A Merit Badge can be earned by any scout of any rank, though scouts with a rank of lower than First Class are generally encouraged to work primarily on rank advancement. They cover a variety of subjects, from Basketry to Family Life. The idea is to give the boy enough exposure to the topic to help him determine if he might want to pursue it as a hobby or even a career.
The process that a boy goes through to earn a Merit Badge is roughly as follows:
- Prior to starting work on the merit badge, obtain permission from the Scoutmaster in the form of a signed merit badge “Blue Card”. The Scoutmaster may also provide the name and phone number of a merit badge counselor.
- Contact a counselor for the merit badge you want to work on.
- Complete the requirements for the merit badge.
- Review your work with the merit badge counselor, and have them mark as complete and sign the “Blue Card” (the counselor will keep one of the three sections of this card
- Turn the completed Application for Merit Badge section into the Advancement Chairperson, keeping the Applicant’s Record portion of the card.
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