New Belt Loops, Pins, and Merit Badges are Coming
When the BSA was founded in 1910, boys weren’t into video games, scuba diving, or robotics. But as we enter our second century, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts will be able to earn awards in these topics, thanks to a new focus on change and innovation.
New for Cub Scouts
Video Games is one of 13 new belt loops and pins in the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program. It’s been more than 10 years since the program expanded, so volunteers and Cub Scouts from around the country have been waiting for this change.
Scout shops across the country should now be selling the new edition of the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program Guide (No. 34299), which includes these additions:
Academics Subjects:
- Disabilities Awareness
- Family Travel
- Good Manners
- Nutrition
- Pet Care
- Photography
- Reading and Writing
- Video Games
Requirements for the new awards will mirror those for the existing belt loops and pins. Besides the addition of the new awards, the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program remains the same.
Sports:
- Hiking
- Hockey
- Horseback Riding
- Kickball
- Skateboarding
New for Boy Scouts
In 2009, Scuba Diving was the first new Boy Scout merit badge introduced in three years. In 2010, the following eight will be added:
These badges are being introduced because they received positive feedback in a youth interest survey.
If eight new merit badges seems like a lot, it is. By comparison, the BSA introduced just six new merit badges between 1992 (Collections) and 2006 (Composite Materials).
When you have an idea for a new merit badge, the first step is to complete a proposal form, which you can get by e-mailing merit.badge@scouting.org. Proposals that fit merit-badge criteria and rank highly with youth members are sent to a volunteer task force and the Program Content Committee for review and development.
But the new badges aren’t the only innovation. In the past it took three years to create a merit badge. Now, that time has been cut to just less than a year, helping to keep the badge topics and content fresher than ever.