[FAQ] Boy Scout Requirements 2007 - Merit Badge changes

[PaulSWolf]

The following Merit Badges have totally new or modified requirements listed in the 2007 edition of Boy Scout Requirements (33215C). Note that many of these actually appeared in Merit Badge Pamphlets issued during 2006 after the release of the 2006 edition of Boy Scout Requirements (33215B).

Animal Science
Archaeology
Art
Athletics
Aviation
Camping
Climbing
Cooking
Dentistry
Entrepreneurship
Journalism
Personal Fitness
Rowing
Safety
Shotgun Shooting
Snow Sports
Sports
Stamp Collecting
Traffic Safety
Weather

Graphic Arts merit badge also had a new pamphlet issued in 2006, but because of an editorial error, the revised requirements were NOT included in the new book.

I've prepared my annual summary of the changes, and posted all of the new requirements on the US Scouting Service Project (USSSP) web site.
I've also prepared individual pages for most of the changed badges showing exactly what changed from last year. The old requirements are still posted, for those Scouts who already started working on individual badges, but any Scout STARTING a badge now should use the new/current requirements.

The summary of changes can be seen at:

http://usscouts.org/advance/boyscout/advchanges07.html

An index to all merit badge requirements can be accessed here:

http://usscouts.org/mb/framesindex.html

Rob Greenland who prepares the worksheets we have posted at the USSSP and here on meritbadge.com, has been notified of the changes and will be working on updating the worksheets. As soon as he can complete them, he'll send them to me for uploading to the sites, and I'll make them available for download.

If you find any errors or bad links, please let me know.

[Lynda J]

Paul I hope you know how very much everyone appreciates all you do with the badge requirements. I know I do

[PaulSWolf]

Paul I hope you know how very much everyone appreciates all you do with the badge requirements. I know I do

Thanks, Lynda. I do realize that a lot of people find my work beneficial, and it's always nice to hear a word of thanks.

Now, if my better half would quit complaining about how much time and money I spend on merit badge booklets when I don't have any active role with a troop, since the one I formed when my son was 11 (He's 34 now - and a new father as of last Wednesday night) folded last year, all would be well in the world.

[lifescoutforlife]

I would also like to thank you for your posting's. Helps keep us all in line with what has changed.

[evmori]

Paul,

You are a diamond in the rough or a rough in the diamond. I can never remember how that goes! Anyways, thanks for all you do for this site & Scouting.

[twilightann]

I too would like to thank you! I think it is great that you are able to do that. It is so helpful!!!! To be able to see these changes! Thanks again!

[smtroop168]

Paul..I echo the comments regarding your efforts. Which merit badge worksheets should I direct my scouts to use? This forum is on meritbadge.com but their worksheets seem behind the power curve whereas on usscout.org they seem to be maintained in a more current state. The usscout.org also stays ahead on the rank requirements too.

Thanks again for all your hard work.

[PaulSWolf]

Paul..I echo the comments regarding your efforts. Which merit badge worksheets should I direct my scouts to use? This forum is on meritbadge.com but their worksheets seem behind the power curve whereas on usscout.org they seem to be maintained in a more current state. The usscout.org also stays ahead on the rank requirements too.

Thanks again for all your hard work.

Although my primary efforts are on the usscouts.org site, I have been working with meritbadge.com to get this site up to date, too. We use different formatting and templates, so the pages can't be copied directly, but this site has been given permission to freely copy the text from my site to update this one. (A permission which we specifically do NOT give to others.)

Currently the worksheets and requirements pages at usscouts.org are more up to date. There are, however, quite a few worksheets on usscouts.org that haven't been updated either, since the Scouters that prepare them haven't finished work on them yet. But those are clearly indicated. I have two different sets of worksheets available. One set of the worksheets is prepared for both sites, the other is only on my site and a council site.

I also maintain copies of the older requirements and worksheets for Scouts who started work using the older requirements before they changed. A link to a worksheet will only appear on usscouts.org when the worksheet corresponds to the requirements.

[smtroop168]

Thanks Paul. I'll refer my guys to both sites. It will be their responsibility to make sure they have the more up to date worksheets since they are earning the badge. I'll make sure I have the most current for the badges I counsel.

Thanks for all you do. The BSA keeps us all busy with the yearly changes. Who actually decides to make some of these changes? Athletics finally changed after the last update was made in 1967 when I got the badge.

Matt
Eagle 1969