Requirements

Check out the Boy Scouts of America website for current requirements:

Rank Requirements: 

SCOUTS -- follow these steps:

Pick a Merit Badge Subject.  Get a signed merit badge application (a "blue card") from your Scoutmaster and ask for the name of a merit badge counselor who you can contact to work with you.

Find A Buddy. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be another Scout, your parents or guardian, a brother or sister, a relative, or a friend.

Call the Counselor.  It is your responsibility (not your parents or Scoutmaster) to contact the merit badge counselor to introduce yourself, to learn what is expected of you, and to agree on meeting dates for the counselor to start helping you learn the subject and meet the requirements. 

Start Learning & Doing.  Once you know what is expected, start to learn and do the things which are required. Read the entire merit badge pamphlet and ask your counselor to help you learn the subject.

A Note About Requirements: You are expected to meet all of the requirements exactly as they are written -- no more and no less.  If it says "write" or "show or demonstrate," then 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."

Show Your Stuff. When you are ready, arrange to meet with your counselor to demonstrate that you have met the merit badge requirements -- be sure to take along everything you have made or written.  If you unsure about what to bring, be sure to discuss the issues with your counselor beforehand so you are prepared.  The counselor will ask you to do each requirement to make sure that you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.

Get the Badge. When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, he/she will complete and sign your application (the "blue card"). Give the signed application to your Scoutmaster so that he can arrange for your merit badge emblem to be presented to you.

Community Service Requirements 

"Service To Others" (aka, doing a Good Turn daily) means regularly helping others as you live the ideals of Scouting.  After the First-Class rank, service becomes a formal requirement for Star, Life and Eagle.

Star & Life Service Projects:  These ranks require you to give at least 6 hours of service to others.  Each project must be approved in advance by the Scoutmaster.  You may arrange to complete this requirement on your own, or you may do it along with other Scouts.  Service choices should be made with an eye toward developing the skills necessary for you to take on your Eagle project (see below).

Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project:  This project requires more of you than the Star/Life projects.  This project requires you to plan, develop, and provide leadership to others in executing a project of significant value which benefits the environment, your community, a religious group, a school, or other worthy group. 
     For project ideas, review page-174 of the Scout Handbook and also visit www.NESA.org to see what other Scouts have done successfully.  You might also find worthy project concepts by visiting with school administrators, civic officials, clergy, law enforcement officers, and park management personnel.
     All project ideas must be approved in advance and a full proposal must be accepted by the District Advancement Committee before work begins to execute it.  You will receive alot of support from adults in the troop to coach you through the process, most notably from an Eagle Mentor and the Scoutmaster.  The overall effort and quality expected is significantly higher than the level required for earlier ranks.