U. S. Scouting Service Project at http://usscouts.org

MERIT BADGE
REQUIREMENT CHANGES

Effective: September 1, 1995

(CHANGES TO MERIT BADGE REQUIREMENTS
EXCEPT COMPLETE REPLACEMENTS)

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When there is a conflict between two published lists of requirements, such as the Requirements Book and a Merit Badge Pamphlet, even when the pamphlet has a later issue date, the Requirements Book should be considered to be the controlling document, until a newer edition of the Requirements Book is issued. 

American Cultures
Backpacking
Camping
Canoeing
Cooking
Cycling
Electricity
Hiking
Lifesaving
Motorboating
Pets
Photography
Rowing
Skating
Skiing
Small-Boat Sailing
Sports
Swimming
Veterinary Medicine
Waterskiing
Whitewater
Wilderness Survival

COMPLETELY REPLACED MERIT BADGES

Architecture
Oceanography
Indian Lore
Radio

American Cultures

The preamble has been reworded to read:

Choose TWO groups that have different racial, cultural, national, or ethnic backgrounds. Use these groups to complete requirements 1, 2, and 3. Also complete requirement 4 and either requirement 5(a) or 5(b).

In requirement 3, the phrase "which are almost the same" has been replaced by the phrase "that are similar."

In requirement 4, add the sentence "Their backgrounds may be religious, such as Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc." to the end of the requirement.

Requirement 5(b) has been rewritten as follows:

5. (b) Tell about some achievements of the United Nations accomplished by people of many cultures and beliefs working in one organization. Tell how the U.N. has dealt with some problems caused by conflicts between different groups.

Backpacking

Requirements 1 - 6 have been renumbered as 2 - 7, and new requirement 1 has been added:

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while backpacking, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, frostbite, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.

Old requirement 7 has been deleted.

Camping

New requirement 1 has been added:

  1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while camping, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, frostbite, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.

Old requirements 1 through 9 have been renumbered as 2 through 10.

Canoeing

New requirements 1 and 2 have been added:

  1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that
    could occur while canoeing, including hypothermia,
    heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, insect
    stings, tick bites, blisters, and hyperventilation.
  2. Do the following:
    (a) Identify the conditions that must exist before
    performing CPR on a person.
    Explain how such conditions are recognized.
    (b) Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR on
    an adult mannequin for at least three minutes.

Old requirements 1 through 8 have been renumbered as 3 through 10.

In requirement 3 (old requirement 1) the phrase "Before doing other requirements" has been replaced with "Before doing the following requirements."

Cooking

New requirement 1 has been added:

  1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that
    could occur while cooking, including burns and scalds.

Old requirements 1 through 3 have been renumbered as 2 through 4 and all references to other requirements have been adjusted accordingly.

Cycling

New requirement 1 has been added:

  1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while cycling, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, frostbite, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.

Old requirements 1 through 8 have been renumbered as 2 through 9.

Electricity

Requirement 6 was revised to read as follows:

  1. Demonstrate how to repair a plug on an appliance cord.

    This merit badge change was actually effective 9/1/95, even though Electricity was not  listed on the Inside Front Cover of the 1995-97 book.

Hiking

New requirement 1 has been added:

  1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while hiking, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, frostbite, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.

Old requirements 1 through 5 have been renumbered as 2 through 6.

Lifesaving

Old requirement 14 (CPR) has been deleted.

Requirement 15 has been renumbered as 14

NOTE: This was apparently an error, as it was reversed in the 1998 Boy Scout Requirements Book.

Motorboating

New requirements 1 and 2 have been added:

  1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while motorboating, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, blisters, and hyperventilation.
  2. Do the following:

    (a) Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Explain how such conditions are recognized.

    (b) Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR on an adult mannequin for at least three minutes.

Old requirements 1 through 4 have been renumbered as 3 through 6.

In requirement 3 (old requirement 1) the phrase "Before doing other requirements" has been replaced with "Before doing the following requirements."

Pets

Requirement 4(c) has been eliminated and 4(d) has been renumbered as 4(c).

Requirement 4(b) now reads:

4. (b) Start a friend raising a pet like yours. Help your friend get a good start.

Photography:

Requirement 2(c)(2) was deleted and 2(c)(3) renumbered to 2(c)(2).

This merit badge change was actually effective 9/1/95, even though Photography was not  listed on the Inside Front Cover of the 1995-97 book. 

Rowing

New requirements 1 and 2 have been added:

  1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while rowing, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, blisters, and hyperventilation.
  2. Do the following:

    (a) Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Explain how such conditions are recognized.

    (b) Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR on an adult mannequin for at least three minutes.

Old requirements 1 through 9 have been renumbered as 3 through 11.

In requirement 3 (old requirement 1) the phrase "Before doing other requirements" has been replaced with "Before doing the following requirements."

Skating

The first option was changed to read "on roller skates or in-line skates."

Skiing

The first sentence of the preamble has been deleted.

In the downhill (Alpine) requirements some of the requirements have been revised as follows:

1. Tell the meaning of the Skier's Responsibility Code. Explain why it is important to follow this code.

3. Show how to use and maintain your own release bindings and explain the use of two others. Explain the international DIN standard and what it means to skiers.

4. Explain the American Teaching Method and a basic snow-skiing progression.

5. Explain and discuss the following:

(a) Five types of Alpine skis

(b) Telemark skis

(c) Snowboards

7. Explain the parts played by strength, endurance, and flexibility in Alpine skiing. Demonstrate exercises and activities you can do to get fit for skiing.

Requirement 8 has been renumbered as 8(a) and requirement 9 has been renumbered as 8(b).

Requirement 10 has been renumbered as 9 and new requirement 10 has been added:

10. Explain the international trail-marking system.

11. On a gentle slope, demonstrate some of the beginning maneuvers learned in skiing. Include the straight run, gliding wedge, wedge stop, side step, and herringbone maneuvers.

13. On a moderate slope, demonstrate five to ten christies.

14. Make a controlled run down an intermediate slope and demonstrate the following:

(a) Short-, medium-, and long-radius parallel turns

(b) A side-slip and safety (hockey) stop to each side

(c) Traverse across a slope

15. Demonstrate the ability to ski in varied conditions, including changes in pitch, snow conditions, and moguls. Maintain your balance and ability to turn.

In the cross-country (Nordic) requirements some of the requirements have been revised as follows:

4. Show your ability to select, use, and repair, if necessary, the correct equipment for ski touring in safety and comfort.

5. Discuss the basic principles of snow craft, including avalanches.

7. Discuss the differences between cross-country skiing, ski touring, ski mountaineering, and Alpine skiing.

8. Explain the parts played by strength, endurance, and flexibility in Nordic skiing. Demonstrate exercises and activities you can do to get fit for skiing.

13. On a gentle, packed slope, show some basic ways to control speed and direction. Include the straight run, traverse, side-slip, step turn, wedge stop, and wedge turn maneuvers.

14. On a cross-country trail, demonstrate effective propulsion by showing proper weight transfer from ski to ski, pole timing, rhythm, flow, and glide.

16. Demonstrate several methods of dealing with steep hills or difficult conditions. Include traverses and kick turns going uphill and downhill, side steps, pole drag, and ski-pole "glissade."

Small-Boat Sailing

New requirements 1 and 2 have been added:

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while small-boat sailing, including hypothermia,heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, blisters, and hyperventilation.

2. Do the following:

(a) Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Explain how such conditions are recognized.

(b) Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR on an adult mannequin for at least three minutes.

Old requirements 1 through 8 have been renumbered as 3 through 10.

In requirement 3 (old requirement 1) the phrase "Before doing other requirements" has been replaced with "Before doing the following requirements."

Sports

New requirement 1 was added as follows:

  1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while playing sports, including hypothermia; heatstroke; heat exhaustion; frostbite; dehydration; sunburn; blisters; hyperventilation; bruises; strains; sprains; muscle cramps; broken, chipped, loosened, or knocked-out teeth; bone fracture; nausea; and suspected injuries to the back, neck, and head.

Old requirements 1 through 8 were renumbered 2 through 9.

Swimming

New requirements 1 and 2 have been added:

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while swimming, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, blisters, and hyperventilation.

2. Do the following:

(a) Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Explain how such conditions are recognized.

(b) Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR on an adult mannequin for at least three minutes.

Old requirement 1 has been renumbered as requirement 3 and has been rewritten as follows:

3. Before doing the following requirements, successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. Jump feet first into water over your head in depth, swim 75 yard or 75 meters in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards or 25 meters using an easy, resting backstroke. The 100 yards or 100 meters must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating as motionless as possible. Explain how the Safe Swim Defense plan is used to protect Scout troops and other groups when they are swimming.

Old requirements 2 through 7 have been renumbered as 4 through 9.

Veterinary Medicine

In requirement 4, the phrase "household pet" in the first sentence has been replaced with "pet." In addition, in the last sentence, the phrase "each needs" has been replaced with "each animal needs."

In requirement 7, the phrase "the lungworm of the pig" has been replaced with "dog heartworm."

Waterskiing

New requirements 1 and 2 have been added:

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while water-skiing, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, blisters, and hyperventilation.

2. Do the following:

(a) Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Explain how such conditions are recognized.

(b) Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR on an adult mannequin for at least three minutes.

Old requirements 1 through 11 have been renumbered as 3 through 13.

In requirement 3 (old requirement 1) the phrase "Before doing other requirements" has been replaced with "Before doing the following requirements."

Whitewater

New requirements 1 and 2 have been added:

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while working on the Whitewater merit badge, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, blisters, and hyperventilation.

2. Do the following:

(a) Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Explain how such conditions are recognized.

(b) Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR on an adult mannequin for at least three minutes.

Old requirements 1 through 11 have been renumbered as 3 through 13.

In requirement 3 (old requirement 1) the phrase "Before doing other requirements" has been replaced with "Before doing the following requirements."

Wilderness Survival

New Requirement 1 was added (replaces old requirement 4)

  1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses  likely to occur in backcountry outings, including  hypothermia, hyperthermia, heatstroke, heat  exhaustion, frostbite, dehydration, sunburn, stings,  tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.

Requirements 1 & 2 were renumbered as 2 & 3, and old requirement 4 was deleted.

This merit badge change was actually effective 9/1/95, even though Wilderness Survival was not  listed on the Inside Front Cover of the 1995-97 book.

This analysis was originally prepared as a service to Scouts and Scouters nationwide by:
Bruce E. Cobern
Advancement Chairman
Founders District
Queens Council
Greater New York Councils
Boy Scouts of America

The information was edited by:
Paul S. Wolf
Advancement Committee
Winding Rivers District
Greater Cleveland Council
Boy Scouts of America

Copies may be freely distributed, so long as the author and editor are acknowledged.

Page updated on: December 22, 2022

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