Scouts BSA Awards

Background and Purposes

As chartered by the Congress of the United States, Scouting America is a movement dedicated to supplementing and enlarging the education of youth. The merit badge program, which provides opportunities for youth to explore more than 120 fields of skill and knowledge, plays a key role in the fulfillment of this educational commitment.

A vital part of Scouting America's advancement plan, the merit badge program is one of Scouting's basic character-building tools. Through participation in the program (which may begin immediately upon registration in a troop or team), a Scout acquires the kind of self-confidence that comes only from overcoming obstacles to achieve a goal. Instruction is offered in everything from animal science and public speaking to swimming and communications, providing a young man with invaluable career, physical, and interpersonal skills.

Merit Badge Pamphlets

Each merit badge subject is outlined and explained in a pamphlet that contains short introductory information written for Scouts BSA/Varsity Scouts by recognized authorities. More than a million pamphlets are sold yearly, and many are used as approved reference texts in libraries and school curricula.

Counselors

People who are knowledgeable about the various merit badge subjects are selected, approved, and trained by council and district advancement committees to serve as merit badge counselors. For example, a dentist might be asked to serve as a counselor for the Dentistry merit badge. A counselor must not only possess the necessary technical knowledge but also have a solid understanding of the needs, interests, and abilities of Scouts. A counselor must also be a registered adult with the BSA.

Procedure

When a Scout has an interest in earning a particular merit badge, he obtains his Scoutmaster's/Varsity Scout Coach's approval and identifies another Scout with similar interests to become his partner. They are then directed to the appropriate merit badge counselor. The counselor reviews the badge requirements with the scout and decides with them what projects should be undertaken and when they should be completed. After the counselor has certified that the Scouts have qualified for the merit badge, it is presented to them at a troop/team meeting and can be applied toward rank advancement.

Badges for Eagle

To qualify for the Eagle Scout Award, Scouting's highest advancement rank, a Scout must, along with meeting five other requirements, earn a total of 21 merit badges, including First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Personal Fitness, Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, Environmental Science, Personal Management, Camping, Hiking OR Cycling OR Swimming, and Family Life.

New Badges

To meet the changing interests of youth, new merit badges are added from time to time. In addition, all merit badges are reviewed and revised periodically. The most recent is Animation in 2015.

Online Resources

A complete list of Merit Badges and additional information can be found online at the Merit Badge page on scouting.org. 

Scouts and adults may wear this strip if they show their knowledge of a foreign languageor the sign language for the hearing impaired by:

1. Carrying on a five-minute conversation in this language.

2. Translating a two-minute speech or address.

3. Writing a letter in the language. (Does not apply for sign language.)

4. Translating 200 words from the written word.

Morse Code Interpreter Strip

Youth and adults may wear this strip if they show their knowledge of Morse code by:

1. Carrying on a five-minute conversation in Morse code at a speed of at least five words per minute.

2. Copying correctly a two-minute message sent in Morse code at a minimum of five words per minute. Copying means writing the message down as it is received.

3. Sending a 25-word written document in Morse code at a minimum of five words per minute.

"A Scout is reverent." All Scouts show this by being faithful in their duty to God. Some go further and give special service. This can qualify them for a religious emblem. Such an emblem is not a Scouting award. It is conferred on a Scout by his religious leader. Each faith has its own requirements for earning its emblem.

Some of the emblems available are:

• African Methodist Episcopal Church

• African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

• Armenian Apostolic Church of America (Western Prelacy)

• Armenian Church of America (Eastern Diocese)

• Baha'i

• Baptist

• Buddhist

• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

• Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)

• Churches of Christ

• Community of Christ (World Community Program Series)

• Eastern Catholic

• Eastern Orthodox

• Episcopal

• General Church of the New Jerusalem (The New Church)

• Hindu

• Islamic

• Jewish

• Lutheran

• Meher Baba

• Moravian

• Polish National Catholic Church

• Presbyterian Church in America

• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

• Protestant and Independent Christian Churches

• Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

• Roman Catholic

• The Salvation Army

• Scientist Church of Christ

• United Church of Christ

• United Methodist

• United Pentecostal Church International

• Unity Churches

• Zoroastrian

Online Resources

A complete listing of religious emblems, including contact information for the organizations that offer them, is available at the Religious Emblems Programs page on Scouting.org.  

You can earn this award by earning the following merit badges:

1. Environmental Science merit badge

2. Either Soil and Water Conservation OR Fish and Wildlife Management merit badge

3. Citizenship in the World merit badge

The purpose of this award is to promote outdoor winter camping at Del-Mar-Va Council camps. All qualifying time must be done on a unit campout. The award will be an embroidered emblem the first time the requirements are completed. Subsequent completions are recognized with an igloo segment of differing colors depending on the number of times the award has been earned.

Requirements

1. Four nights under canvas between December 1 and March 31. The four nights need not be consecutive, and may be accomplished with several camping trips.

2. Two of the four nights must be spent at either Rodney or Henson.

3. During the camping trip for which credit is given, participants must sleep under canvas, and must spend most of their time outdoors.

4. Frostbite camper must prepare or assist with preparation of meals outdoors, over wood, charcoal, or chemical fuel fires.

Frostbite Camper Application