Merit Badge Opportunities

Merit Badge Days are an opportunity for Scouts in troops, crews or ships to work on requirements for one or more merit badges. Classes are taught by career professionals and Scouters with real-life experiences in the field. 

These are not give-away merit badges. In order to receive full credit, Scouts are expected to read the merit badge book before the event, complete prerequisites, participate fully during the class. Learn more about merit badge completions and partials.

The merit badge classes are interactive and require active participation by each Scout. Merit badge class sizes are limited so that each Scout has the opportunity to learn about future careers, trades, citizenship, hobbies, and life skills while working on merit badge requirements.

Registration

Registration is completed online using a credit card or electronic check. There is no onsite registration. Council refund policy. (How to register.) 

Classes that are full will not show in the registration system.

Important: Before registering, check the school and troop calendars for conflicts. Check which merit badges the Scout has already completed. Scouts must confer with their unit leader before participating in the class.

BSA ID Number: Have the Scout's BSA ID number ready before registering. The correct BSA ID number is critical to identifying the Scouts in Scoutbook to ensure the Scout gets credit for requirements completed. The BSA ID number can be found:
• Scoutbook (click on "My Dashboard"—>click on name of Scout—>click on "Edit Profile");
• My.Scouting.org (click on "My Profile");
• BSA membership card; or
• ask the unit leader to check the unit roster.

Changes: Class changes can be made after registering if space is available.  

*Class sizes are limited. Full classes will not show in the registration system. Find additional merit badge classes sponsored by our community partners.

How to Register or Update a Registration

What to Bring

Partials and Completions

Attending a merit badge class does not guarantee that a Scout will complete the merit badge, but it is an opportunity for Scouts to meet with qualified counselors and to help them work on the requirements needed to complete a merit badge. Merit Badge Days should not be considered another school where the pupils sit and stare for hours on end. Scouts should come prepared to participate. The counselor's job is to encourage self-discovery and then check that each Scout has the minimum knowledge and does the requirements. Scouts should be ready to take notes and come prepared with notetaking materials and writing utensils. Remember one goal of the merit badge advancement system is to develop individual growth and initiative. 

Prerequisites: For all classes, the Scout must read the merit badge book prior to the event. Merit badge books can be purchased at an area Scout Shop. Scouts are to be prepared to answer the questions to each of the requirements before the merit badge fair. These unofficial merit badge worksheets  are helpful to prepare: http://usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/worksheets/list.asp

Some merit badges require additional prerequisites to be completed before Merit Badge Days. 

Requirements not covered: Some of the requirements cannot be completed during the class. The Scout should bring documentation of requirements not covered. If the Scout does not complete the requirements not covered and bring documentation to the class, the Scout will receive a partial completion of the merit badge. 

Partials: If the Scout does not complete the requirements not covered and bring documentation to the class, the Scout will receive a partial completion of the merit badge. The partial completion will be noted on the blue card and given to the Scout at the completion of the class. Scouts will need to complete the badge with a registered merit badge counselor approved for that particular badge back with their unit. Merit badge counselors are not usually available to serve as a counselor after merit badge fair ends, unless arrangements are made. Your unit leader can help you find a list of merit badge counselors by logging into https://scoutbook.scouting.org and clicking on "My Dashboard"—>"Administration"—>your unit—>"MB Counselor List". Remember that a youth member must not meet one-on-one with an adult. Sessions with counselors must take place where others can view the interaction, or the Scout must have a buddy: a friend, parent, guardian, brother, sister, or other relative—or better yet, another Scout working on the same badge. 

Blue Cards (Application For Merit Badge)

 The Application For Merit Badge, or "Blue card", is a two-sided, three-section document. It is a perforated trifold card with three distinct parts: the actual application, the applicant’s (Scout’s) record, and the counselor’s record. The document serves as a sort of passport while a Scout is working on a badge and then later as a permanent record. Blue cards are an official Boy Scouts of America document that serve as a record of progress toward completion of a merit badge. There are two official ways to complete blue cards: on paper, and online using Scoutbook.

Some events require Scouts to bring a blue card for each merit badge class. Learn how to fill out a blue card. 

Advancements Completed: The merit badge counselor will document all requirements completed on the blue card and return it to the Scout before the Scout leaves the class; the Scout needs to return the blue card back to the unit leader after the event. If the Scout ends up with a partial and working with more than one counselor, multiple registered counselors can sign the card. Keeping up with the blue card helps the Scout learn personal responsibility.

How to Fill Out a Blue Card       Learn More about Blue Cards

General Rules 

1. Scouts need to be prepared for each of the requirements of the merit badge class including reading the merit badge pamphlet before the class.
2. Scouts are expected to participate fully during the class in order to receive full credit for the requirements completed onsite. 
3. Scouts who do not behave appropriately in class will be asked to leave.
4. If a Scout is unable to attend once registered, please use the link provided in the emailed receipt to delete the class so a spot can be opened up for another Scout. Council Refund Policy.   

Merit Badge Counselors

It is the purpose of the event to provide an exciting program for youth and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of citizenship and to develop personal fitness. Providing advancement opportunities is a primary part of this educational program. Merit Badge Days can only be offered to our Scouts if merit badge counselors are available to teach classes. Let us know when you are available to teach classes, where you are willing to teach (e.g., Cockrell Scout Center, council camp, etc.) , and which merit badges are you registered to teach.

Volunteer to Serve as a Merit Badge Counselor

 

Merit Badge Counselors are needed to teach merit badge classes. Counselors must be registered as a BSA merit badge counselor and have current Youth Protection Training (YPT) taken only at My.Scouting.org. It is our goal for the Scouts to be afforded opportunities to share resources from other units with diverse occupations and skills. Participants will be expected to complete all the requirements as indicated by the Boy Scouts of America. Merit badge counselors should wear their Scout uniform if possible.  

The merit badge counselor is a key player in the advancement program. Whatever your area of expertise or interest—whether it is a special craft or hobby (basketry, leatherwork, coin collecting), a profession (veterinary medicine, aviation, engineering), or perhaps a life skill (cooking, personal management, communications)—as a merit badge counselor, you can play a vital role in stirring a young Scout's curiosity about that particular topic. By serving as a merit badge counselor, you offer your time, knowledge, and other resources so that Scouts can explore a topic of interest

Scouting Safely

The BSA's Commitment to Safety is ongoing and we want you to know that the safety of our youth, volunteers, staff, and employees cannot be compromised. The Boy Scouts of America puts the utmost importance on the safe and healthy environments for its youth membership. The Sam Houston Area Council takes great strides to ensure the safety of its youth as well as the adult volunteer leadership that interacts with them. 

BSA Guide to Safe Scouting policies must be followed. All participants must follow Youth Protection Guidelines at all Scouting events. Highlights include:

• Two-deep leadership on all outings required.  
• One-on-one contact between adults and youth members is prohibited. 
• The buddy system should be used at all times. 
• Discipline must be constructive.

Youth Protection Guidelines     Guide to Safe Scouting