Scholarship Merit Badge

The Scholarship merit badge helps Scouts build important skills for school and life. Earning this badge encourages you to focus on your studies and set goals for your education. It’s a way to show how much you value learning and self-improvement. Working on the Scholarship merit badge helps you take your schoolwork seriously and become more responsible.

While working on the Scholarship merit badge, you will learn how to organize your time and stay motivated in your studies. These are skills that help you in school now and will benefit you later in college or a career. It’s not just about getting good grades. It’s about learning how to manage your responsibilities and work toward your goals.

The Scholarship merit badge also teaches the importance of being involved in your school and community. This badge helps you see how learning is connected to other areas of your life. Being an active and engaged student can open up new opportunities for you.

Scouts who earn the Scholarship merit badge develop habits that help them succeed. The skills you practice while earning this badge—like setting goals, managing time, and staying focused—will stay with you for years. It’s a great way to become a better student and a better Scout.

Download the Scholarship Merit Badge Requirements

Scholarship Merit Badge Workbook / Worksheet

Scholarship Merit Badge Check Off Sheet

Checklist for All Merit Badges

Help with Answers for Scholarship Merit Badge Requirements

Find specific helps for some of the Scholarship 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.

• Requirement 1: Grades
• Requirement 2: Topics
• Requirement 3: Note
• Requirement 4: Teamwork
• Requirement 5: Report
• More Resources

Understanding Grades for the Scholarship Merit Badge

This requirement for the Scholarship merit badge asks you to focus on your school grades. You have two options to choose from, and both help you think about your academic progress. Let’s break down what each option means and how you can complete it.

Option 1: Show an Average of B or Higher
You can meet this part of the requirement by proving that your grades have been a B average (80% or higher) for one term or semester. A term or semester is a specific part of the school year, usually lasting about 9 to 18 weeks, depending on your school. An average means you add up all your grades from your classes, divide by the number of classes, and see if the result is at least 80%. If you’re not sure how to calculate this, ask a parent, teacher, or counselor to help.

Option 2: Show Improvement in Grades
If your grades started lower but have gotten better, this option is for you. You’ll need to compare your grades from two different terms or semesters. For example, if you earned a C average last term and improved to a B average this term, you’ve met the requirement. Improvement shows that you’re working hard to do better, even if your grades aren’t perfect yet.

Both options teach valuable lessons for the Scholarship merit badge. You’ll learn the importance of tracking your progress and staying motivated. By completing this requirement, you’re taking a closer look at your education and learning how to set and achieve goals. These are skills that will help you succeed in school and beyond.

Exploring Educational Places for the Scholarship Merit Badge

For this requirement of the Scholarship merit badge, you’ll need to identify educational places in your area, visit one, and explain how it helped you learn something new. This is a chance to see that education doesn’t only happen in school. Learning can happen in many places, and this activity helps you discover them.

Here are some examples of educational places you might find in your community:

• Libraries: Public libraries are filled with books, computers, and other resources. You can research topics, read for fun, or learn new skills. Librarians can help you find information or recommend good books.
• Museums: Museums focus on different subjects, like science, history, art, or technology. Visiting a museum can help you learn about something you’ve never studied in school.
• Nature Centers or Zoos: These places teach you about animals, plants, and ecosystems. You can explore exhibits or even talk to experts who work there.
• Historical Sites: Local landmarks or historical buildings often share stories about your area’s past. Visiting one can help you understand how history shaped your community.
• Community Centers: Many community centers offer workshops, classes, or events that teach new skills or share information on interesting topics.

After visiting one of these places, think about how it helped you learn. For example, did you discover something new about a topic that interests you? Did it make you curious to learn more? Write about your experience and explain how the visit contributed to your self-education.

This part of the Scholarship merit badge helps you see that learning happens everywhere. By exploring these places, you can develop new skills, grow your curiosity, and expand your knowledge outside the classroom.

Learning from Professionals for the Scholarship Merit Badge

This requirement for the Scholarship merit badge asks you to interview two professionals with established careers. This means you’ll talk to people who have been working in their field for a while and have valuable experience to share. These interviews will help you understand how education and training prepare someone for a career and how learning continues throughout life.

Start by choosing professionals to interview. These could be people like doctors, business owners, engineers, artists, or skilled tradespeople. Avoid teachers or other staff at your school, as this requirement asks you to explore careers outside of education. Make sure to get approval from your counselor and your parent or guardian before setting up the interviews.

During the interview, ask these key questions:

• Where did they go to school?
• What training or certifications did they need for their job?
• How did their education and training prepare them for their career?
• How do they continue to learn and improve in their field?

The professionals might mention formal education, such as college or trade school, as well as on-the-job training. Continuing education could include attending workshops, reading industry publications, or learning new skills to keep up with changes in their field. This shows that learning doesn’t stop when you graduate—it’s something you do for a lifetime.

After the interviews, share what you learned with your counselor. Talk about how education and training shape a person’s career path and why ongoing learning is important. This part of the Scholarship merit badge helps you see how what you are learning now can connect to future opportunities and success.

Staying Organized with a Daily Planner for the Scholarship Merit Badge

For this Scholarship merit badge requirement, you will use a daily planner to show your counselor how you stay organized. A daily planner is a tool to help you keep track of assignments, activities, and deadlines. It’s a simple way to manage your time and make sure you don’t forget important tasks.

A planner can be a paper notebook, a calendar, or even a mobile app. The key is to use it regularly. Here’s what you should include in your planner:

• Assignments: Write down all your homework, projects, and tests. Include due dates and break big tasks into smaller steps.
• Activities: Track things like sports practices, Scout meetings, or family events. This helps you plan your time around these commitments.
• Daily Tasks: List things you need to do each day, such as studying, chores, or working on merit badge requirements.

When you talk to your counselor, show how you use your planner to keep track of your schedule. Explain how you decide what to do first. This is called prioritizing, which means figuring out which tasks are most important and need to be done right away. Discuss how you balance your time between school, Scouts, and other activities.

Using a planner teaches you valuable time management skills, which is a big part of the Scholarship merit badge. By learning how to stay organized, you can reduce stress and get more done. These are skills that will help you succeed now and in the future.

Exploring Research Methods for the Scholarship Merit Badge

For this Scholarship merit badge requirement, you’ll learn about different ways to do research for school assignments. There are many methods you can use, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Understanding these can help you choose the best option for the type of assignment you’re working on.

The Library
The library is a great place for research because it offers reliable and organized information. Libraries have books, periodicals (like magazines and newspapers), and often access to online databases. Librarians can help you find what you need. The main disadvantage is that you have to visit the library in person, and some materials might not be available if others are using them.

Books and Periodicals
Books and periodicals provide detailed and trustworthy information. Books are especially good for in-depth research on specific topics. Periodicals are helpful for current events or trends. The downside is that finding the exact information you need can take time, especially if you have to read through long sections to find the answer.

The Internet
The Internet is often the fastest way to find information. It’s easy to search for specific topics and find up-to-date resources. However, not all websites are reliable, so you need to check if the source is trustworthy. Look for websites from schools, government organizations, or well-known publishers.

When working on the Scholarship merit badge, think about what you’re researching and pick the method that works best. For example, books might be better for historical topics, while the Internet is great for recent news. By learning the pros and cons of each method, you’ll become a smarter and more efficient researcher.

Obtaining a Note for the Scholarship Merit Badge

For this Scholarship merit badge requirement, you’ll need to get a note from your school principal or a similar official that says your behavior, leadership, and service have been satisfactory over the past year. This note shows that you are not only working hard in school but also acting as a positive example for others.

If you attend a traditional school, the principal is the person in charge of running the school. Sometimes the principal may ask another official, like a vice principal or counselor, to write the note. If you are homeschooled or don’t have a principal, you can ask a parent or guardian to write the note. The key is to get it from someone who oversees your education or knows about your school activities.

Here are a few tips to help with this requirement:

• Behavior: This refers to how you act at school. Satisfactory behavior means you follow school rules and treat others respectfully.
• Leadership: Leadership means setting a good example for others. This could include helping classmates, taking part in group projects, or being active in school clubs.
• Service: Service means contributing to your school or community. This might include volunteering, helping organize events, or supporting your peers.

When you ask for the note, explain that it’s part of the Scholarship merit badge and what it will be used for. Be polite and thank the person for their time. Completing this step of the merit badge shows that you are responsible and care about your role as a student and Scout. It also helps you understand the importance of positive behavior and contributing to your community.

Learning Through Extracurricular Activities for the Scholarship Merit Badge

For this Scholarship merit badge requirement, you need to show that you have taken part in an extracurricular activity at school. Extracurricular activities are organized programs or clubs that happen outside of regular class time. These can include sports teams, music groups, theater productions, student government, academic clubs, or community service projects.

Participating in an extracurricular activity has many benefits. First, it helps you develop new skills. For example, being on a sports team can teach you about fitness and strategy, while joining a school band can improve your musical ability. Second, it’s a great way to meet new people and build friendships. Extracurricular activities often bring together students with similar interests, making it easier to connect with others.

One of the most important lessons from extracurricular activities is teamwork. Teamwork means working with others toward a common goal. Whether you’re scoring points in a game, rehearsing for a performance, or planning a service project, teamwork requires communication, cooperation, and trust. By working as part of a team, you learn how to listen to others, share ideas, and solve problems together.

When discussing this requirement with your counselor, explain what activity you participated in, what you learned, and how it has helped you. Completing this part of the Scholarship merit badge shows that you are willing to go beyond your regular classes to grow as a person. It also demonstrates how valuable teamwork and commitment are in reaching your goals.

Contributing to a Team Project for the Scholarship Merit Badge

For this Scholarship merit badge requirement, you need to discuss a school project you worked on as part of a team. Team projects are group assignments where you and your classmates work together to complete a task. These projects teach valuable lessons about collaboration, communication, and shared responsibility.

When describing your project, start by explaining the goal. For example, your team might have created a presentation, built a model, written a group report, or organized an event. A team project is successful when everyone works together and contributes their strengths to reach the shared goal.

Next, think about the positive contributions you made. Contributions can include specific tasks or ways you supported the team, such as:

• Taking the lead on a task: Maybe you organized materials, created visuals, or wrote a section of the report.
• Helping teammates: You might have explained instructions, answered questions, or helped others stay focused.
• Contributing ideas: Sharing creative solutions or brainstorming ways to improve the project is another important contribution.
• Staying reliable: Completing your assigned tasks on time and being dependable is key to any team’s success.

Team projects also help you understand the value of cooperation. Cooperation means working well with others and respecting their ideas. By participating in a team project, you learn how to balance responsibilities, solve conflicts, and celebrate success as a group.

When you talk to your counselor about this requirement, describe what you learned from working with others and how your efforts contributed to the project’s success. This part of the Scholarship merit badge helps you see how teamwork is an important skill, not just for school but for life.

Writing a Report for the Scholarship Merit Badge: The Value of Education

For this Scholarship merit badge requirement, you need to write a report about how your school education will help you in the future and how you plan to keep learning throughout your life. This is an opportunity to reflect on why education is important and how it shapes your goals.

Start by thinking about how school prepares you for life. You can mention basic skills like reading, writing, and math. These are the foundation for many things you’ll do in the future, from managing money to communicating with others. You can also talk about other subjects that interest you, like science, history, or technology, and how they might connect to a future career or hobby.

Next, consider life skills you are learning in school. These include time management, working with others, solving problems, and setting goals. Explain how these skills help you now and will continue to help you later, whether in college, a career, or personal projects.

When you discuss how you will continue to educate yourself, focus on lifelong learning. Lifelong learning means that education doesn’t stop when you finish school. You can keep learning by reading books, taking classes, attending workshops, or even learning from experiences like volunteering or working. Think about what interests you and how you might pursue those interests.

Make sure your report is organized and clear. Start with an introduction that explains why education is important. Use the body of your report to explain specific ways your education benefits you and how you will continue learning. End with a conclusion that ties it all together. Writing this report helps you reflect on how the lessons from school and the Scholarship merit badge apply to your future.

Writing a Report on Careers for the Scholarship Merit Badge

For this Scholarship merit badge requirement, you’ll write about two careers that interest you and explain how specific school classes and good scholarship can help you prepare for those careers. This is a chance to explore your future goals and think about how your education connects to them.

Start by choosing two careers that interest you. These could be anything you are curious about, like a doctor, engineer, artist, teacher, or mechanic. Research what skills and knowledge are needed for each career. For example, if you want to be an engineer, you’ll need a strong background in math and science. If you’re interested in being a writer, you’ll need strong communication skills and creativity.

In your report, explain how specific classes can help you prepare. Think about classes you are already taking or will take in high school. For example:

• Math and science classes are important for careers in engineering, medicine, and technology.
• English and public speaking classes help with communication skills for many careers.
• Art and music classes can prepare you for creative fields.
• Technology or computer science classes are useful in nearly every career today.

Also, discuss the importance of good scholarship. Good scholarship means working hard in school, keeping up with assignments, and learning to manage your time. These habits will help you succeed in college or vocational training, which are often necessary for many careers.

Organize your report into sections for each career and include how education plays a role in reaching your goals. Finish by summarizing why your schoolwork now, and earning the Scholarship merit badge, are important steps toward your future. This report helps you connect your current efforts to your long-term ambitions.

More Merit Badge Resources

The Scholarship merit badge helps Scouts focus on education and how it prepares them for the future. It encourages good study habits, goal setting, and exploring how learning happens both in and out of school. This badge is about more than grades; it’s about developing skills for success.

Merit badges like the Scholarship merit badge let Scouts explore topics that interest them while building knowledge and confidence. With over 100 merit badges to choose from, you can learn about sports, crafts, science, and even future careers. Talk to your Scoutmaster to find out more and start earning badges today!

Learn More about Scouts BSA

Scouts BSA is a program for youth ages 11 to 17 that helps build character, leadership, and life skills. Through activities like camping, hiking, and community service, Scouts learn teamwork and responsibility while having fun and gaining new experiences. Earning badges, like the Scholarship merit badge, encourages learning and personal growth.

The Scholarship merit badge is one of many that Scouts can earn to explore their interests and prepare for the future. Scouts BSA combines outdoor adventure, skill-building, and service to help youth develop confidence and values they will carry with them for life.

What is the Scholarship merit badge?

The Scholarship merit badge is an award you earn by focusing on your schoolwork, learning how education connects to your future, and improving skills like organization, teamwork, and research.

What do I need to do to earn the Scholarship merit badge?

You will complete several activities related to your education. These include showing good grades or improvement, visiting an educational place, interviewing professionals, using a daily planner, discussing teamwork, and writing a report about education or careers. Specific requirements give you choices, so you can focus on what fits your interests and strengths.

Do I need to have perfect grades to earn the Scholarship merit badge?

No, you don’t need perfect grades. You can either show that your grades are a B average (80%) or higher for one term, or you can show improvement in your grades compared to a previous term. This requirement focuses on effort and progress.

What kinds of educational places can I visit for the Scholarship merit badge?

You can visit places like libraries, museums, nature centers, historical sites, or community centers. The goal is to learn something new outside of school and share what you discovered with your counselor.

What should I ask when interviewing professionals for the Scholarship merit badge?

Ask about their education, training, and how it prepared them for their career. Find out how they continue to educate themselves to stay successful. This will help you understand how learning connects to real-life jobs.

Why do I need to use a daily planner for the Scholarship merit badge?

Using a daily planner shows how you organize assignments and activities. It helps you manage your time and develop good habits that are useful in school, Scouts, and life.

How do I write a report for the Scholarship merit badge?

Choose the topic—either the value of education or two careers that interest you. Keep your report between 250 and 300 words. Explain how education helps you now and in the future, or how classes and skills connect to the careers you’ve chosen.

Why do I need a note from my school principal or parent?

The note shows that your behavior, leadership, and service have been satisfactory during the past year. It’s a way to demonstrate that you are responsible and set a good example.

Can I work on the Scholarship merit badge if I’m homeschooled?

Yes, if you are homeschooled, your parent or guardian can provide the note about your behavior and help with activities like visiting educational places or using a daily planner.

How does the Scholarship merit badge help me in the future?

This merit badge helps you develop habits like staying organized, setting goals, and working hard. It also shows how education connects to your future success in school, college, and careers. These are skills you’ll use for the rest of your life.

The Scholarship merit badge helps Scouts understand the value of education. It shows how school connects to real life and helps you prepare for the future. This badge is about more than just getting good grades—it’s about building skills like organization, teamwork, and goal setting.

To earn the Scholarship merit badge, you’ll complete activities that highlight your academic efforts. You might demonstrate good grades, track your assignments with a planner, or discuss how you’ve improved your schoolwork. You’ll also explore how learning happens outside of school by visiting educational places or interviewing professionals. These experiences show how education can open doors in many areas of life.

Another part of the Scholarship merit badge involves reflecting on teamwork and leadership. You might share your role in a school project or extracurricular activity and discuss how you contributed to the team’s success. This helps you see how cooperation and responsibility are important, both in school and beyond.

Finally, you’ll write about your education or explore careers that interest you. These tasks encourage you to think about how the skills and habits you develop now will help you achieve your goals. The Scholarship merit badge helps you take a closer look at your learning and inspires you to keep growing.