Troop 55 Advancement & Merit Badge Program

Recommendations for Blue Ridge Scout Reservation

There are different recommendations for 4 groups of Scouts

  1. Scouts Ranked "Scout" or "Tenderfoot"
  2. Scouts Ranked Second Class or Above and Attending Troop 55 Scout Camp for the First Time
  3. Scouts Ranked Second Class or Above Who Have Gone to Summer Camp with Troop 55 Previously
  4. Scouts Age 13 or More in High Adventure Programs

Very important! Note that some Merit Badge Classes are marked I and II, e.g. Pioneering I and Pioneering II. Scouts must sign up for both sessions of these classes each day, as it is a 2 hour program. Click on the links to learn more about the individual merit badges. Merit badge books should be available in the Troop library or from the Scout Shop.

Register your Merit Badge class requests with Mr. Don Yurewicz.

Scouts Ranked "Scout" or "Tenderfoot"

These Scouts should sign up for "First Class Adventure,' in which they will work on rank advancement and the Swimming Merit Badge.

Scouts Ranked Second Class or Above, but Attending Troop 55 Summer Camp for the First Time

These Scouts should take a total of 4 to 6 merit badge classes, including Swimming, unless they already have the Swimming Merit Badge. All Scouts who don't already have the Swimming Merit Badge should take this class unless there is a compelling reason not to. The schedule of merit badge classes appropriate for these Scouts is below:

9 - 10 AM

  • Swimming MB
  • Canoeing MB Recommended only for first year Scouts who are both strong swimmers and have some boating experience.
  • Rowing MB
  • Kayaking Skills
  • Small Boat Sailing MB (2 hours)

  • Basketry MB
  • Leatherwork MB

  • Rifle Shooting MB (2 hours)
  • Archery MB

  • Soil & Water Conservation MB
  • Mammals Study MB
  • Weather Study MB

  • First Aid MB (must be First Class)
    •

    10 - 11 AM

  • Swimming MB
  • Canoeing MB
  • Rowing MB
  • Lifesaving MB (2 hours) (Must have Swimming MB already)
  • Small Boat Sailing MB (cont.)

  • Woodcarving MB
  • Art MB

  • Rifle Shooting MB (cont.)
  • Archery MB

  • Reptile & Amphibian Study MB
  • Geology MB

  • First Aid MB (must be First Class)
  • Pioneering MB I
  • Orienteering MB

    • 11 - 12 noon

  • Swimming MB
  • Canoeing MB
  • Rowing MB
  • Lifesaving MB (cont.)

  • Indian Lore MB
  • Woodcarving MB

  • Open Rifle Shoot
  • Open Archery Shoot

  • Forestry MB
  • Nature MB
  • Pioneering MB II

    • 2 - 3 PM

  • Open Handicraft (no merit badge, but tools & help available)

  • Weather MB

  • Pioneering MB I

    • 3 - 4 PM

  • Free Swim
  • Small Boat Sailing MB (2 hours)
  • Kayaking Skills

  • Indian Lore MB
  • Basketry MB

  • Geology MB
  • Nature MB

  • Pioneering MB II
  • Orienteering MB
  • First Aid MB (must be First Class)

    • 4 - 5 PM

  • Free Swim
  • Small Boat Sailing MB (cont.)

  • Basketry MB
  • Leatherwork MB

  • Open Rifle Shoot
  • Open Archery

  • Fish & Wildlife MB
  • Mammal Study MB

  • Cooking MB (2 hours)

    • Back to Merit Badge top

    Merit Badges Appropriate for Scouts Ranked Second Class and Above Who Have Gone to Summer Camp with Troop 55 Previously:

    Scouts who have previously attended summer camp with Troop 55 should take a total of 4 to 6 merit badge classes, including Swimming, unless they have already earned it. They should take at least 2, but not more than 4, of the following specific merit badges:

  • Swimming Strongly recommended. All Scouts who don't already have the Swimming Merit Badge should take this class unless there is a compelling reason not to. A prerequisite to many other merit badges and to participation in various Boy Scout activities. (Eagle Required).

  • Lifesaving Strongly recommended for strong swimmers. Swimming Merit Badge is a prerequisite. (Eagle Required).

  • Pioneering -- Strongly recommended (Life Rank Required )

  • Canoeing Strongly recommended. A prerequisite to many other merit badges and to participation in various Boy Scout activities.

  • Emergency Preparedness (Eagle required)

  • Environmental Science This merit badge requires significant writing. (Eagle Required).

  • First Aid Must be First Class or above. (Eagle Required).

  • Cooking Star Rank Required

    • 9 - 10 AM

  • Swimming MB
  • Canoeing MB
  • Rowing MB
  • Kayaking Skills
  • Small Boat Sailing MB (2 hours)

  • Basketry MB
  • Leatherwork MB

  • Rifle Shooting MB (2 hours)
  • Archery MB

  • Soil & Water Conservation MB
  • Mammals Study MB
  • Weather Study MB

  • First Aid MB (must be First Class)
  • Wilderness Survival MB
  • Emergency Preparedness

    • 10 - 11 AM

  • Swimming MB
  • Canoeing MB
  • Rowing MB
  • Lifesaving MB (2 hours)
  • Small Boat Sailing MB (cont.)

  • Woodcarving MB
  • Art MB

  • Rifle Shooting MB (cont.)
  • Archery MB

  • Enivronmental Science MB I
  • Reptile & Amphibian Study MB
  • Geology MB

  • First Aid MB (must be First Class)
  • Pioneering MB I
  • Orienteering MB

    • 11 - 12 noon

  • Swimming MB
  • Canoeing MB
  • Rowing MB
  • Lifesaving MB (cont.)

  • Indian Lore MB
  • Woodcarving MB

  • Open Rifle Shoot
  • Open Archery Shoot

  • Forestry MB
  • Nature MB
  • Environmental Science MB II

  • Wilderness Survival MB
  • Camping MB
  • Pioneering MB II

    • 2 - 3 PM

  • Open Handicraft (no merit badge, but tools & help available)

  • Shotgun MB (2 hours)

  • Environmental Science I
  • Weather MB

  • Pioneering MB I
  • Camping MB

    • 3 - 4 PM

  • Free Swim
  • Small Boat Sailing MB (2 hours)
  • Kayaking Skills

  • Indian Lore MB
  • Basketry MB

  • Shotgun MB (cont.)

  • Geology MB
  • Nature MB
  • Environmental Science MB II

  • Pioneering MB II
  • Orienteering MB
  • First Aid MB (must be First Class)

    • 4 - 5 PM

  • Free Swim
  • Small Boat Sailing MB (cont.)

  • Basketry MB
  • Leatherwork MB

  • Open Rifle Shoot
  • Open Archery

  • Fish & Wildlife MB
  • Mammal Study MB

  • Cooking MB (2 hours)

    • Back to Merit Badge top

    Scouts Age 13 or More in High Adventure Programs

    Scouts in these programs can earn merit badges offered in these programs. See information on High Knoll Trail, New River Adventure, Mountain Man Experience, and Fish Camp for details.