Merit badges are one of the best parts of Scouting, but some badges get way more attention than others. I remember skipping over certain badges in the pamphlet because the name sounded boring, only to hear later from a friend that it was actually one of the coolest things they had done in Scouts. Meanwhile, some badges I thought would be easy turned into months of challenges that tested my patience more than my skills!
To get a better picture of what some lesser-known merit badges are actually like, in the latest edition of the ScoutSmarts Scribe Newsletter I asked Scouts to share which badges surprised them, which ones were hardest to finish, and what new badges they wished Scouting America would create. The responses were amazing – full of smart Scout insights to help you pick your next badge or avoid getting stuck on one that doesn’t fit your schedule.
In this article, I’ll share the biggest themes from the survey, highlight some of the most helpful ideas, and give you practical ways to choose badges wisely. You’ll also learn which tough badges to watch out for, and get some ideas of badges Scouting America could offer in the future! 🙂
Overview: What These Survey Answers Reveal About Merit Badges
When I looked over your survey responses, a few big patterns jumped out. First, the “underrated” badges often became favorites because of hands-on projects, great counselors, or unexpectedly useful life skills. Badges like Aviation, Pioneering, Oceanography, Electricity, Disability Awareness, Scouting Heritage, Nuclear Science, and Plant Science all got shout-outs from Scouts who expected them to be boring but ended up loving them!
Second, the hardest badges were usually hard for three reasons: time and logging requirements (Sustainability, Personal Management, Personal Fitness, Family Life), access and scheduling issues (Rifle Shooting), or counselor and environment difficulty (Canoeing, Environmental Science, Wilderness Survival).
Third, Scouts want new merit badges that match real life: financial skills, leadership, college prep, mental health and social awareness, STEM careers, practical trades like watchmaking and construction, sports, and even survival in urban settings. The creativity in these responses was impressive, and it shows what Scouts really want to learn!
Underrated Merit Badges: The “Sounds Boring” Badges That Turned Out Awesome
Survey Question: “What is the most underrated Merit Badge you have earned or seen? (The one you thought would be boring, but actually turned out to be super cool or useful.)”
One of my favorite things about this survey was hearing Scouts describe badges they almost skipped and then ended up loving. The common thread? Hands-on experiences, great counselors, and real projects that made the learning stick.
These responses show that when a badge includes building, experimenting, or doing something memorable, Scouts often walk away with a new favorite. Several Scouts mentioned that the counselor made all the difference, turning what could have been a lecture into a genuinely fun experience.
“As someone who loves STEM, the Nuclear Science Merit Badge was one of my favorites. I had a really great counselor (shout out to Mr. Anderson), fun demonstrations and activities, and learned a lot. I would recommend it for Scouts at or above eighth grade to get the most out of it, and potentially before they take high school chemistry so they do not get bored.”
Nicholas W.
“Plant Science is awesome. I have 50 merit badges, including Eagle required ones, and Plant Science is definitely the hardest merit badge I have earned! My fig tree from this merit badge about three years ago is still going strong! It teaches you how to garden, how to care for plants, and more. It is super fun! It is also an expensive one.”
Tarun P.
“Scouting Heritage. I like history but was not too sure this would be fun as a class, and it really was great!”
Sam M.
“Pioneering was really cool, and I learned lots of knots and lashings!”
Eliza S.
“Fish and Wildlife Management seemed pretty boring, but then we got to do a fun project.”
Holden W.
Other underrated badges that got mentions: Disability Awareness (Eleanor P.), Coin Collecting (Michael Y.), Oceanography (Kyle S.), Leatherwork (Tom G.), Electricity (Randy C.), Fire Safety (Aurora P.), and Architecture (Saket N.).
The practical lesson here? If a badge has hands-on builds, experiments, fieldwork, or a project, it may be more fun than the title sounds. Before you skip a badge, ask yourself: Does it include a project? Can you take it with a counselor who runs demos or outings? Can you pair up with a buddy to make it more fun? Do not judge a badge by its name. Judge it by what you will actually get to do!
Why Some Merit Badges Feel Hardest: Tracking, Time, and Logistics
Survey Question: “Which Merit Badge was the hardest for you to finish? Was it the requirements, a tough counselor, or just bad luck?”
Here is something that surprised me when I read through the responses: most of the “hardest” badges weren’t hard because the content was complicated. They were hard because they required consistency, tracking, and access to limited time or equipment.
Scouts mentioned badges that dragged on for months because of logging requirements, badges that became frustrating when too many people needed the same limited resources, and badges where the environment or counselor style made the experience extra challenging.
The Logging and Tracking Challenge
A clear pattern emerged when Scouts talked about the hardest badges.
“It was definitely Sustainability. A combination of procrastination and many logging and tracking requirements made it take a long time. Between the time I started and finished it, the requirements had changed (which made it easier).”
Nicholas W.
“Personal Management, the recording of time and expenses.”
Finian O.
“Personal Fitness. Getting the proper system for keeping track of workouts. Once I figured out a spreadsheet that worked for me, and a workout buddy, I could better remember to keep track daily.”
Karl K.
“Family Life, the requirements.”
Tom G.
The Access and Scheduling Bottleneck
Some badges are hard simply because too many Scouts are trying to use the same limited resources at the same time. When range time or counselor availability is scarce, even an otherwise straightforward badge can become a struggle.
“Rifle Shooting! There were so many Scouts at resident camp, so we had to take turns using the rifles. I would just start getting the hang of it but would have to stop.”
Sam M.
“Communication, requirement 8, because so many Scouts in unit were working on it at once.”
Eleanor P.
“Currently working on it still as we speak, but Cooking. I just have not had the time to cook.”
Grace Z.
The takeaway seems to be that many “hard” badges are really “long” badges. Success comes from systems: set reminders, make a simple tracker (notes app or spreadsheet), schedule counselor check-ins early, and avoid starting logging-heavy badges right before busy seasons like sports, finals, band, or holidays.
When Weather, Counselors, or Requirement Style Makes a Badge Tough
Sometimes the challenge is not about tracking. Sometimes external factors, such as weather conditions, counselor expectations, or the nature of the requirements themselves, make a badge feel much harder than expected!
“Wilderness Survival, too cold!”
Mike C.
“Canoeing because of how tough the counselor was.”
Aurora P.
“Environmental Science was really difficult for me. The counselor was tough, but also the requirements.”
Holden W.
“The Merit Badge that was hard was Environmental Science because of all the researching and outdoor activities.”
Saket N.
My tip is to plan your environment: do cold-weather, overnight, or outdoor badges in the right season and with proper gear. If a counselor’s style is a mismatch, communicate early about expectations and timelines. For research-heavy badges, break requirements into weekly chunks and use troop study nights or a buddy system to stay moving. A little planning up front can save you a lot of frustration later!
New Merit Badge Ideas Scouts Want: Practical Life Skills, STEM, and Well-Being
Survey Question: “If Scouting America let you create one brand new Merit Badge that does not exist yet, what would it be called and what is one requirement?”
This was my favorite part of the survey! Scouts had incredibly smart ideas for new merit badges. What stood out most was how practical these suggestions were. Scouts want to learn skills they will actually use in real life.
The responses fell into several clear categories: financial and life skills, leadership and personal development, STEM and trades, sports and hobbies, and practical skills or survival. These groupings show that Scouts are thinking beyond traditional Scouting topics and looking for ways to prepare themselves for the modern world.
Financial and Life Skills
Several Scouts asked for badges that teach money management, investing, and everyday adult skills. These suggestions reflect a desire to be better prepared for life after high school.
“Life skills or accounting.”
Callum C.
“Financial Acumen would be the next. A requirement suggestion would be: learn about different investment instruments (savings account, U.S. Bonds and T-bills, corporate bonds and stocks) including potential risks and benefits of each.”
Karl K.
“College prep, and it would go over basic need-to-know information for before college.”
Aurora P.
Leadership and Personal Development
Leadership is a core part of Scouting, and many Scouts want a badge that digs deeper into what makes leaders effective. Others asked for badges that address mental health, social awareness, and understanding of neurodiversity.
“Leadership: the study of what makes a great leader and what does not. History, military, business, nonprofits, and more. Study of great and not so great leaders and their characteristics.”
Randy C.
“Leadership merit badge! Show minor leadership in an organization outside of Scouting and in a different organization, show a big leadership position. Also probably to complete NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training).”
Tarun P.
“Maybe something that could help with my test anxiety. A Social Awareness merit badge, maybe, too. It seems like half of us Scouts have ADHD, and some of us have autism and other diagnoses. It could help us as well as give some understanding to neurotypicals.”
Sam M.
STEM and Trades
Scouts want badges that connect to modern careers in science, technology, engineering, and skilled trades. These suggestions show interest in hands-on, technical learning that leads to real-world opportunities.
“I would love to see a ‘Science/STEM Professions’ Merit Badge in the way that we have the ‘Healthcare Professions.’ I completed this one a couple years ago with other Scouts from my troop, and it was really interesting to learn about all the different kinds of people that provide care. I also really enjoyed the service aspect of it. I wish National could make more of these merit badges.”
Nicholas W.
“Cryptography Merit Badge: Encode a message of at least 50 characters using a Caesar cipher with a shift of your choice. Encode the same message using a Vigenère cipher with a keyword of at least five letters. Exchange one encrypted message with another person and correctly decode the message they send you. Explain which cipher was easier to break and why.”
Ethan L.
“Watchmaking. The requirement would be to assemble an analog watch.”
Michael Y.
“Construction.”
Kyle S.
Sports and Hobbies
Many Scouts wish they could earn badges in their favorite sports or hobbies. These suggestions show a desire for more variety in the merit badge program and a way to celebrate personal interests.
“It would be a baseball-themed merit badge. One of the requirements would be having to write a report on a famous historic baseball player like Babe Ruth or Jackie Robinson. Then you could show your love of the sport through the report.”
Holden W.
“Maybe a tennis merit badge. ‘Play in a verified tennis tournament.'”
Saket N.
“A Water Polo Merit Badge! One requirement would be to demonstrate a ball-side drive, drive to post-up, or a set shot.”
Keely D.
Practical Skills and Survival
Scouts also want badges that teach everyday practical skills and survival techniques for different environments. Several mentioned sewing (now in the Test Lab!), as well as urban survival and ways to explore national parks.
“Urban survival.”
Mike C.
“Sewing would be pretty cool, and one requirement would be to sew one patch or badge onto your sash or uniform.”
Grace Z.
“The sewing merit badge, currently in Test Lab, and you need to create a patrol mascot using yarn or fabric, by sewing, crocheting, or knitting.”
Eliza S.
“National Parks. To visit at least 10 national parks and earn junior ranger badges from at least five.”
Finian O.
It’s clear to see that Scouts are asking for badges that prepare them for real life: money, careers, leadership, and mental health skills, plus hobbies and sports. Troops can respond right now by running troop “mini-badges” or workshops (budgeting night, patch-sewing clinic, intro to ciphers, college prep panel, sports skills day) even if the official badge does not exist yet. You do not have to wait for Scouting America to teach skills that Scouts want to learn!
How to Choose Your Next Merit Badge (And Avoid Getting Stuck)
Based on everything Scouts shared, here is what I recommend when you are picking your next badge:
- Match the badge to your season and support. Choose project-based badges when you need motivation. Start long-tracking badges only when you can commit to a steady schedule, and avoid starting them right before finals or during your busiest sports season!
- Build systems that work for you. The Scouts who succeeded with tracking-heavy badges did not rely on memory. They created simple systems!
- Plan for limited resources. If you are taking a camp badge that depends on limited equipment like rifles or boats, plan for follow-up sessions afterward!
My Challenge To Help Make Merit Badges Work for You
For Scouts:
- Try one “underrated” badge each year (something you might normally skip).
- For tracking-heavy badges (Sustainability, Personal Management, Personal Fitness, Family Life), set a weekly reminder and use a simple spreadsheet or notes template from day one.
- If a badge depends on limited resources at camp (like Rifle Shooting), ask the counselor on day one what you must do to finish and plan extra range time or post-camp follow-up.
- Choose badges by season: cold-weather badges need gear and planning; research-heavy badges work great during school months with a weekly schedule.
- Use a buddy. Multiple Scouts mentioned that a system (like a workout buddy) makes consistency possible.
For Youth Leaders:
- Run a “Merit Badge Swap Night” where older Scouts pitch underrated badges and explain what made them fun.
- Create troop trackers and templates for logging badges (Sustainability, Personal Management, Personal Fitness) so Scouts do not reinvent the wheel.
- When many Scouts are working on the same badge (like Communications), stagger presentations and interviews and set sign-up slots to reduce bottlenecks.
For Adult Leaders:
- Help Scouts plan long-duration badges around school and sports calendars; encourage them to start early and check in monthly.
- Consider pilot troop programs that mirror requested badges (financial literacy, STEM careers, mental health and social awareness) with qualified presenters.
Conclusion
The “best” merit badge is often the one with a great counselor and a hands-on experience. The “hardest” badge usually becomes manageable with a tracking system, a plan, and the right timing. And the new merit badge ideas Scouts suggested point to a clear goal: learning skills that matter in real life, right now.
Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and ideas! Your responses help make ScoutSmarts better for the whole Scouting community. Whether you are about to start your first merit badge or your fiftieth, I hope this article helps you choose wisely, finish strong, and maybe even discover a new favorite along the way. Happy badge hunting! 🏅