As of March 01, 2022, all temporary changes made to Scouts BSA advancement requirements to address the COVID-19 pandemic will expire, and there will be a return to the standard rules for Scouts BSA advancement. This includes deferment of some swimming requirements for First and Second class, virtual activities for Tenderfoot, Second and First Class, and requirement 9b of the Camping merit badge. 

As always, the BSA’s top priority is the health and safety of all youth participating in BSA programs. In 2020, the BSA instituted several modifications to rank requirements and merit badge requirements (“advancement modifications”) to accommodate activity restrictions necessitated by COVID-19. Effective March 01, 2022, those modifications will be removed, and the standard rules for advancement and merit badges will again become effective. These requirements are published at www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/ and in the Requirements Guidebook.

Specifically, these modifications related to the swimming requirements for Second and First class ranks, virtual activities for Tenderfoot, Second and First Class, and requirement 9b of the Camping merit badge.

The Guide to Advancement, section 10.2.2.0, states that “Members must meet current advancement requirements as written for merit badges, all ranks, and Eagle Palms—no more and no less—and they are to do exactly what is stated.”

New badge to be an Eagle requirement beginning July 2022

The Boy Scouts of America recently introduced a new merit badge to the list of achievements offered to youth in Scouts BSA.

The “Citizenship in Society” merit badge seeks to encourage Scouts to delve into the meaning of “diversity, equity, inclusion, and ethical leadership.”

“The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law,” said Roger Mosby, president and chief executive officer of The Boy Scouts of America to ScoutingNewsroom.org. 

“This merit badge aligns with both the Scout Oath and Scout Law, which encourage Scouts to respect the beliefs of others, to be kind and courteous, and to help other people at all times,” added BSA’s president. 

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion,” sometimes called DEI, remains an important topic in institutions across the United States and is now a worthy conversation piece in Troop Meetings. That’s especially so because the achievement will be required for Eagle Scouts beginning in July 2022.

“The Citizenship in Society merit badge is an important initiative to help Scouts learn about the diverse identities we each possess, understand different perspectives and experiences, and promote good citizenship in society,” explained Elizabeth Ramirez-Washka, chief diversity officer and vice president of diversity & inclusion, Boy Scouts of America. 

You can learn more about this new opportunity by visiting www.scouting.org/dei. Scouters may also take the “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Scouting” course via Scoutbook’s online training catalog.

“[I] enjoyed getting to discuss diversity and inclusion topics with my friends in Scouting,” Maya, a 15-year-old Scout who participated in the pilot program told Scouting Newsroom. “It felt like a safe environment to be open and honest about these topics.”

Meanwhile, check out this video by YouTube’s “Scouter Stan,” which gives an overview of the new BSA initiative and the Citizenship in Society merit badge.