On-Line Resources for Merit Badge Counselors

updated 5/10/2008
American Business American Labor Archaeology  1  2 Archery Art
Astronomy  1  2  3  4  5 Aviation Basketry Bird Study Bugling  1  2  3
Camping Citizenship in the Nation Citizenship in the World Coin Collecting   1   2 Collections 1  2
Composite Materials Computer  1  2 Cycling  1  2 Electricity Electronics
Emergency Prep. Entrepreneurship Engineering Energy 1 2 Fingerprinting
Fire Safety  1  2 First Aid  1  2 Fish & Wildlife Mgmt. Fly Fishing  1  2 Forestry  1  2
Geology Hiking Indian Lore Landscape Architecture Leatherwork  1  2
Nuclear Science  1  2  3 Orienteering  1  2 Personal Mgmt.   1  2 Pottery Public Speaking
Pulp & Paper  1  2 Radio  1  2  3  4 Salesmanship Scholarship Snow Sports
Soil & Water Cons. Space Exploration 1 2 3 Stamp Collecting  1  2 Surveying Whitewater
Woodcarving        
  Eagle-required merit badges  

Common Myths About Merit Badges:

  • A Scout must complete a merit badge within one year.  False.  A Scout can continue to work on ant merit badge until he reaches age 18.

  • At least two Scouts must work together on a merit badge.  This is called the "Buddy System".  False.  A Scout must present himself to a counselor with a buddy being present; however, his buddy can be a friend or relative, male or female, adult or youth.

  • A Scout can only work on "X" number of merit badges at one time.  False.  He can work on as many as he desires beginning the day he joins the troop.  Scout advancement lets you move ahead in your own way and at your own speed. Rather than competing against others, you challenge yourself to go as far as your ambition will carry you. Your rate of advancement depends upon your interest, effort, and ability.

  • Similar tasks performed for one merit badge or rank advancement cannot be used for another.  False.  As long as the Scout has completed the task as stated in the requirements, he has completed the task, unless specific requirements prohibit state otherwise.

  • A Scout must have approval from his Scoutmaster prior to meeting with a merit badge counselor.  True.  The Scoutmaster should provide a list of valid counselors that have committed to working with the Scouts of his troop.    The Scoutmaster must approve the application prior to this meeting.

  • Merit badge counselors have a lot of leeway as to deciding if a requirement has truly been completed.  True.  No tasks should be added to or deleted from the national requirements, however, the counselor must show discretion when accepting or rejecting a Scout’s task completion. 

  • Merit badge counselors are subject to the decisions of the troop committee or Scoutmaster when in doubt concerning a requirement.  False.  If a merit badge counselor has a question concerning his understandings of a merit badge requirement, he should contact the district advancement chairman.  No unit has the authority to change or modify any requirement for any reason.

  • If the unit advancement coordinator suspects that the counselor did not follow the guidelines and approved an application, the merit badge can be withheld.  False.  If a registered merit badge counselor approves a merit badge, it must be awarded.  There is no unit review process for merit badges.  If a counselor is suspected of not following the guidelines, the district advancement chairman should be notified immediately.  Merit badge counselors serve at the district level, even if they only work with Scouts from a single unit.

 

The American Association of Snowboard Instructors, in conjunction with Professional Ski Instructors Association of America, have posted on online manual for reviewing and developing instructional programs for snow sports activities such as snowboarding and Alpine skiing.  This manual will compliment the Snow Sports MB requirements.

The American Labor Studies Center has a website page for the American Labor MB and links at its site to help Scouts achieve the requirements for the badget. The American Labor Studies Center is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to collect, analyze, evaluate, create and disseminate labor history and labor studies curricula and related materials, to kindergarten through 12th grade teachers nationwide.
The page maintained by the American Numismatic Association gives simple explanations and hints on how a scout, usually ages 11-17 could complete the requirements to earn his Coin Collecting Merit Badge.

The American Petroleum Institute  (API) is proud to support the Boy Scouts of America’s Energy Merit Badge.

This website is intended to assist the scout and merit badge counselors with information about the oil and natural gas industry and to supplement the merit badge book.

 

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL)  provide ideas for Amateur Radio activities and Radio MB. You’ll find resources that are specifically focused on the Boy Scout Merit Badge as well as general activities to engage Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in the exploration of Amateur Radio.

AARL Article to Become a Radio MB Counselor

The American Association of Amateur Astronomers (AAAA) has become an important source of astronomy information on the World Wide Web. the Association maintains a page for Astronomy MB counselors on presenting and counseling the badge to Scouts. 

The American Composite Manfacturers Association  developed the Composites Material MB and has a website with resources for merit badge counselors and Scouts.
The American Forest and Paper Association has a webpage for educators to provide information on paper recycling and forest management.  These resources will help counselors provide information for Pulp and Paper MB.

  ASLA

 The American Society of Landscape Architects posts a Careers in Landscape Architecture page.  Refer to requirement 2b of the Landscape Architecture MB.

The Madison Astronomical Society (MAS) and Four Lakes Council has posted an Astronomy MB Clinic  homepage.   This website contains valuable information to help you learn about astronomy and complete the astronomy merit badge.

The Aurora Medical Team is Explorer Post 525 in Aurora, CO.  The Post prepare youth for medical careers and provide quality medical support to BSA and community events. They have developed a 168-slide power point presentation to teach First Aid MB. Note: the file size is approx 10MB so high speed download is recommended.  Right click on link, and select "Save File As" to create a local copy.
The Government Printing Office has a webpage to explain how the federal government is organized and works.  Many requirements for Citizenship in the Nation MB can be prepared with the information at this site.

 

 The purpose of Bicycling Life is to promote bicycling by demonstrating that legal cycling on streets, roads, and highways is safe, clean, healthy, enjoyable, economical, and beneficial to society, and to provide bike riders with the information and encouragement they need to become vehicular cyclists.  An article about Cycling MB is posted and provides tips for counseling and teaching the badge.

Troop 50 of Kansas City MO has posted a page that provides a instructional guide for Scouts working on First Aid MB.   The guide also provide information for meeting Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class First Aid requirements.

Troop 97 of Chatham IL has posted a page that provides a workbook and methods of documentation for Scouts working with troop outings for Camping MB  and for Hiking MB.

Troop 194 of Flemington NJ has posted a page that provides basic information and links for Cycling MB.  The page offers troops that want to set up a program with a counselor good guidelines.

Troop 446 of Saline MI has posted a page that provides a thorough description of the history of paper and related industries for Pulp and Paper MB.
Troop 509 of  Hulburt Field, FL is associated with personnel from the US Air Force Special Operations that have posted resources for Aviation MB. A Power Point presentation is available for instruction and counseling.
Troop 1018 of Dranesville, VA has posted a page with forms and and instructional outline for Personal Management MB. 
Troop 1525 of Annandale, VA has posted a page with forms and and instructional outline for Astronomy MB.

 

 The KSU Students in Free Enterprise American Business Web Page is a gift to the Boy Scouts of America. It contains useful information about entrepreneurship and a step-by-step guide for both scouts and merit badge counselors to the requirements for the American Business MB.  It also is information rich in that it links to web sites that should be of assistance to completing the merit badge.
The KSU Students in Free Enterprise Entrepreneurship MB is a gift to the Boy Scouts of America. It contains useful information about entrepreneurship and a step-by-step guide for both scouts and merit badge counselors to the requirements for the Entrepreneurship MB.  It also is information rich in that it links to web sites that should be of assistance to completing the merit badge.
The KSU Students in Free Enterprise(SIFE) and KMA present this Salesmanship MB  Web Page as a gift to the Boy Scouts of America. It contains useful information about salesmanship and a step-by-step guide for both scouts and merit badge counselors to the requirements for the merit badge. It also is information rich in that it links to web sites that should be of assistance to anyone pursuing the merit badge.

Public Speaking Made Easy is a publication of Cornell Cooperative Extension.  The PDF document outlines techniques for good public speaking; use the guide to counsel Public Speaking MB.  

Crab Apple Whitewater (Maine)  has developed a basic, fifteen question test corresponding to what scouts learn from Crab Apple guides while working on their Whitewater MB. Please feel free to print it out and ask the boys to complete it at an upcoming troop meeting. Our suggestion is to require twelve (12) correct answers in order to pass (80%). These tests can be used as guides for Whitewater MB counselors.

The Physics Department at Creighton University maintains a page for Nuclear Science MB. The requirements and resources for each requirement is presented.

The mission of the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers. (IEEE) emeritbadges.org program is to provide a global non-discriminatory pre-college technology education program for boys and girls.

Instructors and student material are provided for Electronics MB, Electricity MB, and Computer MB

Escouting.net has posted a Computer MB page to assist counselors and Scouts with the requirements for the merit badge. There are many links to resources to prepare responses to the requirements. 

 The Energy Kids webpage maintained by the Energy Information Administration has links and activities that will help Scouts and counselors with fulfilling the requirements for Energy MB.

www.hamradioinstructor.com  has links to sites with merit badge information for the Radio MB.  Within this site is:
  • Radio Merit Badge by Gary Wilson, K2GW 
  • Radio Merit Badge

The High School Environmental Center  site maintain by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has complied links and resources from various agencies for use by high school students in environmental education that is applicable to Environmental Science MB and Soil and Water Conservation MB.

The E-Center webpage  of the Environmental Science and Forestry College of SUNY has articles and videos on natural habitats and animals for New York State.  The articles will help Scouts complete requirements for Fish and Wildlife Management MB, Forestry MB, Mammal Study MB, and  Reptile and Amphibian Study MB. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintains the ready.gov webpage, which has information on household planning for emergencies that meet the requirements for Emergency Preparedness MB.

The Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) maintains a page for the  Fly Fishing MB and a sample counseling/instructional program.  Trout Unlimited also has a web page with MB information.

The Forest Resource Environmental Education Network  can be used by counselors and scouts who want to learn more about forests and the management of forests for Forestry MB. Within this site are:

  • downloadable PowerPoint slides
  • an environmental quiz
  • links to other forest-oriented information sites

The Frederick Military Academy Alumni Association  was granted specific permission to publish bugle calls in their entirety for educational use by the original copyright owner under the Fair Use Act. There are 13 .wav files for calls required for the Bugling MB.

At www.scouttrader.org, The International Scouting Collectors Association (ISCA) developed and posted a PDF document for Collections MB for use by Scouts to explain how to prepare for the badge.

Leatherworker.net has set up a page present group leaders with the background information and basic skills necessary to enable them to guide their scouts efforts toward gaining the Leatherwork MB.
Linns.com is a weekly newspaper for stamp collectors.  An article is posted describing methods to counsel Stamp Collecting MB. 

GreatAchievements.Org, sponsored by the National Academy of Engineering has a webpage that list the great engineering achievements of the 20th century.  The categories will assist Scouts in explaining the impact of engineering as required by Engineering MB.

The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) has a High School Financial Planning Program Web Portal ®. This award-non-commercial financial education program for high school students provides information on money management and can be used to achieve requirements for the Personal Management MB.  NEFE helped the BSA prepare the merit badge booklet.

Article in National Park Service web archive on qualifications and techniques for Archaeology MB .

NASA JPL has posted a page for the Genesis mission  that relate to two Boy Scout merit badges. They are the Astronomy MB and the Space Exploration MB.  Genesis mission materials that may be used to earn the Astronomy and Space Exploration badges are posted.

The National Society of Professional Surveyors maintains a page with the requirements for Surveying MB, and other links.  There is a power point presentation on how to teach Surveying MB.

North Central Kansas Astronomical Society

 The North Central Kansas Astronomical Society hosts a web page for counseling Astronomy MB.  Good links for MB counselors and Scouts interested in the merit badge.

The Student's Corner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission website has extensive information geared for student use to learn about nuclear power.  The site will provide information to meet the requirements of the Nuclear Science MB.

Fingerprinting Merit Badge
Fingerprinting 
Merit Badge Requirements of the 
Boy Scouts of America
 Onin.com  is a non-profit website maintained for professional and personal interests by a forensic scientist with over 30 years experience working  in government crime laboratories on three continents. He has posted the requirements and background information for Fingerprinting MB.

The Path to Eagle Camp at Onteora Scout Reservation has posted resource links for all Eagle-required merit badges at  PTE Merit Badge page.  Registration for the camp begins March 1, and is open to Star and Life Scouts 14 years old and older. 

Paul's Supplies

Paul's Supplies is an arts and crafts supply website with merit badge teaching syllabi for the following merit badges: Art MB, Basketry MB, Indian Lore MB, Leatherwork MB, Pottery MB, Space Exploration MB, and Woodcarving MB.

Radio MB

Radio Merit Badge  is a non-profit web site that promotes Radio MB. Two sub-sites are available.

Radio Merit Badge Online is designed for Boy Scouts who want some web-based help in meeting the requirements for Radio Merit Badge.

Radio Merit Badge Day is designed to help Amateur Radio Operators run a Radio Merit Badge course in their area. Everything you need to plan such an event is included.

Radwaste.org makes many resources available on the internet to assist teachers at all grade levels in preparing lessons, assignments, field trips, etc. about nuclear and radiation related topics. The links on this page point to some helpful sources, including a site for the old Atomic Energy MB, which is now Nuclear Science MB.

www.scoutbugle.com is a site maintained with pages that provide information for teaching and earning the Bugling MB.

Scouts on Stamps Society International maintains a page to review the Stamp Collecting MB requirements.   The Merit Badge Pamphlet was written in part by members of the Scouts on Stamps Society International for the Boy Scouts of America; the latest edition in 2000.

Scout Orienteering.com

Site maintained by Ed Scott has been involved in Orienteering since 1983. He a member of the Delaware Valley Orienteering Association (DVOA), the largest and oldest orienteering club in the US, and responsible for Boy Scout Liaison functions, including Orienteering MB, within USOF, the national organization in the US for orienteering.

Scouting  for Birds

Scouting for Birds  is a non-profit web site that promotes Bird Study MB. Two sub-sites are available.

  • Bird Study Online is designed for Boy Scouts who want some web-based help in meeting the requirements for Bird Study Merit Badge.

  • Bird Study Day is designed to help birders run a Bird Study Merit Badge course in their area. Everything you need to plan such an event is included.

This Space Exploration MB  Web site provides you with all the information you need to complete the Space Exploration MB.

On this page you will find the requirements for the merit badge. For each requirement there are links  that provide you with the information you need to complete the requirement.

The Smithsonian Institute has a webpage called  Kids Collecting IdeaLab.  Scouts can explore the riches of the Smithsonian’s collections and read about how curators got their passion for collecting. They can also get advice from the pros about starting their own collections and use the information as a resource for Collections MB.

The Society for American Archaeology has a webpage for Archaeology MB.  There are several articles by a member on the merit badge.
www.students.gov is the student portal for the US Dept. of Education website.   The links and information on this site will help Scout fulfill the requirements for Scholarship MB.
The Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) has a webpage called "Paper University", where resources to counsel the Pulp and Paper MB can be located.

The Texas State Archery Association  has links for Archery MB related information.  A 61-slide NAA Level 2 Instructor Course power point presentation is posted, with information for physical arrangement and equipment to teach the merit badge.

 

Treasures of the Earth
Gem & Jewelry Shows

 

Treasure of the Earth Gem and Jewlery Shows has prepared a guide for parents of Scouts working toward Geology MB.  The PDF document provides general guidance for the information needed to complete each requirement.

The Thomas L. " Ski" Demski Trust maintains the Superflag  web site. There are 16 .wav and .ra files for calls required for the Bugling MB.

Trout Unlimited has resources for TU members to teach Fly Fishing MB that can be downloaded to set up a local program.   Downloads include

The US Fire Administration Website for Kids has interactive programs that will help Scouts meet the requirements for Fire Safety MB. On this Web site, you will find short lessons about fire escape planning, smoke alarms and general home fire safety. It is recommended that an adult guide children through the lessons.

The US Forest Service maintains www.smokeybear.com to promote fire safety in the forests. Information for Scouts to earn requirements for Fire Safety MB can be found at the site. 

The US State Department has a Future State Dept. webpage for students to look at how our government maintains a foreign service, analyzes other countries, and  works with world events.  Information for scouts to earn requirements for Citizenship in the World MB can be found throughout the site.

The United States Mint sponsors a web page for Coin Collecting MB for use by Scouts. The requirements are posted, and key requirements are linked to other portions of the website as a resource to complete the requirements. 

The Valencia County Amateur Radio Association  has extensive documentation and links for Scouts and counselors to earn Radio MB.

Orienteering Workbook
Vulcan Orienteering Club
 

 An Orienteering MB workbook prepared by the Vulcan Orienteering Club of  Pelham, AL provides a basic overview for Scout rank skills and the merit badge skills.

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