compiled by Steve Henning
 1911 Gardening |  1934 Public Health |  1936 Civics |  1942 Camping |  1947 Dog Care |
 1961 Forage Crops |  1972 Collections |  1992 White Water |  2002 Fish & Wildlife Mgt. |  2010 Tracking |
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I went through every edition of the BSA handbook and compiled the following list of merit badges. I have cross-checked with many lists, but errors may still be present. This list was compiled on February 24, 1996, and updated February 14, 2018. It will change if new information is discovered. The years are the best estimate of when the merit badges were used, but may be off by a year in some cases. Some were minor name changes such as leather work/leatherwork/leatherworking, mammals/mammal study and motor boating/motorboating did not result in new requirements, a new merit badge book or a new badge design. The latest changes were the addition of the Sustainability (2013), Game Design (2013), Programming (2013), Moviemaking (2013); Digital Technology (2014); Mining in Society (2014); Signs, Signals & Codes (2015); Animation (2015); and Exploration (2016) Merit Badges. The temporary resurrection of 4 historic merit badges: Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signaling, and Tracking in 2010 is over and these badges are no longer supported (Tracking was actually the resurrection of Stalking with a name change). Badge code numbers are shown in parentheses. This numbering scheme was adopted in 1987 and the Eagle required merit badges had numbers 1 through 14. Numbers 120 and up were added after the list was created in 1987. For an overview of the BSA Merit Badge Program, read the BSA Introduction to Merit Badges.
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1910 BSA Handbook (called the Book of Organization) by Chief Scout, Ernest Thompson Seton, had 14 "Badges of Merit". They were: Ambulance, Clerk, Cycling, Electrician, Fireman, Gardener, Horseman, Marksmanship, Master-at-Arms, Musician, Pioneer, Seamanship, Signaler, and Stalkers.
The 1911 Handbook carried over all the 1910 Badges of Merit except the Master-at-Arms Badge of Merit. The Master-at-Arms Badge involved mastering 3 of the following combat skills: single stick, boxing, ju jitsu, wrestling, quarterstaff and fencing. The 1911 Handbook changed the term to Merit Badge and changed the names of the other 13 merit badges:
Ambulance was changed to First Aid;
Clerk was changed to Business;
Cyclist was changed to Cycling;
Electrician was changed to Electricity;
Fireman was changed to Firemanship;
Gardener was changed to Gardening;
Horseman was changed to Horsemanship;
Marksman was changed to Marksmanship;
Musician was changed to Music;
Pioneer was changed to Pioneering;
Seaman was changed to Seamanship;
Signaler was changed to Signaling;
Stalker was changed to Stalking and in 2010 was changed to Tracking.
There were a total of 57 merit badges in the 1911 handbook. These included the 13 above that were carried over and the following which were added: Agriculture, Angling, Archery, Architecture, Art, Astronomy, Athletics, Automobiling, Aviation, Bee Farming, Blacksmithing, Bugling, Camping, Carpentry, Chemistry, Civics, Conservation, Cooking, Craftsmanship, Dairying, First Aid to Animals, Forestry, Handicraft, Interpreting, Invention, Leather Working, Life Saving, Machinery, Masonry, Mining, Ornithology, Painting, Pathfinding, Personal Health, Photography, Plumbing, Poultry Farming, Printing, Public Health, Scholarship, Sculpture, Surveying, Swimming, and Taxidermy.
Some interesting merit badge facts:
Number of original merit badges in 1910: 14
Merit badges in 1911: 57 (27 of these are still in use.)
Number of merit badges added since 1911: 199 for a total of 256
Number of merit badges still in current use: 137
Least earned merit badge: Invention, only 10 were earned in its 4 years of existence, 1911-1914. It required inventing and patenting a useful article.
Last merit badge added, Exploration in 2016
Last merit badges dropped: Computers in 2015; and Agribusiness, Beekeeping, Botany, Consumer Buying, General Science, Machinery, and Masonry in 1995. [Note, Computers was replaced by Digital Technology and Programming]
Last merit badges with a new name: Automotive Maintenance (was Auto Mechanics in 2008), Moviemaking (was Cinematography in 2013), and Motor Boating (was Motorboating in 2019). [Note, Moviemaking has a new number}
In 2010, for the Centennial of the BSA, 4 merit badges were resurrected with updated requirements for just the one year, 2010: Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signaling, and Tracking. The Stalking merit badge was resurrected, but with a new name, Tracking. [Stalking had a bad connotation in 2010.] If we include these 4, there have been 200 additional merit badges. My rational for not counting 3 of these twice is that the Aviation merit badge had a hiatus of 10 years from 1942 until 1952 and I only counted it once. To be consistent, I do count 1 of the historic merit badges a second time. Tracking was a new name, and since in the past, merit badges with new names were considered to be new merit badges, I will count Tracking. Hence, only including one of the historic merit barges, Tracking, there have been 197 additional merit badges.
Merit badges are designed to emphasize the ability “to do” rather than just knowledge. They were designed to “introduce a boy to life” including careers , hobbies, and other skills. In 2015, Signs, Signals, & Codes became the 135th current merit badge, Animation became the 136th current merit badge, and in 2016 Exploration became the 137th merit badge. Of these 137 merit badges, 26 remain from the group of 57 original merit badges from 1911, and 111 have been introduced since 1911. An additional 96 merit badges were created after 1911 that were subsequently dropped. So, all together, there have been a total of 264 different merit badges.
In the 1990's, a director of the Boy Scout division of the BSA stated at a Boy Scout Program conference at Philmont that I was attending that a merit badge is never officially dropped. They are just omitted from all literature, the cloth badge is not made, and there are no books published. Apparently someone that has the most recent set of requirements could use them. I am not sure how one went about getting an approved merit badge counselor. That could be a problem, however that didn't stopped some people. An example of there is the Rabbit Raising Merit Badge that was dropped in 1993. BSA records indicate that 49 Rabbit Raising Merit Badges were earned in 2003.
Apparently the BSA has some misgivings about councils awarding merit badges after they are "discontinued." The Guide to Advancement, which replaced Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures in 2011, added the section below which reads:
"7.0.4.4 - Discontinued Merit Badges
"Scouts may not begin working on discontinued merit badges. If actual effort has already begun by the time discontinuation becomes effective, and work actively continues, then the badge may be completed and can count toward rank advancement, but presentation of the badge itself will be subject to availability. It is a misconception that discontinued merit badges may be earned as long as the patch and requirements can be found."
Also, some "youth and adults that are developmentally disabled, or youth with severe physical challenges" are eligible to be members beyond the normal age of eligibility and have permission to work on rank advancement and merit badges as long as they continue to be registered. If they started a merit badge before it was "discontinued," then they supposedly can keep on working on it, presumably with the same merit badge counselor they started with. Using a more realistic approach, my definition for the final year for a merit badge is the last year it appears in BSA literature as a valid merit badge even though it may be earned many years after that.
The following lists indicate in parenthesis any assigned merit badge code number; any preceding merit badge that may be related; and the number of each merit badge issued in 2015. The total number of merit badges issued in 2015 was 2,079,564.
I am indebted to several people who provided new sources of information, especially Fred Duersch, Jr. and Paul S. Wolf.Return to top.
American Business (15) 1967-present (Business 1911-66) 551 in 2018American Cultures (17) 1979-present 2,519 in 2018American Heritage (16) 1975-present 5,530 in 2018American Labor (121) 1987-present 1,109 in 2018Animal Science (18) 1975-present (Animal Industry 1928-75) 3,769 in 2018Animation (158) 2015-present 6,981 in 2018Archeology (132) 1997-present 6,056 in 2018Archery ~~ (19) 1911-present 34,487 in 2018Architecture (20) 1911-present 3,881 in 2018Art (21) 1911-present 21,793 in 2018Astronomy (22) 1911-present 15,531 in 2018Athletics ~~ (23) 1911-present 2,808 in 2018Automotive Maintenance (127) 2008-present (Auto Mechanics 1992-2008) 10,360 in 2018Aviation (25) 1911-42 &'52-pres. (Aerodynamics, etc. 1942-52) 13,745 in 2018Backpacking (26) 1982-present 2,295 in 2018Basketry (27) 1927-present (Craftsmanship 1911-26) 14,546 in 2018Biometrics (???) TBA (Fingerprinting ) 0 in 2018Bird Study (29) 1914-present (Ornithology 1911-13) 5,101 in 2018Bugling (32) 1911-present 551 in 2018Camping * (1) 1911-present 49,893 in 2018Canoeing (33) 1927-present 26,052 in 2018Chemistry (34) 1911-present 11,140 in 2018Chess (147) 2011-present 28,260 in 2018Citizenship in the Community *(2)1952-pres.(Citizenship/Civics 1947-51) 49,863 in 2018Citizenship in the Nation * (3) 1951-pres.(Citizenship/Civics 1947-51) 52,944 in 2018Citizenship in the World * (4) 1972-present (World Brotherhood 1952-72) 55,917 in 2018Climbing (133) 1997-present 18,911 in 2018Coin Collecting (35) 1938-present 4,726 in 2018Collections (128) 1991-present 4,280 in 2018Communication * (5) 1965-present 51,541 in 2018Composite Materials (137) 2008-present 1,646 in 2018Cooking * (38) 1911-present 50,185 in 2018Crime Prevention (131) 1996-present 6,456 in 2018Cycling *** ~~ (39) 1911-present (Cyclist ~~~ 1910-11) 5,742 in 2018Dentistry (40) 1975-present 3,110 in 2018Digital Technology(36) 2014-present (Computers (36) 1967-2014) 7,857 in 2018Disabilities Awareness (60) 1993-pres. (Handicap Awareness (60) 1985-93) 5,571 in 2018Diversity & Inclusion (???) TBA 0 in 2018Dog Care (41) 1938-present 3,025 in 2018Drafting (42) 1965-present (Mechanical Drawing 1933-64) 1,231 in 2018Electricity (43) 1911-present (Electrician ~~~ 1910-11) 9,979 in 2018Electronics (44) 1963-present 7,731 in 2018Emergency Preparedness ** (6) 1972-present 43,063 in 2018Energy (45) 1976-present 2,607 in 2018Engineering (46) 1967-present 12,280 in 2018Entrepreneurship (134) 1997-present (Business 1911-66) 3,353 in 2018Environmental Science****(7)1972-pres.(Conserv. of Natural Resources'66-72) 54,237 in 2018Exploration (159) 2016-present 3,351 in 2018Family Life * (129) 1991-present (Citizenship in the Home 1952-72) 48,787 in 2018Farm Mechanics (48) 1928-present 2,226 in 2018Fingerprinting (49) 1938-present 38,239 in 2018Fire Safety (50) 1995-present (Firemanship (50) 1911-95) 11,673 in 2018First Aid * (8) 1911-present (Ambulance 1910) 69,565 in 2018Fish & Wildlife Mgmt.(51) 1972-present (Wildlife Mgmt. 1952-72) 11,822 in 2018Fishing ~~ (52) 1952-present (Angling 1911-51) 24,688 in 2018Fly Fishing (136) 2002-present (Fishing merit badge still exists) 4,873 in 2018Forestry ~~ (54) 1911-present 11,326 in 2018Game Design (151) 2013-present (Computers (36) 1967-2014) 16,0200 in 2018Gardening (55) 1911-present (Gardener ~~~ 1910-11) 1,428 in 2018Genealogy (56) 1972-present 4,830 in 2018Geocaching (145) 2011-present 12,830 in 2018Geology (58) 1953-present (Rocks & Minerals 1937-53) 17,242 in 2018Golf (59) 1976-present 3,060 in 2018Graphic Arts (122) 1987-pres. (Printing/Communications (88) 1982-88) 3,343 in 2018Hiking *** ~~ (61) 1921-present 6,362 in 2018Home Repairs (62) 1943-present (Handicraft 1911-42) 3,579 in 2018Horsemanship ~~ (63) 1911-present (Horseman ~~~ 1910-11) 8,837 in 2018Indian Lore (64) 1931-present 16,003 in 2018Insect Study (65) 1987-present (Insect Life 1923-86) 2,716 in 2018Inventing (144) 2010-present (Invention 1911-14) 3,494 in 2018Journalism (66) 1927-present 1,153 in 2018Kayaking (149) 2012-present 31,362 in 2018Landscape Architecture (67) 1967-present (Landscaping 1959-66) 1,495 in 2018Law (68) 1974-present 5,656 in 2018Leatherwork (69) 1951-present (Leather Work 1928-51) 33,740 in 2018Lifesaving ** ~ (9) 1911-present 20,952 in 2018Mammal Study (71) 1987-present (Mammals 1972-86) 17,982 in 2018Medicine (130) 1991-present 3,878 in 2018Metalwork (74) 1927-present (Craftsmanship 1911-26) 12,768 in 2018Mining in Society (155) 2014-present 4,650 in 2018Model Design & Building (75) 1963-present 2,674 in 2018Motor Boating ~~ (76) 2019-present (Motorboating ~~ 1961-2019) 9,697 in 2018Moviemaking (156) 2013-present (Cinematography (126) 1990-2013) 9,416 in 2018Music (77) 1911-present (Musician ~~~ 1910-11) 11,860 in 2018Nature ~ (78) 1952-present 12,372 in 2018Nuclear Science (24) 2005-present (Atomic Energy 1963-04) 6,678 in 2018Oceanography (79) 1964-present 9,021 in 2018Orienteering (80) 1973-present (Pathfinding 1911-52) 12,538 in 2018Painting (81) 1911-present 3,709 in 2018Personal Fitness * ~~ ~(10) 1952-present (Physical Development 1914-52) 49,600 in 2018Personal Management * (11) 1972-present (Personal Finances 1962-71) 48,393 in 2018Pets (82) 1958-present 4,890 in 2018Photography (83) 1911-present 14,161 in 2018Pioneering (84) 1911-present (Pioneer ~~~ 1910-11) 14,099 in 2018Plant Science (85) 1974-present 2,569 in 2018Plumbing (86) 1911-present 4,862 in 2018Pottery (87) 1927-present (Craftsmanship 1911-26) 7,890 in 2018Programming (153) 2013-present (Computers (36) 1967-2014) 4,723 in 2018Public Health ~ (89) 1911-present 2,382 in 2018Public Speaking (90) 1932-present 7,250 in 2018Pulp & Paper (91) 1972-present 5,911 in 2018Radio (93) 1923-present (Wireless 1919-23) 5,205 in 2018Railroading (94) 1952-present 6,728 in 2018Reading (95) 1929-present 3,873 in 2018Reptile & Amphibian Study (96) 1993-present (Reptile Study (96) 1927-93) 5,786 in 2018Rifle Shooting (123) 1987-pres.(Rifle & Shotgun Shooting (97)1967-87) 37,695 in 2018Robotics (146) 2011-present 15,285 in 2018Rowing (98) 1933-present 8,377 in 2018Safety ~ (12) 1927-present (Safety First 1916-26) 3,322 in 2018Salesmanship (99) 1927-present 6,936 in 2018Scholarship (100) 1911-present 4,433 in 2018Scouting Heritage (143) 2010-present 5,901 in 2018Scuba Diving (138) 2009-present 2,036 in 2018Sculpture (101) 1911-present 8,212 in 2018Search and Rescue (150) 2012-present 10,107 in 2018Shotgun Shooting (124) 1987-pres.(Rifle & Shotgun Shooting (97)1967-87) 20,241 in 2018Signs, Signals, & Codes (157) 2015-present 7,178 in 2018Skating (103) 1973-present 1,898 in 2018Small Boat Sailing (105) 1964-present (Seamanship 1911-64) 13,886 in 2018Snow Sports (135) 1999-present (Skiing (104) 1938-99) 6,961 in 2018Soil & Water Conservation ~ (106)1952-present (Soil Management 1928-52) 8,199 in 2018Space Exploration (107) 1965-present 19,574 in 2018Sports ~~ (13) 1972-present 6,594 in 2018Stamp Collecting (108) 1931-present 836 in 2018Surveying (109) 1911-present 1,065 in 2018Sustainability (152) 2013-present 7,192 in 2018Swimming ** ~ (14) 1911-present 62,796 in 2018Textile (110) 1973-present (Textiles 1927-72) 2,530 in 2018Theater (111) 1967-present (Dramatics 1932-66) 2,294 in 2018Traffic Safety (112) 1975-present (Automotive Safety 1962-74) 7,100 in 2018Truck Transportation (113) 1973-present 2,313 in 2018Veterinary Medicine (114) 1995-pres. (Veterinary Science (114) 1973-95) 2,716 in 2018Water Sports (115) 2007-present (Waterskiing (115) 1969-2007) 2,937 in 2018Weather (116) 1927-present 12,430 in 2018Welding (148) 2012-present 11,981 in 2018Whitewater (125) 1987-present 3,199 in 2018Wilderness Survival (117) 1973-present 29,392 in 2018Wood Carving (118) 1927-present (Craftsmanship 1911-26) 31,910 in 2018Woodwork (119) 1927-present (Craftsmanship 1911-26) 4,939 in 2018 Key: * indicates required for Eagle Scout rank ** indicates one of 2 is Eagle required (must complete Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving) *** indicates one of 3 is Eagle required (must complete Cycling, Hiking, or Swimming) **** indicates one of 2 is Eagle required (must complete Environmental Science or Sustainability)
~ indicates formerly Eagle required ~~ indicates formerly an Eagle multiple choice. ~~~ indicates from the 1910 BSA Handbook (called the book of organization) by Chief Scout, Ernest Thompson Seton, had 14 Badges of Merit. The first Handbook recognized presently by the BSA was in 1911.
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Most Popular Merit Badges in 2019
Blue indicates Eagle Required | Least Popular Merit Badges in 2019
Red indicates Newer Merit Badge |
* On required list for Eagle Scout rank
** Required for Eagle (must complete Cycling, Hiking, or Swimming)
*** Required for Eagle (must complete Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving)
**** Required for Eagle (must complete Environmental Science or Sustainability)
Most of the very popular merit badges are the Eagle Scout rank required badges. Approximately 50,000 of each of these are earned each year. Other popular merit badges include camp handicrafts such as leatherwork and wood carving; popular camp activities such as archery, rifle shooting, kayaking, canoeing, indian lore, and wilderness survival; and others that are frequently done as a troop such as fingerprinting,
In looking at the list some general conclusions can be drawn. More Scouts are into Music than Sports, 15,088 to 9,112. There is a lot of interest in the classic Scouting skills of first aid, swimming, camping, cooking, kayaking, fishing, canoeing, lifesaving, climbing, and nature study. Nature study accounts for 10 of the more popular merit badges: Environmental Science, Fishing, Mammal Study, Astronomy, Geology, Nature, Weather, Fish & Wildlife Management, Forestry, Soil and Water Conservation, and Reptile & Amphibian Study. Archery has dropped along with Canoeing, Environmental Science, Indian Lore, and Wilderness Survival.
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Formerly, when a new merit badge was adopted, the least popular merit badge was in danger of being dropped. The last merit badges to be dropped were in 1995. They were Agribusiness, Beekeeping, Botany, Consumer Buying, General Science, Machinery, and Masonry. Others, such as Atomic Energy, Auto Mechanics, Skiing and Water Skiing were not really dropped but were actually replaced by Nuclear Science, Automotive Maintenance, Snow Sports, and Water Sports.
The historic merit badges Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signaling and Tracking were dropped in 2011 but were only temporary for Scouting's 100th anniversary. Tracking was actually a new name since it was previously called Stalking.
Since 1995, at least 21 new merit badges were created and no old ones were dropped. These 21 new badges plus 2 that were renamed include:
Most Recent Merit Badges Added | ||||
1996: 1997: 2002: 2008: 2009: 2010: 2011: | Crime Prevention Archaeology Fly Fishing Composite Materials Scuba Diving Scouting Heritage Robotics | 2012: 2013: 2014:
2016: | Welding Game Design Mining in Society Signs, Signals & Codes Exploration | |
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Aerodynamics 1942-52 (Aviation 1911-42)Aeronautics 1942-52 (Aviation 1911-42)Agribusiness (120) 1987-95 (Farm & Ranch Management (47) 1980-87)Agriculture 1911-75Airplane Design 1942-52 (Aviation 1911-42)Airplane Structure 1942-52 (Aviation 1911-42)Ambulance ~~~ 1910-11Angling 1911-51Animal Industry 1928-75Atomic Energy (24) 1963-04Auto Mechanics (127) 1992-08Automobiling 1911-63Automotive Safety 1962-74 (Automobiling 1911-63)Aviation 1911-42 (Aviation in use again since 1952)Bee Keeping 1915-55 (Beefarming 1911-14)Beef Production 1928-75Beefarming 1911-14Beekeeping (28) 1956-95 (Bee Keeping 1915-55)Blacksmithing 1911-52Bookbinding (30) 1927-87 (Craftsmanship 1911-26)Botany (31) 1921-95Business 1911-66 (Clerk ~~~ 1910-11)Carpentry 1911-52Carpentry † (139) 2010† (Carpentry 1911-52)Cement Work 1927-52 (Craftsmanship 1911-26)Cinematography (126) 1990-2013 Citizenship (Civics) 1947-51 (Civics 1911-46)Citizenship in the Home 1952-72 (Citizenship (Civics) 1947-51)Citrus Fruit Culture 1931-52Civics 1911-46Clerk ~~~ 1910-11Computers (36) 1967-2014Conservation 1911-52Conservation of Natural Resources ~ 1966-72 (Conservation 1911-52)Consumer Buying (37) 1975-95Corn Farming 1928-75Cotton Farming 1931-75Craftsmanship 1911-26Cyclist ~~~ 1910-11Dairying 1911-75Dramatics 1932-66Electrician ~~~ 1910-11Farm & Ranch Management (47) 1980-87 (Farm Records 1959-80)Farm Arrangement 1960-73 (Farm Home & Its Planning 1928-59)Farm Arrangements 1974-79 (Farm Arrangement 1960-73)Farm Home & Its Planning 1928-59Farm Layout & Building Arrangements 1928-59Farm Records & Bookkeeping 1928-58Farm Records 1959-80 (Farm Records & Bookkeeping 1928-58)Fireman ~~~ 1910-11Firemanship ~ (50) 1911-95 (Fireman ~~~ 1910-11)First Aid To Animals 1911-72Food Systems (53) 1978-87 (Agriculture 1911-75)Forage Crops 1959-75 (Grasses, Legumes, & Forage Crops 1938-58)Foundry Practice 1923-52Fruit & Nut Growing 1953-75 (Fruit Culture/Nut Culture 1928-54 & Citrus Fruit Culture 1931-52)Fruit Culture 1928-54Gardener ~~~ 1910-11General Science (57) 1972-95 (Zoology 1930-72)Grasses, Legumes, & Forage Crops 1938-58Handicap Awareness (60) 1985-93 (Handicapped Awareness 1980-85)Handicapped Awareness 1980-85Handicraft 1911-42Hog & Pork Production 1928-58Hog Production 1959-75 (Hog & Pork Production 1928-58)Horseman ~~~ 1910-11Insect Life (65) 1923-86Interpreting 1911-52Invention 1911-14Landscape Gardening 1930-58Landscaping 1959-66 (Landscape Gardening 1930-58)Leather Work 1928-51 (Leatherworking 1911-27)Leathercraft 1927-52 (Craftsmanship 1911-26)Leatherworking 1911-27Machinery (70) 1911-95Mammals (71) 1972-86Marksman ~~~ 1910-11Marksmanship ~~ 1911-66 (Marksman ~~~ 1910-11)Masonry (72) 1911-95Master-at-Arms ~~~ 1910-11 (consisted of single stick, boxing, ju jitsu, wrestling, quarter staff and fencing.)Mechanical Drawing 1933-64Metallurgy 1965-71Metals Engineering (73) 1972-95 (Metallurgy 1965-71)Mining 1911-37Motor Boating ~~ (76) 1961-2019Musician ~~~ 1910-11Nut Culture 1928-54Ornithology 1911-13Pathfinding 1911-52Pathfinding † (140) 2010† (Pathfinding 1911-52)Personal Finances 1962-71Personal Health 1911-52Physical Development 1914-52Pigeon Raising 1933-80Pioneer ~~~ 1910-11Poultry Farming 1911-13Poultry Keeping 1914-75 (Poultry Farming 1911-13)Printing 1911-81Printing/Communications (88) 1982-87 (Printing 1911-81)Rabbit Raising (92) 1943-93Reptile Study (96) 1927-93 (Reptiles 1926)Reptiles 1926Rifle & Shotgun Shooting (97) 1967-87 (Marksmanship 1911-66)Rocks & Minerals 1937-53 (Mining 1911-37)Safety First 1916-26Seaman ~~~ 1910-11Seamanship 1911-64 (Seaman ~~~ 1910-11)Sheep Farming 1928-75Signaller ~~~ 1910-11Signaling (102) 1911-92 (Signaller ~~~ 1910-11)Signaling † (141) 2010† (Signaling ~~~ 1911-92)Skiing (104) 1938-99Small Grains & Cereal Foods 1943-1958Small Grains 1959-75 (Small Grains & Cereal Foods 1943-1958)Soil Management 1928-52Stalker ~~~ 1910-11Stalking 1911-52 (Stalker ~~~ 1910-11)Taxidermy 1911-52Textiles 1927-72Tracking † (142) 2010† (Stalking 1911-52)Veterinary Science (114) 1973-95 (First Aid To Animals 1911-72)Waterskiing (115) 1969-07Wildlife Management ~~ 1952-72 (Conservation 1911-52)Wireless 1919-23Wood Turning 1930-52World Brotherhood 1952-72 (Citizenship (Civics) 1947-51)Zoology* 1930-72Key: ~ indicates formerly Eagle required ~~ indicates formerly an Eagle multiple choice. ~~~ indicates from the 1910 BSA Handbook (called the book of organization) by Chief Scout, Ernest Thompson Seton, had 14 "Badges of Merit". The first Handbook recognized presently by the BSA was in 1911. † indicates historic merit badge brought back for just the year 2010,
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This list was compiled by Steve Henning using Scout Handbooks and Boy Scout Requirements and was compiled on February 24, 1996, and updated frequently since then. The Merit Badges which started in 1911 are the original ones. The evolution is an arbitrary process and in some cases is a name change and in others there is little connection and is noted for interest. Thanks to Fred Duersch, Jr., and Paul S. Wolf for finding several errors.
For a copy of the requirements for current merit badges and recent changes to the requirements, visit the Boy Scout Requirements site at: https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges/
Paul S. Wolf created an Excel Spreadsheet of all past and present merit badges for all years from 1910 to 2006. To view a simplified version of the spreadsheet, click here. Note: this is a 360 KB file and requires Microsoft Excel or compatible application to open.
Fred Duersch, Jr., published several guides to collecting Merit Badges, including the Merit Badge Field Guide and Green Khaki Crimped-Edge Merit Badges.
Illustration of all Merit Badges in 1942 in PDF format is at: http://scouters.us/mb1942.pdf
The BSA Merit Badge Program is on line at: https://www.scouting.org/programs/boy-scouts/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges/
The BSA Merit Badge Advencement Guide is on line at: https://www.scouting.org/resources/guide-to-advancement/the-merit-badge-program/
The BSA Merit Badge Counselors Guide is on line at: https://help.scoutbook.scouting.org/knowledge-base/scoutbook-merit-badge-counselor-guide/
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The Maximum Number of Merit Badges Available Any Given Year
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Approximate Maximum Number of Merit Badges Any Scout Could Earn
A curious fact: Before 1952, a person could work on merit badges and earn Star, Life, and Eagle as an adult. So a person who became a Scout in 1910 could earn all 139 merit badges that were issued before 1952.
No one will ever know who earned the most merit badges and how many since that is not a statistic that is kept. It is not the purpose of the merit badge program to earn the most, but to gain exposure to careers and activities that may interest a Scout and may provide opportunities his entire life. A reporter for the Kansas City Star reported that an estimated 12 Scouts complete earning every merit badge each year.
In the '90s an Eagle Scout in Schuylkill County, PA, earned every Merit Badge that was offered, but that was only 126.
The Maximum Number of Merit Badges Available Any Given Year
Through the years merit badges and been added and terminated. Hence, the number of merit badges varies from year and also during a year since the start dates and end dates don't necessarily coincide with the calendar year. The following chart indicates the number of merit badges that were available during a year, but not necessarily at the same time. These dates are based upon the data in this website gleaned from Handbooks and Requirements books.
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At the "Troop, Crew and Pack 179, Virginia Beach, VA" website I found:
"Eagle Scout John Stanford from Limestone, NY was reported to have earned the most merit badges ever. The total was 142 and he had a total of 8 silver palms by his 18th birthday." This website no longer exists.
It is doubtful that this is accurate since he joined Boy Scouts in 1977 at the age of 10 (which is in itself problematic). The most merit badges he could have earned is 123. If a Scout joined in 1970 or 1971 they could earn 140 merit badges, and then only if one included twice the ones that were basically name changes like:
- Animal Science / Animal Industry
- Citizenship in the World / World Brotherhood
- Environmental Science / Conservation of Natural Resources
- Fish & Wildlife Management / Wildlife Management
- Personal Management / Personal Finances
- Textile / Textiles
- Traffic Safety / Automotive Safety
Since there was no numbering scheme for merit badges until 1987, earning a merit badge that just had the name changed was OK. Today, one can only do it if the new name has a new number, for example:
Snow Sports (134) is different than Skiing (104) and Moviemaking (156) is different than Cinematography (126) so they both can be earned, but Automotive Maintenance (127) is the same as Auto Mechanics (127), and Water Sports (115) is the same as Waterskiing (115) so they can only be earned once.
Approximate Maximum Number of Merit Badges A Scout Could Earn
Based upon him joining at his minimum joining age
Using the actual data of when merit badges were valid, the joining age as it varied from 12 to 11, the date a Scout must stop earning merit badges, one can calculate the maximum number of merit badges that should have been awarded. Since before council offices were brought on to the BSA ScoutNET computer around the year 2000, councils could easily make mistakes by not noting the official starting date of a merit badge, the official termination date of a merit badge and the age of the Scout when he earned the merit badge.
The joining requirements have changed periodically. The minimum joining ages were:
- From 1910 to 1948 a boy needed to be 12 to join.
- From 1949 to 1979 a boy needed to be 11 to join.
- From 1979 to 1981 a boy need to be 11 or completed fifth grade.
- From 1981 to 1990 a boy needed to be 11, or 10.5 and completed fifth grade.
- From 1990 to 2004 a boy needed to be 11, or either completed fifth grade or earned the Arrow of Light.
- From 2004 to the present a boy needed to be 11, or 10 and either completed fifth grade or earned the Arrow of Light.
Until 1952 a Scout or Scouter (adult Scout) could work on Merit Badges all of his life. In 1952 that was changed so that anyone 18 or over wasn't supposed to be allowed to earn a merit badge. Again, until records were computerized, there were some discrepancies. BSA records in their Annual Reports to Congress indicate some councils failed to observe the termination date of a merit badge and awarded them several years after that. That was further complicated since Scouts that had started a merit badge were allowed to finish it. So if a 10 year old started a merit badge just before it was terminated, he could finish earning it 7 years after it was terminated. Again, some councils lost track of when the official termination date was.
The following chart determines the approximate number of merit badges a Scout could earn if he joined at the earliest age and worked on merit badges until 1952 or, after that, until he reached age 18. Of course 1) the actual date during the year when a Scout's birthday fell, 2) the actual date during the year a merit badge became official, and 3) the actual date during the year when a merit badge was terminated can change these numbers slightly.
Approximate Maximum Number of Merit Badges A Scout Could Earn
Based upon him joining at his minimum joining age.
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* These numbers may increase as new Merit Badges are added. Since each year a couple merit badges may be added and/or retired, the preceding chart indicates how this affects the total number available to a boy depending upon the year he joined. The computers merit badge may be earned until 2022 by boys who joined in 2015. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Merit badge sashes were introduced by the BSA in 1924. They had "2 across" and "3 across" version. From 1924 to 1945 they were tan. From 1946 to 1979 they were khaki. After 1979 there was only the "3 across" version and it was olive green. From 1972 to 1979 there was also a "3 across" dark green sash for Explorers and a light blue "3 across" one for Air Scouts.
The information on wearing of merit badges is very spotty in BSA literature, to say the least, and, in one case, inconsistent. The best example is the photo in BSA catalogs and on scoutstuff.org .
The following is what I could find.
Insignia Guide:
[https://www.scouting.org/resources/insignia-guide/]
Merit badges (required), cloth, silver border;Scout, right sleeve (long-sleeve shirt only),position 4, limited to six; merit badge sash,maximum of three per row as shown, no limit.
Scouts may wear only one merit badge sashat a time. A merit badge sash is never worn onthe belt. Merit badge sashes are worn only byScouts, Sea Scouts, or Venturers who areearning Scout advancement. Merit badges maybe worn on the front and back of the sash.Temporary patches may only be worn on theback of the sash. The merit badge sash and theOrder of the Arrow sash may not be worn at thesame time.
Scout/Varsity Scout Uniform Inspection Sheet
Merit Badge Sash. If worn, merit badges are attached to front (and back, if needed) of sash.
Venture/Varsity letter is attached at bottom front corner. Temporary insignia may be worn on back.
Scout Handbooks: | Scoutmaster Handbooks: |
1911 HB with illustration: | 1913 SMHB has no mention of wearing merit badges. |
1914 HB with illustration: | 1923 SMHB with illustration: |
1927 HB with illustration: | 1930 SMHB: 1932 SMHB with illustration: 1938 SMHB with illustration: |
1940 HB as no mention of wearing merit badges. 1945 HB with illustration: | 1946 SMHB has no mention of wearing merit badges. |
1948 HB with illustration: | |
1959 HB with illustration: | |
1965 HB with illustration: |
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1972 HB with illustration: | 1972 SMHB with illustration: |
1976 HB with illustration: | |
1979 HB with illustration: | 1981 SMHB with illustration: |
1990 HB: | 1990 SMHB with illustration: |
1998 HB (page 188): | 1998 SMHB has no mention of wearing merit badges. |
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Note: the following descriptions show different manufacturing practices. The dates reflect the dates they were manufactured a particular way. The dates that a particular council issued them varied considerably. Usually, old stock was used up before the newer badges were issued. Hence, the range of dates issued varied considerably from council to council.
1911 Gardening | "Type A": These were embroidered on rolls of 2" dark tan cloth ribbon and then cut into squares. Before being sewn onto the uniform or Scout Sash, the frayed edges were folded and sewn under. Some were folded and sewn on the outer edges leaving a wide margin outside the embroidered green ring. Others were folded and sews near the wide green ring making the patch look round. These are called "square" since that is the way they were purchased. They were manufactured from 1911 to approximately 1933. |
1934 Public Health | "Type B": These were basically the same as Type A, except the edges were folded and sewn under by the manufacturer. When they were purchased they were already looking round. The margin between the edge and embroidered green ring was typically 1/4" leaving a patch that was 1.75" in diameter. These are called "wide border crimped" since the factory sewn edge was called crimped and the margin was wider than on later types. They were manufactured from approximately 1934 to 1935. |
1936 Civics | "Type C": These were made the same as the Type B except the margin between the edge and the embroidered green ring was typically 1/8" leaving a patch that was 1.5" in diameter. They were manufactured from approximately 1936 to 1942. After 1942, only the blue fabric, Air Scout merit badges were made this way. The khaki Boy Scout merit badges changed to Type D. The type C merit badges are called "tan narrow border crimped". |
1942 Camping | "Type D": These were made from a lighter weight cloth with a much finer weave and a lighter tan color. The change in material was necessitated by the demand for the heavier cloth during World War II. Other than the fabric, the Type D is the same as Type C. The Type D merit badges are called "fine twill". They were manufactured from 1942 to 1946. During this period, the blue merit badges were still Type C. |
1947 Dog Care | "Type E": After World War II, these merit badges were made from a heavier material like before the war, but the color was a khaki, not tan. The Type E merit badges are called "khaki narrow border crimped". They were manufactured from approximately 1947 to 1960. |
 1961 Swimming | "Type F": These were made with the embroidered green ring actually being used to hem the edge of the badge. So rather than being crimped, this process was called rolled. This construction resulted in a thinner patch, so a backing of a white gauze was used to stiffen the badge. The Type F, are called "rolled edge khaki twill" and have the same green khaki material as the Type E. They were manufactured from approximately 1961 to 1968. |
1961 Forage Crops | "Type G": At the same time, some were made with full embroidered backs. These had a more substantial cloth backing and are called "cloth back". They were manufactured from approximately 1961 to 1971. In approximately 1969 all merit badges were Type G fully embroidered. Also, in 1969, Eagle required merit badges had a silver border rather than the green border. These and all subsequent badges were all fully embroidered. |
1972 Collections | "Type H": These were made with a plastic stiffener as well as with the cloth backing of the Type G. Hence these are called "plastic back". They were manufactured from approximately 1972 to the present. |
1992 White Water | "Type I": Starting in 1992, some merit badges were manufactured on a computer-controlled embroidery machine. This necessitated that the edges were not rolled, but were flat. These are called "computer designed". They characteristically had a wider border than Type H. Some of the ones made this way include Animal Science, Disability Awareness, Energy, and Gardening. This design proved to generate a number of complaints, so these were discontinued in1995. Not all merit badges were ever made this way. After 1995 all merit badges were "Type H" again. |
2002 Fish & Wildlife Mgt. | "Type J": Starting in 2002, the BSA put the Supply Division logo on the back of all patches including merit badges to reduce counterfeiting. They look identical to Type H except for this new back. Since the Supply Division logo is "Scout Stuff", these are called "Scout Stuff". |
2010 Tracking | "Historic Merit Badges Program": In 2010, for the BSA Centennial, four historic merit badges were revived just for the one year. They are unique in that they are made on tan twill with a tan rolled edge. There were 4 of them:
The original requirements were used as much as possible. The name of the Stalking merit badge was changed to Tracking because of what the term stalking means in today’s language and society. |
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CarpentryPathfindingSignalingTracking
2010 was the Centennial of the Boy Scouts of America since the BSA was founded in 1910. As part of the Centennial celebration the 2010 Historic Merit Badge Program was announced on the Scouting Magazine blog http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/ on January 12, 2010. Then on February 2, 2010, the BSA issued a note saying that “the Historic Merit Badge program for the Centennial has been delayed. Although a notice was placed in the Scouting Magazine "Cracker Barrel" blog, it was premature. The requirements published in the brochure are DRAFTS, and have not been finalized or approved yet."
Then on April 1, 2010, the BSA announced the official start of the 2010 Historic Merit Badge Program when boys could begin earning Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signaling, and Tracking: four merit badges brought back for the Centennial year except Tracking. There never was a merit badge called Tracking. What the BSA did was to take the Stalking Merit Badge and rename it Tracking for the purposes of the 2010 Historic Merit Badge Program. The final requirements were the same as the requirements for the original historic merit badges except for Tracking which eliminates the "stalking a human being" requirement. The draft brochure had changed all of the requirements for Pathfinding. These changes were dropped from the final version.
The program honored Scouting's rich 100-year history by introducing Scouts to the merit badges earned by yesterday's youth. To bring the badges into a 21st-century context, the BSA has created supplemental information guides that will accompany scans of the original merit badge pamphlets.
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The badges could be earned beginning, April 1, 2010, and requirements had to be completed by Dec. 31, 2010.
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Historic merit badges do count toward a Scout's rank advancement.
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Each merit badge emblem features a gold border, which will help identify it as special to the centennial year.
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Pamphlets for these badges were not be reprinted. Instead, Scouts and Scouters could go online to find digital scans of the original pamphlets.
- Carpentry, information guide - scan of original pamphlet
- Pathfinding, information guide - scan of original pamphlet
- Signaling, information guide - scan of original pamphlet
- Tracking, information guide - scan of original pamphlet
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You needed a qualified merit badge counselor for each badge.
1975-6 Colonial Philadelphia Merit Badge
In 1975 and 1976, the BSA authorized the Philadelphia Council to issue the Colonial Philadelphia Merit Badge. One question: is a merit badge that can't be counted toward Eagle actually a merit badge? The Colonial Philadelphia Merit Badge could only be counted toward Eagle Palms. It was not a BSA badge but a Philadelphia Council badge. Only the Philadelphia Council could issue it.
When the BSA authorized the Philadelphia Council to issue the Colonial Philadelphia badge, they did not change the wording of the rank requirements that require merit badges, but the Philadelphia Council was required to use wording in the description of the Colonial Philadelphia badge to say it could not be used toward rank advancement. I have heard stories of people who did use it toward rank advancement, but that was not authorized by the BSA. However, the BSA says that once a rank is granted, it should not be taken back. So, yes, the Colonial Philadelphia badge did count toward Eagle and other ranks, but that was not the intention when the BSA authorized the badge.
To me it is more like the Varsity Letter and Gold Bar Pins which may also be worn on the front of the Merit Badge Sash but don't count toward Eagle. It could be worn on the merit badge sash but it didn't count like other merit badges. Since it was restricted in so many ways, I will not include it in my other discussions other than as a curiosity.
