Merit Badges
You can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit badges. There are more than 135 merit badges, and any Scout, or any qualified Venturer or Sea Scout may earn any of these at any time.
Scroll down to see the list of Merit Badge Counselors affiliated with Troop 505.
Scroll down to see the list of Merit Badge Counselors affiliated with Troop 505.
Current Merit Badge Opportunities
Click on the image above for the PDF of the Summer 2024 catalog. It has more information on Merit Badge classes at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Scouts BSA Merit Badge classes are designed for boys or girls who are 11 to 17 years of age, have earned the Cub Scouting Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old or have finished the fifth grade.
Scouts@HMNS is proud to offer several classes for Merit Badges required to attain the rank of Eagle!
Our certified Merit Badge counselors will review the work and return all materials within 1-2 weeks.
Click here for more information.
Click here to link to registration.
The Health Museum offers classes for the following merit badges:
Citizenship in the Community
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the World
Communication
Dentistry
Emergency Preparedness
First Aid
Medicine
Public Health
Click here for more information.
Click on the image above to link to more information and to register.
Workshops are led by a YPT-trained Merit Badge Counselor.
Completion of a workshop will meet the requirements to earn the indicated merit badge.
Cost: $40-$50 per scout
Blue Cards available
No Pre-requisites!
Class B uniforms appropriate
Please review Education Programs Policies & Procedures before registering for a class.
The Rosenberg Railroad Museum maintains exhibits relating to local railroad history, has a mission of education and preservation of Fort Bend County's rich railroad history.
Click on the image above for more information, then click on “Scout Programs” to see the current list.
Don't just earn it, learn it! Scouts ages 11-17 can complete most or all requirements of a badge in a single day while social distancing. Additional experiences may include exhibit and property tours and guest speakers from various departments.
Pricing: $30/Scout
Maximum of 36 participants for each workshop.
Click here to link to registration.
Email us or call 409-683-4231 for more information or to register your scout.
Scroll down to the bottom of this page to find even more links to local organizations that frequently offer programs for Scouts.
Merit Badge Counselors of Troop 505
SCOUTS: This is the list of adults associated with Troop 505 who have been approved as merit badge counselors. If a merit badge you are looking for is not listed, you will have to contact the Troop Advancement Chair to obtain the names of merit badge counselors outside of our troop who can work with you. Remember never to meet one-on-one with a Merit Badge Counselor. Take a Scout buddy or buddies, parent or meet at the open Troop meeting.
Go to Scoutbook for CONTACT INFORMATION for each of these counselors (Login>Troop 505>Troop Roster).
Please scroll down to see the PROCESS for earning merit badges.
This list was last updated in September 2023.
*Eagle Required
by Merit Badge
-
Jeff Frey
Alex Montoya
Jaime Ortiz
Steve McGinnis
Kyle Verret
-
Alex Montoya
-
Kevin Horner
Kyle Verret
-
Jeff Frey
-
Ethan Perry
-
Steve McGinnis
-
Jeff Frey
Heather Montoya
-
Larry Schmitt
-
Jeff Frey
Kevin Horner
Alex Montoya
Eleanor Verret
-
Alex Montoya
Larry Schmitt
-
Vincent Leeman
Chuck O’Leary
Kyle Verret
-
Vasudha Baradwaj
-
Ethan Perry
-
Vincent Leeman
Alex Montoya
Chuck O’Leary
Jaime Ortiz
Ethan Perry
Eleanor Verret
Kyle Verret
-
Chuck O’Leary
Jaime Ortiz
Kyle Verret
-
Kevin Horner
Alex Montoya
-
Kevin Horner
Steve McGinnis
Alex Montoya
Heather Montoya
Eleanor Verret
-
Kevin Horner
Alex Montoya
Jaime Ortiz
Steve See
Eleanor Verret
Kyle Verret
-
Kevin Horner
Alex Montoya
Steve See
Eleanor Verret
Kyle Verret
-
Kevin Horner
Vincent Leeman
Alex Montoya
Eleanor Verret
Kyle Verret
-
Jaime Ortiz
-
Jeff Frey
-
Kevin Horner
-
Suanne Bouvier
Jeff Frey
Kevin Horner
Alex Montoya
Heather Montoya
Kyle Verret
-
Suanne Bouvier
Kevin Horner
Vincent Leemann
Alex Montoya
Heather Montoya
Chuck O’Leary
Jaime Ortiz
Kyle Verret
-
Jeff Frey
Jaime Ortiz
Kyle Verret
-
Suanne Bouvier
Jeff Frey
Kyle Verret
-
Alex Montoya
Eleanor Verret
Kyle Verret
-
Heather Montoya
Eleanor Verret
Kyle Verret
-
Heather Montoya
Jaime Ortiz
Steve See
-
Ethan Perry
Eleanor Verret
-
Larry Schmitt
-
Jeff Frey
Steve McGinnis
Jaime Ortiz
Kyle Verret
-
Vincent Leemann
Steve McGinnis
Alex Montoya
Heather Montoya
-
Ethan Perry
-
Shalini Bhandari
Suanne Bouvier
Kevin Horner
Alex Montoya
Heather Montoya
Steve See
Eleanor Verret
Kyle Verret
-
Larry Schmitt
-
Shalini Bhandari
Alex Montoya
Jaime Ortiz
-
Vincent Leeman
Alex Montoya
Chuck O’Leary
Jaime Ortiz
Steve See
-
Steve McGinnis
-
Steve McGinnis
Alex Montoya
Kyle Verret
-
Ethan Perry
-
Jeff Frey
Kevin Horner
-
Vasudha Baradwaj
Kevin Horner
Ethan Perry
-
Kyle Verret
-
Ethan Perry
-
Jeff Frey
-
Heather Montoya
-
Kevin Horner
Chuck O’Leary
Eleanor Verret
Kyle Verret
-
Jeff Frey
Alex Montoya
-
Jeff Frey
-
Alex Montoya
-
Vasudha Baradwaj
-
Jeff Frey
-
Heather Montoya
-
Jaime Ortiz
-
Kevin Horner
Eleanor Verret
Kyle Verret
-
Jaime Ortiz
-
Ethan Perry
-
Kyle Verret
-
Jeff Frey
Ethan Perry
-
Vasudha Baradwaj
Kevin Horner
Eleanor Verret
-
Chuck O’Leary
Ethan Perry
-
Jeff Frey
Kevin Horner
Alex Montoya
Heather Montoya
Jaime Ortiz
Eleanor Verret
Kyle Verret
-
Kevin Horner
Alex Montoya
Jaime Ortiz
Steve See
Kyle Verret
-
Kevin Horner
Eleanor Verret
Kyle Verret
-
Alex Montoya
-
Vincent Leemann
Chuck O’Leary
-
Vasudha Baradwaj
-
Jeff Frey
Kyle Verret
-
Jaime Ortiz
-
Vasudha Baradwaj
Jeff Frey
Kevin Horner
Steve McGinnis
Alex Montoya
Heather Montoya
Kyle Verret
-
Ethan Perry
-
Larry Schmitt
-
Kevin Horner
Heather Montoya
Ethan Perry
Eleanor Verret
Kyle Verret
-
Larry Schmitt
-
Suanne Bouvier
-
Heather Montoya
-
Alex Montoya
-
Suanne Bouvier
Kevin Horner
Ethan Perry
Eleanor Verret
Kyle Verret
-
Kevin Horner
Kyle Verret
-
Kyle Verret
-
Larry Schmitt
Kyle Verret
-
Shalini Bhandari
Jeff Frey
Kevin Horner
Eleanor Verret
-
Vasudha Baradwaj
-
Vincent Leemann
Alex Montoya
Heather Montoya
Eleanor Verret
-
Alex Montoya
-
Ethan Perry
-
Ethan Perry
by Counselor
-
Family Life*
Fire Safety
Sports
-
Bird Study
Gardening
Insect Study
Nature
Pottery
Public Speaking
Stamp Collection
-
Communication*
Cooking*
Digital Technology
Family Life*
Robotics
Scholarship
-
American Business
Animation
Art
Athletics
Coin Collecting
Communication
Cycling
Digital Technology
Entrepreneurship
Game Design
Golf
Home Repairs
Horsemanship
Inventing
Music
Personal Fitness
Programming
Public Speaking
Sports
-
American Heritage
Athletics
Chess
Citizenship in the Community*
Citizenship in the Nation*
Citizenship in Society*
Citizenship in the World*
Collections
Communication*
Cooking*
Family Life*
Game Design
Gardening
Hiking*
Law
Nature
Personal Fitness*
Personal Management*
Pets
Public Speaking
Reading
Scholarship
Scouting Heritage
Sports
-
Backpacking
Camping*
Citizenship in the Word*
Cooking*
Environmental Science*
First Aid*
Pioneering
Sustainability*
-
American Business
Archery
Citizenship in Society*
Entrepreneurship
Environmental Science*
Farm Mechanics
Fish & Wildlife Management
Fishing
Nature
Public Speaking
Rifle Shooting
Salesmanship
Shotgun Shooting
Soil and Water Conservation
Sustainability*
-
American Business
American Cultures
Athletics
Automotive Maintenance
Camping*
Chess
Citizenship in Society*
Citizenship in the Community*
Citizenship in the Nation*
Citizenship in the World*
Communication*
Cooking*
Crime Prevention
Disabilities Awareness
Environmental Science*
Family Life*
Fire Safety
First Aid*
Fishing
Home Repairs
Indian Lore
Personal Fitness*
Personal Management*
Photography
Public Speaking
Salesmanship
Sustainability*
Traffic Safety
-
Art
Citizenship in Society*
Communication*
Cooking*
Dog Care
Emergency Preparedness*
Environmental Science*
Family Life*
Graphic Arts
Journalism
Personal Fitness
Public Speaking
Reading
Safety
Sustainability*
-
Backpacking
Camping*
Canoeing
Cooking*
First Aid*
Hiking*
Orienteering
Pioneering
-
American Business
Camping*
Canoeing
Citizenship in the Community*
Climbing
Cooking*
Cycling*
Emergency Preparedness*
Entrepreneurship
Fire Safety
First Aid*
Kayaking
Medicine
Personal Fitness*
Personal Management*
Public Health
-
Archaeology
Bugling
Camping
Energy
Exploration
Forestry
Gardening
Geology
Mining in Society
Music
Orienteering
Pulp and Paper
Reading
Scholarship
Weather
Wilderness Survival
-
(Alexander Montoya’s grandfather)
Astronomy
Automotive Maintenance
Engineering
Farm Mechanics
Railroading
Space Exploration
-
Citizenship in the Community*
Citizenship in the Nation*
Emergency Preparedness*
Family Life*
First Aid*
Personal Management*
-
Athletics
Camping*
Citizenship in the Community*
Citizenship in the Nation*
Citizenship in Society*
Citizenship in the World*
Disabilities Awareness
Dog Care
Energy
Family Life*
Hiking*
Law
Nature
Personal Fitness*
Pets
Reading
Scholarship
Sports
Sustainability*
-
American Business
American Heritage
Backpacking
Camping*
Canoeing
Citizenship in the Community*
Citizenship in the Nation*
Citizenship in the World*
Communication*
Cooking*
Cycling*
Digital Technology
Disabilities Awareness
Dog Care
Entrepreneurship
Exploration
Family Life*
Fishing
Geocaching
Hiking*
Law
Moviemaking
Personal Fitness*
Personal Management*
Pets
Programming
Public Speaking
Reading
Scholarship
Scouting Heritage
Space Exploration
Parents!
Our Troop lacks counselors for the following merit badges.
If you have an interest and/or expertise in any of the following, please reach out to our Committee Chairperson, Rob Ascher, for guidance on becoming a merit badge counselor.
American Labor
Animal Science
Architecture
Aviation
Basketry
Chemistry
Composite Materials
Dentistry
Drafting
Electricity
Electronics
Fingerprinting
Fly Fishing
Genealogy
Health Care Professions
Landscape Architecture
Leatherwork
Lifesaving*
Mammal Study
Metalwork
Model Design & Building
Motorboating
Nuclear Science
Oceanography
Painting
Plant Science
Plumbing
Radio
Reptile and Amphibian Study
Rowing
Scuba Diving
Sculpture
Search and Rescue
Signs, Signals, and Codes
Skating
Small-boat Sailing
Snow Sports
Surveying
Swimming*
Textile
Theater
Truck Transportation
Veterinary Medicine
Water Sports
Welding
Whitewater
Wood Carving
Woodwork
If you wish to become a Merit Badge Counselor, please see the information provided by the Sam Houston Area Council of Scouts BSA. Click here to see the form, which contains important information on the process (or Google “SHAC forms” and scroll to Merit Badge Counselor Information Form).
A Merit Badge Counselor must be:
At least 18 years old & of good character
Registered with the Boy Scouts of America (position code 42).
YPT trained
Recognized as having the skills and education in the merit badge subjects covered and hold any required qualifications and training as outlined in the Guide to Safe Scouting or the Guide to Advancement—or use others so qualified.
Able to work with Scout-age youth.
Merit Badge Process
Pick a Subject. Talk to your unit leader (Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster) about your interests. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you, and pick one to earn. Your leader will give you the name of a person from the list of counselors on the previous pages. These individuals have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.
Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor (even if your meeting is held virtually). This person can be your parent or legal guardian, or another registered adult.
Contact the Merit Badge Counselor. Get a signed Application for Merit Badge, No. 34124 or No. 34130 (blue card), from your unit leader. Call or email the merit badge counselor and explain that you want to earn the badge. The counselor may ask to meet you to explain what is expected and to start helping you meet the requirements. You should also discuss work you have already started or possibly completed. Copy your parent(s)/guardian(s) on any emails or have them present when you call.
At the first meeting, you and your merit badge counselor will review and may start working on the requirements. In some cases, you may share the work you have already started or completed.
Unless otherwise specified, work on a requirement can be started at any time. Ask your counselor to help you learn the things you need to know or do. You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject. Many troops, schools, and public libraries have them. You may also find them on the Scouts BSA website.
Show Your Stuff. When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment. When you go, take along the things you have made to meet the requirements. If they are too big to move, take pictures or have an adult tell in writing what you have done. The counselor will test you on each requirement to make sure you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.
Requirements. You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated—no more and no less. You must do exactly what is stated in the requirements. If it says “show or demonstrate,” that is what you must do. Just telling about it isn’t enough. The same thing holds true for such words as “make,” “list,” “in the field,” and “collect,” “identify,” and “label.”
Get the Badge. When the counselor is satisfied you have met each requirement, he or she will sign your application (blue card). Give the signed application to your unit leader (Scoutmaster/ASM) so your merit badge emblem can be secured for you.
There is no time limit for starting and completing a merit badge, but all work must be completed by the time a Scout turns 18.