Merit Badges

Many Scouts ask, "what are the easiest/fastest merit badges to earn? From what we've seen, it really depends on your interests as a Scout. Some Scouts find some merit badges easy to do, and some are challenged by them. The fact that these are badges you EARN, means that these badges all have some challenge to them.

Bryan on Scouting ( a favorite reference) talks about first badges here: http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2016/01/26/what-makes-the-best-first-merit-badge-for-a-boy-scout-to-earn/

Just a reminder, don't let more challenging (Silver/Eagle) merit badges scare you - doing a little bit, a small requirement, towards them every week adds up quickly!

Here are some merit badges to help you get started quickly:

Don't forget to log your information into SCOUTBOOK as well as getting your blue card signed!

Animation (5 requirements) Takes about two weeks.

Art (5 requirements) Takes about a week.

Basketry (3 requirements) Takes 1-3 days. A summer camp fave!

Communication (9 requirements) Takes about a week to a month

Family Life (7 requirements) If you start during the winter holidays, you'll earn it by Spring!

Fingerprinting (5 requirements) Takes about a week.

Golf (8 requirements) Takes anywhere between 1-4 weeks.

Indian Lore (4+ requirements) Takes about a week

Landscaping (6 requirements) Takes about a week

Leatherwork (4 requirements) Takes about a week

Moviemaking (4 requirements) Takes 1-4 weeks

Music (4requiremnts.) Takes 1-6 months, not weeks. Start now, and be done by summer

Reading (4 requirements) Takes 1 -4 weeks

Scouting Heritage (8 requirements) Takes a week to 8 weeks.

Sculpture (4 requirements) Takes one week

Textiles (6 requirements) Takes a week

HOW TO USE A BLUE CARD: https://monmouthbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Merit-Badge-BlueCard.pdf

Need a blue card in a hurry? See - http://usscouts.org/advance/docs/34124.pdf

Good Luck!