Merit Badges

Merit Badges

Merit badges can be earned at any time while you are a Scout. You do not have to wait until you are a First Class Scout to start earning your merit badges. There are two types of merit badges:

Eagle required – To achieve the rank of Eagle, you need to earn 14 Eagle-required merit badges. Here's a list of all Eagle-required merit badges:

Lifesaving OR Emergency Preparedness

Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling

Environmental Science OR Sustainability

First Aid

Communication

Personal Management

Family Life

Cooking

Camping

Personal Fitness

Citizenship in the Community

Citizenship in the Nation

Citizenship in the World

Citizenship in Society

Elective – There are 139 merit badges (including Eagle-required ones).

To complete a merit badge, you must meet with a merit badge counselor who will verify you have completed all of the requirements. The merit badge counselor will sign off on your blue merit badge card signifying you have earned the badge. If you have joined our troop from another council or attending a merit badge clinic in another council, you may have a different color card (ex. white).

You will need to bring your signed merit badge card to the Scoutmaster, Mr. Musial, who will report your badge to the council and obtain the merit badge patch. The card and patch will be returned to you at the troop’s next Court of Honor. Please keep all merit badge cards. Each card is your proof you have earned the badge. You will need to submit these cards as part of your Eagle Scout application and Eagle Palm applications.

There are several ways to earn merit badges:

Scouting America Summer Camp – Every summer the troop goes to the Greater St. Louis Area Council’s (GSLAC) summer camp.  Approximately 28 merit badges are offered each year.  This includes Eagle-required merit badges (usually Camping, Cooking, Environmental Science, First Aid, Lifesaving, and Swimming).

Merit Badge Skill Center – GSLAC offers several merit badge skill centers throughout the year.  Examples include Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Law, Railroading, and Stamp Collecting.  Upcoming merit badge skill centers can be found on the council website.

STEM University at UMSL – GSLAC offers a STEM related (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) university. Approximately 25 merit badges are offered in addition to the Boy Scout NOVA awards. For more details, click here.