Scout Programs

BSA Merit Badge Workshop - American Heritage

Sunday, January 25, 2026, 1-4 p.m.

Sunday, March 22, 2026, 1-4 p.m.

How have the actions of the U.S. Army throughout American history helped build and strengthen the county?

To improve its effectiveness on the battlefield, the Army has frequently been a leader in recognizing and developing innovations and inventions. Many of its successes have benefited American society in the form of improved commutations, medicine, aviation, and computers.

Explore this theme through aviation and fulfil the requirements for the American Heritage Merit Badge. Learn more about how the Army harnessed the new technology developed by the Wright brothers and how it impacted civilian life.

Successful completion of the program will fulfill five of the six requirements of the American Heritage merit badge. The additional requirement may be completed prior to the workshop. The program will be led by a BSA-certified merit badge counselor.

Workshop Logistics 
• The workshop will take place in the Museum’s Conference Rooms from 1 – 4 p.m. ET
• Chaperones are required to stay on-site in the Museum during the workshop but do not have to attend the workshop. 
• Museum staff leading this workshop have completed BSA Youth Protection training. 
• No outside food or drink is allowed in the Museum. Sealed water bottles or empty bottles are permitted. There are water bottle filling stations located in the Museum. 

Workshop Requirements 
• Participants must register in advance. Participants must register for themselves AND a caregiver. Caregivers are required to stay onsite in the Museum during the workshop. 
• Participants must complete the pre-visit assignment prior to the workshop. 
• Participants must attend the entire workshop to successfully complete the American Heritage Merit Badge requirements. 

Optional Pre-Workshop Activities

Merit badge requirements #3a & #3c must be completed outside of the merit badge workshop. 

Requirement #3a:  Select a topic related to the United States that is currently in the news. Describe to your counselor what is happening. Explain how today's events are related to or affect by the events and values of America's past. 

Requirement #3c: Research your family's history. Find out how various events and situation in American history affected your family. If your family immigrated to America, tell the reasons why. Share what you find with your counselor. 

BSA Merit Badge Workshop - Citizenship in the Nation

Sunday, January 11, 2026

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Sunday, March 8, 2026

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Sunday, April 12, 2026

What are the rights, duties, and obligations of United States citizens? How are those sentiments reflected in the country’s founding documents?

Explore these themes and fulfill the requirements for the Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge. Analyze primary sources including the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution to understand how the nation’s founding documents impact society today. Learn how these documents affect your family and community as well as the U.S. Army. 

Successful completion of the program will fulfill six of the eight requirements of the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge. The additional two requirements may be completed prior to the workshop. The program will be led by a BSA-certified merit badge counselor.

Workshop Logistics 
• The workshop will take place in the Museum’s Conference Rooms from 1 – 4 p.m. 
• Chaperones are required to stay on-site in the Museum during the workshop but do not have to attend the workshop. 
• Museum staff leading this workshop have completed BSA Youth Protection training. 
• No outside food or drink is allowed in the Museum. Sealed water bottles or empty bottles are permitted. There are water bottle filling stations located in the Museum. 

Workshop Requirements 
• Participants must register in advance. Participants must register for themselves AND a caregiver. Caregivers are required to stay onsite in the Museum during the workshop. 
• Participants must complete the pre-visit assignment prior to the workshop. 
• Participants must attend the entire workshop to successfully complete the Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge requirements. 

Workshop Prerequisite 
Participants must complete the following pre-visit assignment: 

1. View the Museum’s Virtual Field Trip – The Road to Revolution: The French and Indian War. In this 30-minute video, learn how the French and Indian War informs our understanding of the Revolutionary War and the founding of the country.   

What events led to the American Revolution and what was their impact on the new nation?

2. Read the Declaration of Independence. A transcript can be found on the National Archives' website. 

How was the Declaration of Independence connect to the French and Indian War?

3. Read the U.S. Constitution. A transcript can be found on the National Archives' website. 

After reflecting on the document, what is its purpose?

Optional Pre-Workshop Activities

Two merit badge requirements (#5 & #8 must be completed outside of the merit badge workshop. 

Requirement #5:  Watch the national evening news five days in a row OR read the front page of a major daily newspaper five days in a row. Think about and be prepared to discuss the following: What is the national issue that you learned about while watching the news? How does that issue affect you and your family?

Requirement #8:  Who is your representative to Congress? Name your two senators and a member of Congress from your congressional district. Select a national issue. Write a letter to your representative explaining your views on this issue. 

BSA Merit Badge Workshop - Weather 

Sunday, February 22, 2026, 1-4 p.m.

Sunday, April 26, 2026, 1-4 p.m.

How does the Army predict and measure weather patterns? What role has the Army played in creating weather forecasting and measuring innovations? 

Explore these themes and fulfill requirements for the Weather merit badge. This merit badge prompts Scouts to learn more about meteorology and how to stay safe in various forms of weather. Scouts will study weather through the lens of Army readiness to understand the science of meteorology and weather forecasting. 

Successful completion of the program will fulfill nine (9) of the eleven (11) requirements of the Weather merit badge. The additional two requirements may be completed after the workshop. The program will be led by a BSA-certified merit badge counselor. 
 
Workshop Logistics 

The workshop will take place in the Museum’s Learning Lab from 1 – 4 p.m. 

Chaperones are required to stay onsite in the Museum during the workshop but do not have to attend the workshop.  

Museum staff leading this worked have completed BSA Youth Protection training.  

No outside food or drink is allowed in the Museum. Sealed water bottles or empty bottles are permitted. There are water bottle filling stations located in the Museum. 

Workshop Requirements 

Participants must register in advance. Participants must register for themselves AND a caregiver. Caregivers are required to stay onsite in the Museum during the workshop.  

Participants must attend the entire workshop to successfully complete the Weather Merit Badge requirements. 

Optional Post Workshop Activities 

Requirement #9a: Make one of the following instruments:  wind vane, anemometer, rain gauge, hygrometer. Keep a daily weather log for one week using information from this instrument as well as from other sources such as a local radio and television stations, NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, and internet sources (with your parent’s permission).  
 
Requirement #11: Find out about a weather-related career opportunity that interests you. Discuss with and explain to your counselor what training and education are required for such position, and the responsibilities required of a position.