The BSA program is designed to promote rank advancement from Scout to Eagle with real-world, hands-on experience. Troop 3000 encourages our young men to focus on the basics by active participation in the regular Troop meetings and outings as they advance from Scout, to Tenderfoot, to Second Class, to First Class. Initially focusing on achieving First Class rank is our priority as it gives our young men a greater sense of accomplishment – feeling the commitment is worth it – and sets the foundation for further advancement as he continues along the trail through the ranks of Star, Life, and ultimately, Eagle.

A Merit Badge is earned by a Boy Scout when they have completed the requirements for one of more than 135 subjects in a wide range of arts, crafts, hobbies, sports, trades, professions, and service or self-improvement areas. Through the Merit Badge program a boy pursues his interests and learns career skills, develops socially, and may develop physical skills and hobbies that give a lifetime of recreation and experiences. There are circumstances where the Scoutmaster may agree to give the Scout permission to open a Merit Badge bluecard while on the journey to First Class. Merit Badges will be awarded during the Courts of Honor celebration.

Scout Procedures:

• Pick a Subject:  Talk to your unit leader about your interests.  Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you, and pick one to earn. Your leader will give you the name of a person from a list of counselors. These individuals have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.

  • Obtain the Merit Badge requirements booklet and read the requirements section so you know what is expected.  Merit Badge booklets are printed and available at the Atlanta Area Council's Scout Shop, across the street from Truist Park baseball stadium.  Plus, many of the merit badge booklets are available for checkout in our Scout Hut Library...a Scout is Thrifty!

• Scout Buddy System:  You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor, such as your parent, legal guardian, or another registered adult.  If you email an adult leader or Merit Badge Counselor, be sure to copy the Scoutmaster or other registered adult.

  • Locate at least one Merit Badge Counselor for the badge from the Merit Badge Counselors List, available on the Resources page.  

• Contact the Merit Badge Counselor:  Explain that you want to earn a specific badge.  The counselor may ask to meet you to explain what is expected and to start helping you meet the requirements.  You should also discuss work you have already started or possibly completed.  Scouts are encouraged to meet with their Merit Badge Counselor on Advancement Night at our Scout Hut (see Troop calendar for Advancement Nights).

  • Connect with your Merit Badge Counselor and invite him/her to support you using Scoutbook.  You can document your owne progress in Scoutbook, but at the very least you must have the Merit Badge Counselor document requirements that you have completed in Scoutbook.  In general, our troop does not use Blue Cards, the traditional way of tracking progress and sign-offs on Merit Badges.  However, you can use Blue Cards if you prefer.

• Unless otherwise specified, work on a requirement can be started at any time.

• Show Your Stuff:  After completing all requirements and when you are ready, contact the counselor again to make an appointment. When you go, take along the things you have made to meet the requirements. If they are too big to move, take pictures or have an adult tell in writing what you have done. The counselor will test you on each requirement to make sure you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.

• Get the Badge:  Ensure all requirements that your Merit Badge Counselor signs off as completed are entered into Scoutbook.  Or, if using Blue Cards, the completed cards should be signed by the Scoutmaster and Counselor, then turned into the Advancement Chair.

Must-know Information:

You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated—no more and no less. You must do exactly what is stated in the requirements. If it says “show or demonstrate,” that is what you must do. Just telling about it isn’t enough. The same thing holds true for such words as “make,” “list,” “in the field,” and “collect,” “identify,” and “label.”

The requirements listed below are the current and official requirements of the Boy Scouts of America. Occasionally, the requirements will not match those in the printed Scout Handbook, the annual Scouts BSA Requirements book, or some merit badge pamphlets because of the timing of their printing schedules.

If a new edition of a merit badge pamphlet is introduced with updated requirements after the Scouts BSA Requirements book has been released, a Scout who is starting the badge may choose to follow either set of requirements until the end of the year. At the start of the new year, Scouts who are beginning must use only the new requirements.

If a Scout has already started working on a merit badge when a new edition of the pamphlet is introduced, they may continue to use the same pamphlet and fulfill the requirements therein to earn the badge. They need not start over again with the new pamphlet and revised requirements.

There is no time limit for starting and completing a merit badge, but all work must be completed by the time a Scout turns 18.

Counselor Procedures:

• Receive inquiry from Scout to begin work on a Merit Badge and make sure he has sent an invitation to you through Scoutbook or opened a bluecard.

• Work with the Scout towards completion of all requirements. This is routinely done on Advancement nights (see Troop Calendar).

• Communicate with the Scoutmaster or Advancement Chairman on success, issues, problems, etc.

• Ensure all Merit Badge requirements are entered into Scoutbook or forward completed bluecard to Advancement Chair for final processing prior to next Court of Honor.

• Merit Badge Counselor List: There are several merit badges that have open counselor slots. These are fun and you get to show your stuff in helping the Scouts advance and learn. If you would like to help out the Troop by signing up, please contact the Advancement Chairman or Scoutmaster.

• Merit Badge Counselors must complete Youth Protection Training.

• Merit Badge Counselor Orientation for adult counselors.

• MeritBadge.org for official Merit Badge worksheets.