Scouts can earn merit badges in 120 different areas. You’ll need to earn six to become a Star Scout, five more to become a Life Scout, and another ten—that is, at least 21 altogether—to become an Eagle Scout.
Among those 21 merit badges, an Eagle Scout must earn 12 “required” merit badges. They are:
Camping
Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving
Environmental Science
Family Life
First Aid
Citizenship in the Community
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the World
Communications
Personal Fitness
Personal Management
Swimming or Hiking or Cycling
The current list of all merit badges is below. To see the requirements for a particular badge, click here, then click on the name of the badge you’re interested in.
The Boy Scouts of America publishes merit badge pamphlets for each badge. These pamphlets contain the requirements to earn the badge and a wealth of helpful information that will help you to do so. Troop 28maintains a library with current pamphlets for all of the most popular badges, and many of the others as well; Scouts can borrow them through the Scout Librarian. You can also purchase any of the pamphlets through the Northeast Illinois Council’s Scout Shop, located at 2745 Skokie Valley Road, Highland Park, IL 60035 (Route 41 northbound, just north of Half Day Road). You can check their hours by calling 1 847 433 1813, or on their Website
Parents of Troop 28 Scouts are approved counselors for many of the most popular merit badges. We also have a directory of the adult Scouters in the area who are approved counselors for all merit badges.
Merit badges offered as of February 1, 2005, are:
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