Scout Advancement from Home
COVID-19 is causing us to be even more resourceful and creative in how we keep the Scouting program going. Units may not be meeting as a group, but Scouts can continue to work on merit badges while they’re home during Coronavirus outbreak.
As always discuss your interests in a merit badge with your Scoutmaster before starting one.
Most of these will require online research during this time so be sure you have completed your Cyber Chip first.
Remember to always use a speaker phone when talking with a counselor with a parent present or copy parent or another leader into any emails you send regarding merit badges.
Do not adopt or buy a pet/animal just to complete a merit badge if you don’t plan to keep it. Remember some requirements require supervision so ask a parent or counselor about these before you start.
For insight on advancement policy changes during the Covid-19 outbreak, please click here.
Advancements with no requirements required outside of home:
Eagle required badges marked with an *
American Business
Animation
Basketry
Collections
Electricity
Electronics
Energy
Entrepreneurship
Family Life*
Fingerprinting
Genealogy
Home Repairs
Model Design and Building
Nature
Painting
Personal Fitness* (requires MD visit but yearly physical would cover this)
Personal Management*
Photography – but shots might be limited
Plumbing
Programming
Reptile and Amphibian Study
Wood Carving
May be completed with no outside requirements depending on options chosen:
American Heritage – #2 Choose 2 options if you choose 2c it could be done over the phone, skype, or family members you can visit. #4 choose 2 options a & c could be done by online research if you choose 4b avoid visit or see if there are virtual tours available. 4d would have to be done at a later date, 4e would have to be done at a later date
Animal Science – depending on what type of farm visit you do it might have to occur at a later date, The Avian option has a option to do this through videos
Archaeology – #7 choose 2 if you choose option A you will need to do at a later date, #8 choose 1 option A will have to be set for a future date, #9 choose 1 option A will have to be done at a later date
Astronomy – #8 all options would have to be done at a future date
Bird Study – If you have a variety of birds in your neighborhood/yard. #8 choose 1 option A would have to be at a later date
Chemistry – #7 Choose 1 Option A, C, D would have to be at a later date
Citizenship in the World – #7 choose 2 option c could be done online through email/skype etc, option d & e would have to be done at a later date
Coin collecting – #10 choose 1 option d is the only one what can be done without being in the community, also might be hard to get all the coins needed if not going into the community but is possible
Digital Technologies – #8 do two options d&c would have to be done at later date, #9 do one option b would have to be done at later date
Drafting – #6 choose 1 option A would have to be done at a later date
Emergency Preparedness – #7 work with councilor to figure out how to complete
Leather work – #5 choose 1 option d would have to be done at a later date
Movie making – #3 choose 1 option 1 would have to occur at a later date
Nuclear Science – #3 choose 1 option A would have to be done at later date, #4 choose 2 option D would have to be done at a later date, #5 Choose 1 option c would have to be done at a later date
Pets – #4 A & B might have to be done at a later date
Pulp and Paper – #7 choose 1 all options besides e would have to be done at a later date
Railroading – #8 choose 1 option A could be done without outside exposure option b would require at least part to be done at a later date
Reading – #4 could read to younger children if family, read to those listed over skype, or other method, record your own books/magazines and send to those listed, or can be done at a later time, check with your counselor on how you can meet this requirement
Robotics – #6 choose 1 option A would have to be done later
Safety – #4 would have to use photos or other options to complete or do at later date, #6 project should be home or talk with counselor about possible other locations that would be safe
Sculpture – #2 choose 2 option c would have to be done later or possibly online tour
Soil and Water Conservation – #7 Choose 2 option a would have to be done at later date
Stamp Collecting – #7 choose 2 option b would have to be done at a later time
Sustainability – Several options can include community but could be done without community
Textile – #3 choose 2 option A would have to be done at a later date
Depending on counselor outside requirement might be acceptable to be completed as on online virtual tour
Art – #6 will have to be done at a later date or check with counselor about an online tour
Has a requirement that would have to he completed once safe to join community events:
American Labor – #2 would have to be done at a later date
Bugling – could learn skills needed and then serve once meeting resume
Composite materials – Work with councilor on how to set date and time for projects
Cooking – camping and trail section to be done at a later date
Dog care – #8 would have to be done at a later date
Fire Safety – #10 B & C could possibly be done from home or at a future camp out, #11 would have to be done at a later date
Gardening – #5 would have to done at a later date
Medicine – #7 Should be done when threat of exposure to illnesses are at a minimum
Public Health – #5 would have to be done at a later date
Radio – #7 would have to be done at a later date, also might be had/expensive if family doesn’t have the equipment need
Signs, Signals, and Code – #7 would have to be done at a later date
Soil and Water Conservation – #7 would have to be done at a later date
Weather – #9 choose 1 option b would have to be done at a later time, #10 would have to be done at a later date
Additional Awards
Nova and Supernova Awards – Several Achievements could worked on during this time, such as the 3 hours of reading or watching videos about the topic. STEM Resources are also available through SciTech Institute.
Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award – requirements 1- 4 can be completed and #5 completed at a later date.
Various religious emblems may be completed at home according to your faith’s emblem requirements.