two Blue Card sections to the Scoutmaster.   You should receive the merit badge at the next Court of Honor. When you receive the badge, a section of the Blue Card will be also be given to you. Place this card in a your Scout record binder. DO NOT LOSE this card as this is your proof that you completed the merit badge.  This Merit Badge Checklist can help remind you of what to do.

Partials: If you start a merit badge and do not finish it, save the Blue Card as you can finish it at some future time before your 18th birthday.  There is no time limit on when you must finish a merit badge that you started.  You may also start a merit badge with one Counselor, but finish it later with a different Counselor.  Please contact our Troop’s Merit Badge Counselor Coordinator to identify a BSA approved MBC you can work with to complete your badge or take with you to a Council Camp. It is strongly suggested that you keep the card in a safe place such as a Scout record binder, so that you will know where it is.

Good Luck and Have Fun!