Merit badge updates
Boy Scouts of America are planning several new merit badge offerings over the next couple years, as well as some updates to existing merit badges and rank requirements. Here’s a summary:
New merit badges coming soon
- Game Design – Anticipated release March 2013
- Sustainability – Anticipated release at 2013 Jamboree. Will be an alternate to Environmental Science as an Eagle-required badge
- Programming – Anticipated release at 2013 Jamboree
- Digital Technology – will replace Computers. Anticipated release late 2013
- Animation – Expected in 2014
- Signs, Signals and Codes – Expected in 2014
- Multi-Media – Expected in 2014
- Computer-Aided Design – Expected 2014-2015
- Advanced Computing – Expected 2014-2015
Revisions to existing merit badges
- Cycling will be updated to allow a mountain biking option. Update expected by May 2013 in time for summer camp
- Cooking will become Eagle-required beginning in 2014 and will be revised, most likely to include the BSA‘s healthy living initiatives. Revisions due prior to 2013 Jamboree
New merit badges available now
- Search and Rescue
- Kayaking
- Robotics
- Welding
- Chess
- Geocaching
- Inventing
- Scouting Heritage
- SCUBA Diving
Merit badge counselors are needed for these merit badges. If you are proficient in any of these subject areas by either profession, hobby or training, please consider becoming a merit badge counselor.
For information on these, see the BSA‘s Rank Requirements and Merit Badges pages.