Easiest Merit Badges to do around the home

Some merit badges require you embark on an epic outdoor journey, visit a significant site, or go to a certain place that provides access to materials that you can’t find anywhere else. But not all of them!

Of the more than 135 merit badges available to you, there are nearly 60 that you can do in and around your home, including a handful of the merit badges required to earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

Eagle-required badges you can do from home:

Citizenship in the World: Yep, you can learn all you need to know about being a citizen of the world … from your own home! You’ll need internet access and the help of a trusted adult to fulfill requirements such as analyzing a current world event, learning more about a foreign country, explaining international law, and naming at least five different types of governments in power in the world.

Environmental Science / Sustainability: You can choose one of these to be your required Eagle badge. Both have the option of reaching out to experts in your community, which you can easily do by phone or video conference.

Family Life: The perfect one to do at home with your family! Keep in mind you won’t be able to do this in, say, one weekend, as one of the requirements is to do at least five duties or chores in your home for 90 days.

First Aid: It’d be great if you had assistance from a medical professional, but if not, everything you need to know is in the pamphlet. The final requirement — “Teach another Scout a first-aid skill selected by your counselor” — could be done via video conference, with advanced approval from your counselor.

Other badges that are easy to do from home:

Chess: Even if you don’t have a chess board at home, you can grab a trusted adult and play online! With a combination of video conferencing and screen sharing, you can show off your chess movies during a virtual meeting with a counselor. Or you can set up a physical board in front of your camera and work with your counselor that way.

Fingerprinting: You can make your own fingerprints using three items you likely already have around the house — adhesive tape, a pencil and plain paper. The rest of the knowledge you need is right there in the pamphlet.

Home Repairs: You’ll need some very basic tools for this one, but other than a possible trip to the hardware store, this one is literally designed to be done in your home. Plus, your parents will definitely appreciate you fulfilling requirements like reconditioning a yard tool, weather-stripping a window or door, waterproofing a basement or replacing a pane of glass.

Mammal Study: This one is easy to earn at home, especially if you’re willing to take a walk around your neighborhood. Talk with your counselor about the requirement that involves carrying out a project “that will influence the numbers of one or more mammals.” Building a bat house or installing a squirrel feeder could be great options.

Remember, whether you’re working on a merit badge at home or at a Scout meeting or event, the same process applies. You’ll definitely want to talk to a merit badge counselor before you begin your work, as they might have ideas on how you can document the experience so there’s no misunderstandings when you’re done. The BSA’s Youth Protection guidelines, including the rule against one-on-one contact, apply to digital communication.