Merit Badges

Overview of Merit Badge Advancement from Scouts BSA Troop 498 Merit Badge Specifics Merit Badge Clinics

Overview of Merit Badge Advancement from Scouts BSA

BSA Merit Badge Website - https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges/
List of all Merit Badges: https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/
List of all Eagle Required Merit Badges: https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/eagle-required/

To start a merit badge, ask a troop leader to start the merit badge and mark it as started in Scoutbook. This allows a Merit Badge counselor to be assigned to you and gives them access to update your progress directly in Scoutbook.

Merit badges cover topics like American Business, Citizenship in the Community, Swimming, Welding, Fishing, Rifle Shooting, Leatherworking, and everything between. To earn Eagle Scout rank, the highest honor in Scouts BSA, a Scout must earn at least 21 merit badges (13 of which are specific, the remaining are selected by the scout). Scouts can start earning Merit Badges at any time. Merit Badges are not required for rank until the Star Rank. Our troop regularly offers the Eagle required Merit Badges.

Troop 498 Merit Badge Specifics

We provide several opportunities throughout the year for Scouts to complete Merit Badges.

Merit Badge Nights
Each month we dedicate one troop meeting to work on a specific Eagle required merit badge. The troop will work on the merit badge over a 3-4 month period. The PLC selects the merit badge the troop will work on. Over the course of 4 years, we will work on most, if not all, the required Eagle merit badges.

FAQ: My Scout has already earned the merit badge that is being worked on by the troop during this week’s troop meeting, does my scout need to come to the meeting?
Being Scout led only works when we have experienced Scouts attend meetings and help teach skills. Scouts that have completed the merit badge are encouraged to come work with scouts working toward the merit badge or work with scouts that would like to focus on rank requirements that evening.

Troop 498 Merit Badge Offerings List

2026 Personal Fitness, Family Life, Dog Care, Dance, Snow Sports
2025 Emergency Prep, First Aid, Citizenship in the Community
2024 Camping, Citizenship in Society, Cooking, Personal Management
2023 Communication, Citizenship in the Nation, Family Life
2022 Citizenship in the Community, Hiking, Personal Fitness, Citizenship in Society
2021 Emergency Prep, Hiking, Cooking, Environmental Science, Sustainability,
Citizenship in the World, Family Life, First Aid, Camping
2020 Emergency Prep, Citizenship in the Nation, Personal Management
2019 Camping, Communication, Family Life
2018 Personal Management

Rank/Merit Badge Catch-up Nights
Two weeks prior to a Court of Honor scouts have the opportunity to focus on rank and merit badge requirements needed to finish them, so they can be awarded those achievements at the next court of honor. Older scouts are expected to attend and help sign off rank for younger scouts once they have completed any items they need
checked.
To get the most out of the meeting come prepared. Scouts should

review and complete any requirements prior to the meeting.
have written supporting documentation as required (event, date, # of camping nights, examples of living the scout law, merit badge workbook filled out, etc).

At the start of the evening, Scouts are given a printed copy of their Individual Advancement Record from Scoutbook. Scouts will

verify that all completed rank and merit badge requirements are recorded in Scoutbook.
meet with an adult leader to resolve any missed items and update Scoutbook.

Merit Badge Clinics

Our troop offers special merit badge workshops upon request. The radio, welding, and chess merit badges are some favorites we have offered recently – if you have an interest in a merit badge workshop for the troop, reach out to our Merit Badge Coordinator.

Our district and council offer merit badge clinics throughout the year. Alpine district merit badge clinic is historically in November and the Chief Seattle Council clinic is in the spring usually in early May. Both these events fill up FAST! Check the council calendar for upcoming dates and registrations.
https://seattlebsa.org/about/calendar/