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.

The BSA’s merit badge program is designed to teach Scouts about a wide variety of topics, with the hopes they’ll discover new interests, new hobbies, or maybe even a future career. But the merit badge program doesn’t work without merit badge counselors.

What is a merit badge counselor?

A merit badge counselor is a responsible adult with knowledge and enthusiasm about a career, hobby or other subject who is willing to share that knowledge and enthusiasm with Scouts.

Don’t Scouts BSA troops already have adult leaders who are merit badge counselors?

Each Scouts BSA troop has a Scoutmaster, the adult leader who ensures the rules of the BSA are being followed; a chartered organization representative, the adult who serves as the direct contact between the troop and the chartered organization; and a committee chair, who serves as the leader of the committee of adult volunteers that supervises the troop.
Additionally, there might be assistant Scoutmasters, a treasurer, a secretary, and other adult volunteers.
Some of these adults might also be merit badge counselors, but there are more than 135 merit badges out there. They can’t do them all!
They need the support of other merit badge counselors dedicated to teaching one or more merit badges.

Outdoor adventures are the heart and soul of the Boy Scouts of America. It is in the great outdoors where youth can learn the most about ideals such as character development, citizenship, fitness and leadership. Plus, being outside is just plain fun. Here are 11 merit badges that will get you outside, where the real magic of Scouting happens.

Outdoor Adventures

Camping: Youth who earn the Camping merit badge don’t just learn how to set up a tent while spending at least 20 nights (not consecutive!) in the outdoors. They also learn how to Be Prepared for hot, cold and rainy weather; how to plan and cook meals; how to avoid getting lost by using a compass or GPS receiver; how to pack smartly and efficiently; and how to safely carry out a side adventure such as hiking, biking or rappelling.

Canoeing: For thousands of years, people have been exploring the world’s waterways by canoe. The Canoeing merit badge teaches youth the basic parts of a canoe and paddle, then moves on to more advanced activities like carrying and launching a vessel, handling a swamped canoe, and packing for a multiday canoeing adventure.

Climbing: Rock climbing is an outdoor activity that requires more mental toughness than physical strength. It also requires the right equipment, and in earning this merit badge, youth will learn all about harnesses, helmets, ropes and knots used to climb safely. They’ll also get to experience different aspect of climbing, such as bouldering, lead climbing and top-rope climbing.

Fishing and Fly-Fishing: Whichever type of fishing you prefer, both of these merit badges will get you outdoors and on the water. The Fishing merit badge will teach you the best techniques for catching fish using a traditional rod-and-reel setup, while Fly-Fishing covers the specialized art of using a fly rod. Both including knot-tying skills, fishing safety and also cleaning and cooking a fish that you catch.

Kayaking: This merit badge covers virtually every aspect of recreational kayaking, including proper use of life jackets, how to get in and out of a kayak (it’s trickier than it looks!), and different kayaking techniques like the forward stroke, reverse stroke and stern draw. Earning this badge will also help you prepare for more advanced kayaking trips, such as whitewater and sea kayaking.

Outdoor Learning

Environmental Science: This merit badge helps youth learn about environmental problems and human impacts on the environment. To earn it, you’ll have to go outside and conduct experiments on topics such as ecology, air pollution, water pollution, land pollution, endangered species and invasive species.

Forestry: While some Forestry requirements can be done at home or in a library, most of them require youth to get out and explore areas of nature around them. Activities include collecting wood samples from trees, visiting a managed forest are or logging operation, taking an inventory of trees near you, and visiting with a local forester near you.

Mammal Study: Whether you’re studying the tiniest or biggest mammals out there, this badge requires you to spend plenty of time outside. Requirements include visiting different kinds of natural habitats, taking pictures of animals in the wild, and carrying out a project to benefit one or more mammals.

Nature: To earn the Nature merit badge, youth will get outdoors to study birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, insects and spiders, fish, plants, and soils and rocks. They’ll also visit a natural area such as a forest, grassland, meadow or water feature.

Wilderness Survival: Youth working on this badge will spend one night outdoors in a natural shelter — no tents or hammocks! Don’t worry, you’ll stay warm by building a fire without matches, and you’ll stay safe by packing a personal survival kit.

Whether you’re an athlete, simply a fan of sports, or a little bit of both, there’s a whole category of merit badges for you. And while it’s a good idea to expand your horizons and pursue merit badges on topics with which you aren’t already familiar, you’ll also have plenty of time in Scouting to go after some badges that already align with your interests.

Here are nine merit badges that are perfect for athletes and sports fans, plus a bonus category at the end for fans of certain international multisport events held every four years.

Sports: It’s right there in the name! The Sports merit badge emphasizes the importance of being prepared to play sports by getting a physical exam, maintaining healthy habits and training the right way. If you already play an organized sport, you’ll have no problem with Requirement 5: taking part in one season of a competitive individual or team sport.

Athletics: This merit badge focuses on preparing for and showing improvement in specific athletic activities such as swimming and long-distance running, and specific skills within the sports of basketball, baseball and soccer.

Water Sports: Aquatic activities such as swimming, boating, skiing and wakeboard aren’t just fun. They’re also great ways to develop strength, coordination and fitness. Youth who pursue this badge can get a taste of multiple water-related activities. Perfect for summer camp!

Snow Sports: Winter sports like snow skiing, snowboarding and show shoeing require a special set of skills, and you’ll learn a little about all of them when you work on this merit badge. In addition to proper safety practices and gear, this badge covers specific skills required to excel at winter sport.

Swimming: By working on this Eagle-required merit badge, you’ll learn to make the most of your time by the pool. Skills covered include headfirst dives, feet-first entries, and a variety of swim strokes, along with some water rescue techniques you can use if one of your buddies is in trouble.

Golf: Not only will you learn the rules of golf (it’s one of the few sports in which the lower score wins!), you’ll also learn how to execute a full wood shot, fairway wood shot, long iron shot, short iron shot, approach shot and putting stroke.

Cycling: Another Eagle-required badge, Cycling merit badge participants learn all about one of best sports to participate in. The best thing about this badge is you have the option of working on road biking requirements, or you can choose to pursue the mountain biking option.

Fishing: Some people fish for food, other people fish for sport. You’ll do a little bit of both for this badge, which covers the art of casting, knot tying, and reeling in a catch. Proper catch-and-release techniques are covered, as are the proper methods of cleaning and cooking a fish.

Personal Fitness: Another Eagle-required badge, Personal Fitness teaches the importance of being mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually fit. By helping you identify both your weakest and strongest areas of fitness, it’s the perfect complement to all of the other sports-related badges.

BONUS! The following merit badges are also Olympic sports: Archery, Canoeing, Climbing, Kayaking, Rifle Shooting, Rowing, Shotgun Shooting, Skating, Small-Boat Sailing and Rowing.

STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — isn’t just something you learn about in school. Eventually, it could become something you do for your career. After all, the number of jobs in STEM-related fields is increasing at a faster rate than non-STEM jobs.

Whether you’re interested in a career in STEM or just want to learn more about a STEM-related subject, the BSA has multiple merit badges for you.

(While many merit badges contain some elements of STEM, the badges below are almost entirely STEM from start to finish.)

Animal Science: Raising livestock isn’t just a skill. It’s a science. This merit badge gives Scouts an idea of what it takes to care for animals like cattle, horses, sheep, goats, hogs and poultry.

Astronomy: In learning more about the branch of science that deals with celestial objects, space and the physical universe as a whole, Scouts will explore the wonders of all things related to the night sky: the stars, the moon, nebulae, meteors and other planets — both within our solar system, and beyond.

Automotive Maintenance: A lot of engineering goes into making cars fast and reliable. This merit badge teaches Scout about the history of the automobile, and what it takes to keep the newest ones in top condition.

Chemistry: Even if it isn’t your favorite class in school, the Chemistry merit badge provides a fascinating look at the substances that make up our world … and what happens when you put them together!

Digital Technology: You use a computer at school, then you come home and use a videogame console, then you message your friends on a phone. This merit badge is all about the relationship between humans and the digital technology that surrounds us.

Engineering: Engineers use science and technology to turn ideas into reality. Scouts use this merit badge to learn how professionals such as civil engineers, software engineers, biomedical engineers and aerospace engineers make it happen.

Environmental Science: This merit badge introduces Scouts to the skills required to be an environmental scientist, a specialist who uses their knowledge of nature to protect the environment.

Geology: A geologist is a scientist who studies the Earth’s physical structure and substance, along with its history. Scouts who work on the Geology merit badge will learn about the tools and skills required to be a geologist.

Nuclear Science: Science has come so far in the last few thousand years that there’s even a field of science that studies atomic nuclei. That’s nuclear science, and in working on this merit badge, Scouts will learn how nuclear scientists study how matter and forces interact.

Plant Science: Without plants, humans and other animals couldn’t exist. The Plant Science merit badge explores the fields of agronomy (the soil), horticulture (gardening) and field botany (the study of the physiology, structure, genetics, distribution and classification of plants).

Robotics: Robots are built to do the things that humans can’t — or at least prefer to not — do. From dangerous jobs like deep-sea exploration to boring jobs like putting the same car parts together over and over and over again, robots are everywhere. This merit badge discusses how robots are designed and built, and even offers Scouts the chance to build one of their own.

Space Exploration: Humans first explored space because we were curious. As you’ll learn when you work on this merit badge, we’re now seeing the benefits of satellite imagery and communication satellites, and we’re only just beginning the age of space tourism.