Recently a scout asked "Are the Tenderfoot requirements merit badges or parts of merit badges?" The answer might be of interest to other scouts and their parents as well.
Understanding Merit Badges
Merit badges are separate from rank advancement. Ranks like Tenderfoot,
Second Class and First Class have requirements that help teach you
basic scouting skills and those requirements are found in your handbook
and signed off by other scouts above the rank of First Class.
The requirements for the upper level ranks (Star, Life and Eagle)
consist mainly of earning merit badges, performing community service
and holding leadership positions.
Merit Badges are the second main area of the Boy Scout
advancement program. Unlike ranks, there is a degree of choice in the
merit badge program. Each merit badge focuses on a specific area and allow you to learn about different subjects. The requirements generally include some study on the topic and practical use of the skills or concepts studied.
Go to MeritBadge.org for a complete list of merit badges and if you click on the name of the badge you will see the requirements for that badge.
Good badges for a younger scout to work on is Pets (if you have a pet), Reading, Gardening, Stamp collecting or Coin Collecting. Some of the merit badges that most scouts earn at summer camp are Swimming, Camping, Archery, Fishing, Rifle Shooting, and Nature. The troop will also hold classes from time to time. These badges might be Citizenship, First Aid, Communications and most recently Emergency Preparedness. What ever your interest, you will find a merit badge that can help guide you through the topic and help you advance through Boy Scouts.
Boy Scouts also offer a bunch of special awards that can be earned at
http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Boy_Scout_awards
