Historical Merit Badge Program
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We are pleased to introduce the Historical Merit Badge program and release supporting materials for the program, which includes four returning merit badges—Signaling, Tracking, Carpentry, and Pathfinding. With the Historical Merit Badge program, we hope to capitalize on the excitement of the Boy Scouts of America’s 100th Anniversary year. The goal of this program is to help stimulate Boy Scout advancement by adding a limited advancement opportunity; to help today’s Scouts understand what the world might have been like for Scouts in 1910; to make advancement more fun and exciting, and popular to earn; and, to provide unique program opportunities for council and district activities that go beyond traditional program themes. You will find the four merit badges that a Scout many years ago would have used to earn merit badges. Two versions of pamphlets have been used here to show that the earlier version had little color and used illustrations while later, color and photographs were added. It is also interesting to note while reading these older merit badge pamphlets how language has changed and how some elements of Scouting have adapted to keep Scouting relevant with the times. These also list the original requirements as written in 1910–1911. Think about how times have changed as you complete the requirements a Scout your age would have done a hundred years ago. As the Boy Scouts of America celebrates 100 years of Scouting in the United States, today’s youths will have the opportunity to experience a piece of the past. The four vintage merit badges that will count toward rank advancement are being released for the centennial year only, giving Boy Scouts a hands-on opportunity to experience the exciting past of the BSA. Earning these historical merit badges should be more than just earning another merit badge. By reading these merit badge pamphlets and completing the requirements as close to how a Scout of 1910 would have done them will be your true growth experience. Click on the links to the right for information about each merit badge. For information on the Merit Badge program (including how to become a merit badge counselor), click here. |
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