For a Boy Scout, merit badges are the quickest way to achieving Eagle Scout status. There are more than 130 different merit badges, covering everything from bugling to stamp collecting, each geared toward helping young scouts learn and grow. The goal of any troop is to find opportunities for scouts to earn badges, both as part of their regular troop meetings and through excursions and work within the community.

Through traveling with their troops on camping trips and other adventures, Boy Scouts can gain experience they can then put toward earning a badge. Merit badges for activities like camping, whitewater rafting, scuba diving, and golf require a certain number of hours of participation in the activity in addition to oral presentations on the topics. While some Boy Scouts can get this experience individually, troops can help members by taking them on trips that facilitate the activities they need to earn badges.

1. RAISING FUNDS 

For many troops, fundraisers are a popular way to raise the funds necessary to help finance these trips. With one camping trip, scouts can participate in numerous learning opportunities that will not only put them a step closer to earning a sash full of badges, but will help them grow as young men. When community members learn the monies raised from fundraisers are going toward such learning opportunities, they’re usually eager to help in any way they can.

For decades, Evergreen Industries has helped troops host successful fundraisers, with a selection of eye-catching wreaths that are ideal for raising money for trips and special activities. Many troops find that community members eagerly anticipate the time of year when wreaths will be sold, requesting them months in advance of the fundraiser’s beginning.

2. BADGE EARNING 

Once funds have been raised, a troop faces the difficult decision of how to use the funds. In some cases, troop leaders may find that learning opportunities are available locally, such as through a local visit to an art gallery in an effort to earn the Art Badge or a trip to a local golf course to earn the Golf badge. The scout is not only responsible for participating in the activity, but learning from it and reporting back to the troop leader on what he now knows about the subject.

Prior to participating in an activity where a merit badge can be earned, leaders should have scouts study the subject matter and have an open discussion on the topics related to the badge. Each scout is responsible for studying the literature related to the topic and demonstrating to the leader that he knows the topic, following the requirements associated with each badge. This is crucial as meeting the BSA merit badges requirements or scout badge requirements ensures that scouts are comprehensively learning and adhering to the standards set forth.

Fundraisers are a great way to bring in the funds necessary to create merit badge earning opportunities. With the right product, troops can host successful fundraisers each year, bringing in enough money for several badge-earning opportunities throughout the year. These opportunities not only put scouts a step closer to earning Eagle Scout status, they also help them learn and grow. By focusing on meeting the BSA merit badge requirements, scouts can ensure their time is well spent and that they are fully prepared for each badge they pursue.