Wondering which merit badges are the newest? Looking for release info on upcoming merit badges? Here is information from the BSA’s Blog Bryan on Scouting to get you up to date!
Newest Merit Badges — Coming Soon
(Next to be released listed first)
Signs, Signals, and Codes
Estimated release: Early 2015
Requirements: TBD
Description: American Sign Language (ASL) is the third most used language in the United States. The Signs, Signals, and Codes merit badge will cover Morse code, ASL, Braille, signaling, trail markings, and other nonverbal communications. Did you know that some of these have even saved people’s lives?
Animation
Estimated release: First quarter of 2015
Requirements: TBD
Description: Computer or traditional animation tasks that will test a Scout’s creativity, artistic skills, and storytelling abilities.
Computer-Aided Design
Estimated release: TBD
Requirements: TBD
Description: Teaching boys to use computer systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design.
Advanced Computing
Estimated release: TBD
Requirements: TBD
Description: The next generation of computing.
Major Updates
(Most-recent update listed first)
Swimming
Update released May 2014
New requirements and blog post: Click here.
Cooking
Update released December 2013
Note: This merit badge became Eagle-required on Jan. 1, 2014.
New requirements: Click here.
Related blog post: More details on the soon-to-be Eagle-required Cooking merit badge
Moviemaking (was Cinematography)
Update released October 2013
Note: This merit badge received a name change and a few requirements tweaks. The merit badge formerly called Cinematography is now Moviemaking, which better reflects the requirements.
New requirements and blog post: Click here.
Cycling
Update released at 2013 Jamboree.
New requirements: Click here.
Related blog post: The trail to Cycling merit badge just got a bit rougher
Newest Merit Badges — Available Now
(Newest listed first)
Digital Technology
Released: April 16, 2014
Requirements: Click here.
Note: This merit badge will replace Computers merit badge, but Scouts may earn and wear both merit badges. More details about the phase-out of Computers MB here.
Description: Technology has come a long way since Computers merit badge was first introduced in 1967. This badge will teach Scouts about technology in the digital age.
Mining in Society
Released: Monday, Feb. 24, 2014
Requirements: Click here
Description: Mining has been an important part of the United States since the 19th century. Today, the U.S. mining industry employes 3 million people, directly and indirectly, and is a major contributor to the global mining landscape. I expect this merit badge will cover the history of mining, explore the status of mining in the 21st century, and introduce Scouts to modern mining careers.
Related blog posts:
Here’s the Mining in Society MB patch and first two requirements
Scouts preview Mining in Society at 2013 jamboree
Sustainability
Released: July 15, 2013
Note: This merit badge will be Eagle-required. Scouts must earn either this or Environmental Science.
Requirements: Click here.
Description: A badge to teach Scouts about climate change, species extinction, resource extraction, green chemistry, recycling, and zero-waste manufacturing.
Related Post: Cooking, Sustainability merit badges to become Eagle-required
Programming
Released: July 15, 2013
Requirements: Click here.
Description: A tech-focused merit badge for the 21st Century.
Game Design
Released on March 6, 2013
Requirements: Click here.
Description: Slated to include both traditional games and video games, this sure-to-be-popular merit badge will test Scouts’ creativity, problem-solving skills, and planning abilities.
Related Post: First look at Game Design merit badge, including details on how to help launch the badge at the 2013 jamboree
Search and Rescue
Released on Aug. 20, 2012
Requirements: Click here.
Description: Scouts won’t fly helicopters, but they’ll get practice in finding and rescuing people in case a real emergency ever happens.
More information: In the BSA’s press release
Kayaking
Released on June 13, 2012
Pamphlet cover image: here
Requirements: Click here.
Description: A basic-level merit badge for flat-water kayaking — whitewater kayaking will still fall under Whitewater merit badge.
Welding
Released on Feb. 24, 2012
Bryan on Scouting post: “Requirements, launch info, video”
Robotics
Released on April 11, 2011
Bryan on Scouting post: “Robotics merit badge launch includes all-new interactive resource center”
Chess
Released in September 2011
Bryan on Scouting post: “Human chess match will celebrate the new Chess merit badge”
Geocaching
Released in December 2010
Bryan on Scouting post: “Smartphones: The modern-day camper’s Swiss Army knife?”
Scouting magazine story: “The Real Game Boys”
Inventing
Released in June 2010
Bryan on Scouting post: “Boy Scouts and Lemelson-MIT Program introduce Inventing merit badge”
Scouting Heritage
Released in May 2010
Bryan on Scouting post: “Boy Scouts of America releases Scouting Heritage merit badge”
Scuba Diving
Released on Dec. 1, 2009
Bryan on Scouting post: “Scuba diving merit badge released”
