Merit badges are more than just those colorful little round patches on a merit badge sash that just scream “I’m a Scout!” They show a commitment to diving deep on a particular subject and learning it well.
There are currently more than 135 merit badges on offer, from American Business to Woodworking.
They can be roughly divided into these categories (which I just made up; just a few sample badges listed under each):
- The expected “Scouty” badges (Citizenship in the Community, Emergency Preparedness, First Aid, Rifle Shooting, Camping, Hiking, Orienteering)
- Hobbies (Chess, Dog Care, Gardening, Metalwork, Geocaching, Theater, Collections)
- Life Skills (Cooking, Family Life, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Automotive Maintenance)
- STEM (Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Digital Technology, Environmental Science, Nature, Programming, Chemistry, Astronomy)
- Career (Welding, Cybersecurity, Dentistry, Drafting, Fish and Wildlife Management, Landscape Architecture, Law, Plumbing)
- Sports (Archery, Climbing, Cycling, Scuba Diving, Skating, Small Boat Sailing, Snow Sports)
- Academic (Animal Science, Indian Lore, Forestry, Electricity, Insect Study, Scholarship, Space Exploration)
Summer Camp is the best place to earn a bunch of merit badges. However, keep in mind that the adults in the troop counsel more than 60 badges, so hit one of them up first to save a slot for another badge at camp.
If a 116 adult doesn’t offer the badge, you can find an accredited merit badge counselor though Scoutbook and connect to them directly—always keeping an adult (116 leader or parent/guardian) looped in for youth protection purposes. (Which is also why you have to initiate contact with a counselor, not the other way around.)
Eagle Required merit badges
There are 14 MBs required for Eagle (plus another 7 of your choice, for a total of 21).
Of the 14 required badges, 11 are set in stone, but you get a tiny bit of choice on the last three, picking from one of two, one of two, or one of three. (Nothing stopping you from doing all the either/or options, of course; the extras would just count towards those 7 elective badges.)
Here are the 11 ones you absolutely have to get.
- Camping MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Citizenship in the Community MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Citizenship in the Nation MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Citizenship in Society MB resources: Requirements, [There is no Pamphlet for: Reasons], Worksheet
- Citizenship in the World MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Cooking MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Communication MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Family Life MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- First Aid MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Personal Fitness MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Personal Management MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
Eagle Choose One (1):
- Emergency Preparedness MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Lifesaving MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
Eagle Choose One (2):
- Environmental Science MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Sustainability MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
Eagle Choose One (3):
- Swimming MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Hiking MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Cycling MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
Other merit badges
- Wilderness Survival MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Athletics MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Electricity MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet
- Chemistry MB resources: Requirements, Pamphlet, Worksheet