Merit Badge Explorer

Shelter-building, signaling, and survival priorities — includes an overnight survival shelter experience.

Multi-day backcountry trips, gear selection, and Leave No Trace practice.

Paddling strokes, rescue techniques, and water safety on flat water.

Knots, belaying, and climbing technique — usually completed at a council high adventure base.

Map and compass navigation, including a timed orienteering course.

Rope, lashing, and knot skills used to build camp structures and pioneering projects.

Tackle, casting, and basic fish identification and conservation.

Fly tying, casting technique, and stream ecology.

Safety, technique, and scoring — usually completed at a council summer camp range.

Firearm safety and marksmanship fundamentals under range supervision.

Shotgun safety and shooting fundamentals, typically at a council range or camp.

Track-and-field-style events and personal performance goals across several disciplines.

Rules, officiating, and participation across two or more sports of the scout's choosing.

Circuits, household wiring safety, and a hands-on electrical project.

Building and testing a working electronic circuit or device.

Designing, building, and programming a simple robot — popular with STEM-minded scouts.

Writing and debugging real code across multiple programming concepts and a final project.

Designing, building, and playtesting an original game.

Online safety, digital citizenship, and how connected technology works.

Rocketry, space history, and building and launching a model rocket.

Stargazing, constellations, and telescope use — best earned with a few clear nights.

Hands-on chemistry experiments covering reactions, safety, and everyday applications.

The engineering design process applied to a real, scout-led project.

Building design principles and sketching or modeling an original structure.

Flight principles, aircraft types, and often a visit to an airport or flight simulator.

Animation principles and producing an original short animated piece.

Exploring art techniques and media, with an original piece as the capstone project.

Composition, exposure, and editing — usually finished with a themed photo set.

Filmmaking basics — shooting, editing, and producing a short video project.

Music theory basics and a performance requirement on an instrument or voice.

Acting, stagecraft, and participating in an actual theatrical production.

Hand and power tool safety, finishing techniques, and building a wood project.

Leather tooling, stitching, and finishing — a popular summer camp badge.

Basic metalworking techniques and safety, with a hands-on metal project.

Welding safety and technique — typically requires a specialized council facility.

Basic residential plumbing systems, tools, and a hands-on repair or installation task.

Practical household repair skills scouts can use immediately at home.

Basic car maintenance — oil changes, tire checks, and understanding how a car works.

Speech writing and delivery, with at least one real speech given to an audience.

Reporting, writing, and the basics of media ethics — includes producing an actual article.

Sales principles practiced through an actual sales experience, like a troop fundraiser.

Business basics through planning and (optionally) running a small real venture.

How the legal system works, often including a courtroom visit or mock trial.

Community safety and crime prevention, often involving local law enforcement.

Search and rescue methods and how scouts can support real SAR operations.

Responsible dog ownership, training basics, and animal welfare.

Responsible pet ownership across multiple animal types.

Animal health basics and a look at veterinary careers — often involves a clinic visit.

Growing and maintaining a real garden plot over a full growing season.

Erosion, watershed health, and hands-on conservation practices.

Tree identification, forest management, and the basics of the forestry profession.

Wildlife population management and habitat conservation principles.

GPS navigation applied to real geocaching hunts — a fun, modern orienteering alternative.

Rocks, minerals, and earth science fundamentals through field collection.

Ocean science basics — currents, marine life, and ocean conservation.

Meteorology basics including cloud types, forecasting, and severe weather safety.

A broad survey of ecology and natural science across multiple categories of choice.

Mammal identification, tracking, and observation in the field.

Bird identification and observation — typically requires a multi-hour field outing.

Insect collection, identification, and basic entomology.

Identification and behavior of reptiles and amphibians, with field observation.

How mined resources show up in everyday life, and the basics of responsible mining.

Energy sources and conservation, with a household energy audit project.

Atomic structure and nuclear applications — one of the more technically demanding badges.

Morse code, trail signs, and other non-verbal communication methods.

Building and organizing a real collection around a topic the scout chooses.

Designing and constructing a scale model — popular alongside Space Exploration.

Radio communication basics, with many scouts pairing it with amateur radio licensing.

The trucking industry, logistics, and a look at driving careers.

Golf rules, etiquette, and basic swing mechanics on an actual course.

Kayak strokes, safety, and rescue techniques on flat water.

Whitewater rafting or kayaking skills — usually completed at a high adventure base.

Skiing or snowboarding fundamentals and winter safety.

Road safety principles for pedestrians, cyclists, and future drivers.

Hazard recognition and accident prevention across home, school, and outdoor settings.

Understanding different disabilities and how to be a genuine, informed ally.

How businesses operate, including a look at running a budget and basic finances.

U.S. history through local and family history research.

Family history research methods, building an actual family tree.

Native American history and culture, approached with care and accuracy.

Study habits, time management, and academic goal-setting.

End-to-end filmmaking — scripting, shooting, and editing an original short film.

Chess rules, strategy, and notation — a low-cost, high-engagement badge.

Land measurement techniques using basic surveying tools.

Materials science basics covering composites used in everyday products.

The invention process from idea to prototype, including patent basics.