Arts | Scout Ahead

Wood Carving Merit Badge

Seven requirements. Safety and first aid; the Totin' Chip and the Safety Checklist for Carving; the care and use of five carving tools and of sharpening devices; four basic cuts shown on scrap wood or a project; why different woods suit different projects; then two carvings, one in the round and one low-relief or chip carving, with the wood for each explained in requirement 5.

Elective Merit Badges Arts Hobbies Merit Badges Requirements Safety

Textile Merit Badge

Six requirements. Start by getting five fabric swatches (two natural, two synthetic, one cellulosic), because requirement 2(b) asks about each fiber you obtained. Requirement 3 is two of seven projects: a visit, weaving on a loom you made, examining fabrics under a magnifying glass, felt, natural dyes, waterproofing, or identifying fibers. The rest explain terms, fiber types and ecological concerns, and careers.

Elective Merit Badges Arts Hobbies Merit Badges Requirements

Theater Merit Badge

Five requirements. See or read three full-length plays and review each (not on television, video or as a movie); write a one-act play of at least 10 minutes; discuss theater safety, then do THREE of ten roles such as acting, directing, set, costume, makeup, lighting, sound or stage management; a mime of one scene your counselor chooses; and nineteen stage terms.

Elective Merit Badges Arts Merit Badges Requirements

Sculpture Merit Badge

Three requirements. Explain the safe use of a sculptor's tools and materials (1). Do two of three (2): a life-size clay head and then a small-scale figure, a plaster mold of a fruit or vegetable with a copy made in it, or a visit to a museum, gallery or studio with permission and approval. Then a career or a hobby (3).

Elective Merit Badges Arts Hobbies Merit Badges Requirements

Music Merit Badge

Six requirements. A song or hymn your counselor chooses, sung or played; the five groups of instruments and how they make sound; TWO of four ways to explore music, one of them six months in a group or six solo performances; ONE of teaching songs, composing, or making an instrument; intellectual property and recorded music; and a career or a hobby.

Elective Merit Badges Arts Merit Badges Requirements

Painting Merit Badge

Eight requirements. The long ones are 3, preparing and painting two different surfaces with patching or caulking, primers and topcoats (your counselor must preapprove the projects), and 4, an item painted in harmonizing colors chosen with the pamphlet's color wheel. The rest explain safety, coatings and finishes, equipment care (shown), ladders and protective equipment, and environmental and health issues. Requirement 8 is a career or a hobby.

Elective Merit Badges Arts Merit Badges Requirements Safety

Pottery Merit Badge

Eight requirements. Safety with a potter's tools, equipment and materials; clay bodies and potter's wheels; two drawings of pottery forms; sixteen pottery terms; then the making in requirement 5: slab, coil and pinch pots, a figurine or sculpture, a form thrown on the wheel, and loading and firing a kiln, every piece decorated by you. Then the ceramic industry, ONE of three ways to explore pottery, and a career.

Elective Merit Badges Arts Hobbies Merit Badges Requirements

Leatherwork Merit Badge

Five requirements. Requirement 1 is the hazards of leatherwork tools and materials, and first aid shown for injuries and illnesses from working with leather. Requirement 2 explains leather and its kinds. Requirement 3 is one or more leather articles using at least five of eight steps, and 4 is a braided or plaited article. Requirement 5 is ONE of: the commercial tanning process, tanning a small skin, caring for leather articles, or visiting a leather business.

Elective Merit Badges Arts Hobbies Merit Badges Requirements Safety

Moviemaking Merit Badge

Four requirements. Requirement 1 is the elements of a good motion picture, discussed and demonstrated. Requirement 2 is the production: a treatment, a storyboard, six shooting techniques, and ONE of three programs planned from a treatment and presented to a pack, troop, patrol or class. Then ONE of a visit to a film set or studio or the zoom lens explained, and ONE of a career or a hobby.

Elective Merit Badges Arts Communication Merit Badges Requirements

Graphic Arts Merit Badge

Seven requirements. Learn the printing processes (1) and kinds of artwork (2), then design a printed piece (3) and print it by ONE of four processes (4): offset lithography, screen printing, electronic/digital or relief, 20 or 50 copies. Then the finishing and binding operations (5), ONE of four visits or a website search, then describe its highlights (6), and careers (7).

Elective Merit Badges Arts Communication Merit Badges Requirements

Basketry Merit Badge

Three requirements. The first two are safety and knowledge: the hazards of basketry tools and materials and first aid for the injuries they cause, then identifying four types of basket and describing three types of weave. The third is most of the work: plan and weave a square basket, a round basket and a campstool seat.

Elective Merit Badges Arts Hobbies Merit Badges Requirements

Animation Merit Badge

Five requirements. The big one is requirement 3: two animation techniques, chosen with your counselor's approval, each planned with thumbnail sketches or layout drawings, created and shared with your counselor. Around it: what animation is and its history (1), five of the 12 principles (2), a studio tour and animation's future (4), and careers (5).

Elective Merit Badges Arts Merit Badges Requirements

Art Merit Badge

Seven requirements. Three are discussions of what art is, its elements and the principles of design. The making is requirement 4, one subject in four media, and requirement 5, one of three projects. Requirement 6 is a visit that needs permission and approval first.

Elective Merit Badges Arts Merit Badges Requirements

Architecture Merit Badge

Five requirements. Requirement 1 is a tour of your community with a sketch, and research into a historical achievement. Requirement 2 is one discussion of sustainable architecture. Requirement 3 is ONE of three: meet an architect to see a model and drawings, meet one at a construction site, or interview a possible client. Requirement 4 is a scaled floor plan of a room you measure, and 5 is careers.

Elective Merit Badges Arts Merit Badges Requirements STEM