5 Underrated Merit Badges and Why You Should Earn Them

When the Bryan on Scouting blog came out with the statistics on merit badges earned in 2018, we couldn’t believe some of the badges that were in the bottom bunch!

Here are the top 5 merit badges that we think were totally underrated last year:

1. American Business: tied for last place (#136), with only 551 earned in 2018. This one was a shock for us! Not only does it cover the history of business in the United States, but it also gives you a huge boost of preparedness for life! You are required to learn about financial statements, interest rates, taxes, among other things. You also get to hone in on the different areas of business and take a good look at how different companies run those areas! Seriously, this should be a top-earned merit badge! Way too much real-world application to be one of the least-earned badges. For more information: American Business Merit Badge Pamphlet.
2. Gardening: ranked at #138, with only 1,428 earned in 2018. Yup, this one had to be on our list – we are all for learning to make the earth better, and what better way to do that than through growing your food and improving air and soil quality? Building and maintaining a vermicompost bin (worm compost bin) is even a part of the requirements, and we love that so much that we already had a blog how-to written on the topic! Fun fact… the worms written about in that blog are still alive and thriving. #win. For more information: Gardening Merit Badge Pamphlet.
3. Journalism: came in at #132, with 1,153 earned in 2018. Whether you are looking to be a journalist or not, this is a seriously important topic! With social media playing a massive role in the spreading of news, this is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the press and mass media. It is critical to know about different types of news stories, and this merit badge gives you the opportunity to learn about each one and their differences. For more information: Journalism Merit Badge Pamphlet.
4. Drafting: ranked #131, with 1,231 earned in 2018. This one also has some great “later-in-life” application! By knowing how to draw something to-scale, you could… design your own Pinewood Derby car, design your own house, redesign a kitchen, read blueprints… the options are endless! The finished drawings also look cool framed and hung. #bonus. For more information: Drafting Merit Badge Pamphlet.
5. American Labor: came in at #133, with 1,109 earned in 2018. How this one landed in the bottoms-list, we have no idea. This one is so important in getting a solid understanding of the American workforce – from how organizations are structured, to understanding current issues that affect our workforce today. Context is vital to understanding and coming up with solutions that work, and this merit badge perfect is for gaining some background and meaning to our working environment. For more information: American Labor Merit Badge Pamphlet.

What is your plan for 2019? Are any of these merit badges on your list? This is an awesome opportunity to think about your future and what topics you want to learn more about – whether it is for a future career or to gain a better understanding of the world around you.

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