Merit Badges are the second main area of the Boy Scout advancement program. Unlike ranks, there is a degree of choice in the merit badge program. A sub-group of merit badges are known as Eagle required merit badges. To earn Eagle Scout, most of these badges must be earned although some are “either/or” badges. The remainder of the badges help with earning ranks as well as Eagle Palms after the Eagle Scout award has been earned.

Boy Scouts may work on merit badges from they time they join a Scout troop until they turn 18 years old. There is no time limit for completion of merit badges other than age 18. Some Merit Badges Require Prior Approval before starting certain requirements. Most do not.

A Scout begins on a merit badge by asking his Scoutmaster for a blue card and for the name and contact information for a merit badge counselor.  Troop 131 has merit badge counselors for all Eagle required merit badges and many others. For those for which we do not have a counselor, the Scoutmaster will provide contact information for one within the Colonial District.

The next step is to either purchase or borrow from the Troop a merit badge book.  Easy to fill out merit badge worksheets are also available online to help with keeping track of requirements that have been completed and those that need work.