American Cultures Merit Badge

Free Resources and Answers

Time: 2–4 weeks
Difficulty: Moderate
Setting: Indoor, community activities
Best For: Scouts interested in culture, history, people
Hands-On Level: Low, Moderate
Eagle Required: No

Working on the American Cultures merit badge gives you the opportunity to explore the many cultures that shape the United States. You will learn about different groups, their traditions and experiences, and the contributions they have made to American life.

As you meet people from backgrounds different from your own, you will practice listening carefully and considering new perspectives. These experiences can help you communicate more effectively while becoming more respectful, curious, and open-minded.

By earning this badge, you will gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity that makes America unique. You will also develop the understanding and empathy needed to build stronger relationships in your community and beyond.

Download the American Cultures Merit Badge Requirements

American Cultures Merit Badge Pamphlet

American Cultures Merit Badge Check Off Sheet

Checklist for All Merit Badges

Help with Answers for American Cultures Merit Badge Requirements

Find specific helps for some of the American Cultures Merit Badge requirements listed below. Some of these resources will just give the answers. Others will provide engaging ways for older Scouts to introduce these concepts to new Scouts.

Choose THREE groups that have different racial, cultural, national, or ethnic backgrounds, one of which comes from your own background. Use these groups to meet requirements 1, 2, and 3.

• Requirement 1: Cultural Experience
• Requirement 2: Diversity
• Requirement 3: Differences and Similarities
• Requirement 4: Contributions
• Requirement 5: Discussion

Requirement 1: Cultural Experience

What You Need To Do

Choose two activities from Requirements 1a through 1e. Use a different cultural group for each activity, then complete any required report or presentation.

Helpful Tips

• Choose groups with events, institutions, or resources available near you.
• Ask your counselor to approve both groups before you begin.
• Pick groups with different histories, traditions, or backgrounds.
• Record names, dates, places, and important details.
• Take notes during each activity when appropriate.
• Ask permission before taking photos or making recordings.
• Use respectful words when discussing customs and beliefs.
• Prepare your reports soon after completing the activities.

Resources

• Race, Ethnicity, and Culture (video)
• Jellybean—Defining Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality (video)
• Learn a New Culture (video)

Leader Tips

• Help the Scout select two distinct cultural groups.
• Check each activity for safety, access, and respectful conduct.
• Encourage direct experiences and reliable sources.
• Ask open questions about the Scout’s discoveries.

Requirement 1a: Attend a Cultural Event

What You Need To Do

Attend a festival, celebration, or event connected to a cultural group. Give a report about the traditions, activities, and details you discovered.

Helpful Tips

• Find an event through a community center, cultural organization, or local calendar.
• Check the date, location, cost, and rules before attending.
• Look for traditional music, clothing, food, art, or ceremonies.
• Read signs and program notes for useful background information.
• Speak with event organizers or participants when appropriate.
• Ask respectful questions about the event’s purpose and history.
• Write down specific details for your report.
• Include the event name, cultural group, and date in your report.

Leader Tips

• Help the Scout find a suitable public event.
• Review respectful behavior before the visit.
• Encourage the Scout to focus on specific traditions and their meaning.
• Use follow-up questions to help organize the report.

Requirement 1b: Visit a Cultural Institution

What You Need To Do

Visit a place of worship, school, community center, or other institution connected to a cultural group. Report on the place, its purpose, and the cultural practices you encountered.

Helpful Tips

• Contact the institution before your visit.
• Ask about visitor rules, clothing, schedules, and restricted areas.
• Arrive on time and follow all instructions.
• Use quiet and respectful behavior during services or activities.
• Look at the building, artwork, symbols, and gathering spaces.
• Ask a host about the institution’s role in the community.
• Avoid interrupting prayers, classes, or ceremonies.
• Include the institution’s name and purpose in your report.

Leader Tips

• Help arrange the visit with an adult contact at the institution.
• Prepare the Scout for local customs and visitor rules.
• Encourage respectful questions at an appropriate time.
• Discuss the institution’s service to its members and community.

Requirement 1c: Discuss Heritage and Traditions

What You Need To Do

Speak with a person from a cultural group about the group’s heritage and traditions. Report the main information and personal experiences shared during the conversation.

Helpful Tips

• Ask the person for permission before arranging the conversation.
• Prepare six or more questions in advance.
• Ask about holidays, food, clothing, music, stories, and family customs.
• Include questions about changes across generations.
• Let the person finish each response without interruption.
• Avoid treating one person’s experience as the experience of every group member.
• Ask permission before recording or quoting the person.
• Thank the person for sharing time and personal experiences.

Leader Tips

• Help the Scout prepare respectful, open-ended questions.
• Encourage careful listening and polite follow-up questions.
• Protect the speaker’s privacy and personal boundaries.
• Review the difference between one person’s experience and an entire group’s experience.

Requirement 1d: Share a Traditional Work

What You Need To Do

Choose a traditional song, dance, poem, or story from one cultural group. Practice it, study its background, and teach it to your friends.

Helpful Tips

• Use a reliable source from the cultural group whenever possible.
• Check the correct title, creator, origin, and meaning.
• Confirm the work is appropriate for public sharing.
• Avoid sacred or restricted traditions without clear permission.
• Practice the words, movements, rhythm, or sequence.
• Give your friends a short introduction before teaching the work.
• Break the song, dance, poem, or story into small parts.
• Credit the cultural group and your source during the presentation.

Leader Tips

• Help the Scout check the source and cultural setting.
• Guide the Scout away from sacred or restricted material.
• Encourage careful practice before the presentation.
• Focus feedback on accuracy, respect, and clear teaching.

Requirement 1e: Visit a Library or Museum Program

What You Need To Do

Visit a library or museum program or exhibit featuring one cultural group’s traditions. Report on the objects, stories, customs, and history presented there.

Helpful Tips

• Search local library and museum calendars for programs or exhibits.
• Confirm hours, admission costs, and reservation rules.
• Read exhibit labels and program materials carefully.
• Record the names and purposes of important objects.
• Look for information about traditions, migration, work, art, and community life.
• Ask a librarian, guide, or museum worker for more details.
• Follow rules for photography, food, and touching objects.
• Include several specific examples in your report.

Resources

• Find a Museum (website)

Leader Tips

• Help the Scout select an exhibit with enough useful information.
• Encourage careful reading of labels and source notes.
• Ask the Scout to connect displayed items with cultural traditions.
• Review the report for specific examples rather than broad claims.

Requirement 2: Compare Cultural Diversity

What You Need To Do

Describe an imagined city or country where one cultural group always lived alone. Compare it with the same place shared by the three cultural groups you selected.

Helpful Tips

• Describe each cultural group with respect and care.
• Begin with the place’s language, food, music, art, and celebrations.
• Include buildings, businesses, schools, and places of worship.
• Consider how the groups might share traditions and ideas.
• Include possible benefits, such as more foods, skills, art, and viewpoints.
• Include possible challenges, such as language barriers or unfair treatment.
• Avoid stereotypes or broad claims about any group.
• Support your ideas with facts from your earlier research and activities.
• Compare both versions of the place in a clear order.
• Remember, people within the same cultural group can have different customs and experiences.

Leader Tips

• Guide the Scout toward respectful, fact-based comparisons.
• Ask open questions about daily life, community events, and shared spaces.
• Challenge stereotypes without supplying the Scout’s entire response.
• Encourage a balanced discussion of benefits and challenges.

Requirement 3: Compare Customs and Beliefs

What You Need To Do

Compare the religions and social customs of your three cultural groups. Describe several differences and several similarities using specific examples.

Helpful Tips

• Research each group through reliable books, museums, institutions, or community members.
• Compare religious beliefs, worship practices, holidays, and sacred traditions.
• Compare greetings, clothing, food, family roles, and community events.
• Include customs connected to births, weddings, funerals, or other life events.
• Look for shared values, such as family, service, hospitality, or respect.
• Describe how similar values may appear through different customs.
• Avoid treating every member of a group as the same.
• Remember, a cultural group may include several religions.
• Use words preferred by members of each group.
• Give specific examples instead of broad claims.

Resources

• Cultural Diversity in Communication (video)
• What Is Cross-Cultural Communication? (video)
• How To Master Cross-Cultural Communication? (video)

Leader Tips

• Guide the Scout toward reliable and respectful sources.
• Encourage comparisons without ranking one group above another.
• Ask for specific examples of each difference and similarity.
• Correct stereotypes and separate cultural customs from religious practices.

Celebrating Contributions from Diverse Americans

What You Need To Do

Choose three people from three different racial, ethnic, or religious backgrounds. Describe one important contribution each person made to the United States.

Helpful Tips

• Choose people whose work had a clear effect on the country.
• Consider leaders, artists, scientists, inventors, activists, athletes, or public servants.
• Select one different background for each person.
• Confirm how each person described their own identity when possible.
• Include each person’s name, background, contribution, and lasting impact.
• Describe actions and results instead of listing awards.
• Use reliable biographies, museums, government sites, or historical organizations.
• Check important names, dates, places, and events in more than one source.
• Avoid stereotypes or claims linking a person’s success to an entire group.
• Cite the sources used for each person.

People to Consider

• Martin Luther King Jr. — African American; civil rights leader.
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg — Jewish American; lawyer and Supreme Court justice.
• Yo-Yo Ma — Chinese American; cellist and cultural ambassador.
• Sacagawea — Lemhi Shoshone; interpreter and expedition guide.
• Patsy Mink — Japanese American; legislator and supporter of equal educational opportunities.
• Roberto Clemente — Puerto Rican; baseball player and humanitarian.
• Duke Kahanamoku — Native Hawaiian; Olympic swimmer and ambassador for surfing.
• Chien-Shiung Wu — Chinese American; experimental physicist.
• Katherine Johnson — African American; mathematician for the United States space program.
• Kalpana Chawla — Indian American; astronaut and aerospace engineer.
• Jim Thorpe — Sac and Fox Nation; Olympic champion and professional athlete.
• Ellen Ochoa — Mexican American; astronaut, engineer, and space-center director.
• Tammy Duckworth — Thai American; military veteran and United States senator.
• Dalip Singh Saund — Indian American and Sikh; first Asian American elected to Congress.

Resources

• Black History Heroes (video)
• Famous Americans for Kids | Pioneers, Artists, Authors, and Inventors (video)

Leader Tips

• Help the Scout select people from three clearly different backgrounds.
• Guide the Scout toward reliable and age-appropriate sources.
• Ask how each contribution affected people or changed the country.
• Encourage respect for each person’s preferred identity.

Requirement 5: Promote Cooperation

What You Need To Do

Give a talk to your Scout unit or class about how people from different groups have lived, worked, and solved problems together. Lead a discussion about ways to improve communication, respect, and cooperation among groups.

Helpful Tips

• Choose historical and present-day examples of cooperation and conflict.
• Use reliable sources for names, dates, events, and outcomes.
• Include examples from schools, neighborhoods, workplaces, or community groups.
• Describe successes along with barriers such as prejudice, unfair laws, or poor communication.
• Organize your talk with an opening, several main points, and a short closing.
• Prepare open-ended questions with more than a yes-or-no answer.
• Invite participants to share experiences without pressuring anyone.
• Listen carefully and give each speaker time to finish.
• Stop rude comments, stereotypes, and personal attacks.
• Discuss useful actions such as community events, shared projects, fair rules, and respectful conversations.
• Ask the group to suggest one action for the unit, school, or community.
• End by reviewing the strongest ideas from the discussion.

Leader Tips

• Help the Scout choose accurate, balanced examples.
• Practice the talk and discussion questions before the presentation.
• Allow the Scout to lead while providing support when needed.
• Keep the discussion respectful, focused, and suitable for the group.

More Merit Badge Resources

The American Cultures merit badge gives Scouts a simple way to learn about the many cultures that shape our country. It fits well within the full merit badge program because it adds an important citizenship topic to a list that includes science, trades, arts, and outdoor skills. Scouts explore traditions, customs, and histories. This brings balance to the wide range of badges by helping Scouts understand the people around them.

It also connects to badges like American Heritage, Citizenship in the Community, and Journalism. Scouts who enjoy learning about society often find this badge helpful. It supports the program’s goal of encouraging curiosity and respect.

Learn More about Scouts BSA

The American Cultures merit badge supports the larger goals of Scouts BSA by building understanding, communication, and leadership. Learning about different backgrounds helps Scouts work well with others.

It also ties into fitness, citizenship, and personal development. Cultural awareness helps Scouts become stronger community members. Listening, observing, and sharing build confidence and empathy.

What is the American Cultures merit badge about?

The American Cultures merit badge is about exploring and understanding the diversity of cultural, racial, and religious groups in the United States. Scouts learn about different traditions, histories, and contributions of these groups.

What do I need to do to earn the American Cultures merit badge?

To earn the American Cultures merit badge, you need to complete specific requirements. These include learning about different cultural groups, attending events, visiting cultural institutions, and giving a talk or leading a discussion on cultural diversity.

Why is it important to learn about different cultures for the American Cultures merit badge?

Learning about different cultures helps you understand and appreciate the diversity in our society. It promotes respect and helps reduce stereotypes and prejudices. The American Cultures merit badge encourages Scouts to be open-minded and inclusive.

Can I choose any cultural groups to study for the American Cultures merit badge?

Yes, you can choose any cultural, racial, or religious groups. The American Cultures merit badge encourages you to explore groups that may be different from your own background. This helps you learn about the rich diversity in the United States.

Do I need to do all the activities listed in the American Cultures merit badge requirements?

No, you only need to complete the required number of activities listed. For example, you might choose to attend a cultural event, visit a place of worship, and talk with someone from a different cultural group. Check the specific requirements for details.

How can giving a talk or leading a discussion help me earn the American Cultures merit badge?

Giving a talk or leading a discussion helps you share what you have learned with others. It also allows you to explore ideas on how to improve understanding and respect among different cultural groups. This is an important part of the American Cultures merit badge.

What if I can’t find a cultural event or place to visit for the American Cultures merit badge?

If you have difficulty finding events or places to visit, you can use online resources, such as virtual museum tours or interviews. Your Scout leader can also help you find suitable alternatives to meet the American Cultures merit badge requirements.

How does the American Cultures merit badge help me in everyday life?

The American Cultures merit badge helps you become more knowledgeable and respectful of others. It teaches you to appreciate diversity, which is valuable in school, work, and community settings. It helps you be a more understanding and inclusive person.

The American Cultures merit badge is a journey into the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and histories that make up the United States. This badge encourages Scouts to learn about different cultural, racial, and religious groups. By exploring these diverse communities, Scouts gain a deeper understanding of what makes each group unique and how they contribute to the larger society.

Through the American Cultures merit badge, Scouts participate in activities like attending cultural events, visiting places of worship, and interviewing people from various backgrounds. These experiences help them appreciate the diversity around them. Scouts also learn to respect and celebrate the differences that make our country unique. This badge emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness and inclusivity.

Scouts are also required to give a talk or lead a discussion about their findings. This part of the American Cultures merit badge encourages them to share what they have learned and discuss how to improve understanding among different groups. It’s a great way to practice communication skills and promote positive interactions.

The American Cultures merit badge is an educational and enlightening experience. It helps Scouts become more empathetic and respectful individuals. By earning this badge, they learn to value diversity and become better citizens in a multicultural society