Boy Scouts of America

Collections Merit Badge

Collections
Merit Badge

Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Hub

Boy Scouts of America
Merit Badge Hub

Collections

Collections Merit Badge Overview

Discover how collecting can be an educational and financially rewarding pastime with the Collections Merit Badge. Scouts will prepare a brief written report, give a detailed description, and explain the development of their collection while demonstrating the knowledge of preserving and displaying their most prized possessions.
Collections_MB-overview

Collections Merit Badge Requirements

The requirements will be fed dynamically using the scout book integration 29
1. Prepare a short written report or outline for your counselor, giving a detailed description of your collection,* including a short history, why you enjoy your collection, and what you have learned from collecting. Be sure to include why you chose that particular type of collection/collecting method.
2. Explain the growth and development of your collection.
3. Demonstrate your knowledge of preserving and displaying your collection.
  • (a) Explain the precautions you need to take to preserve your collection, including
    1. Handling
    2. Cleaning
    3. Storage
  • (b) Explain how best to display your collection, keeping in mind preserving as discussed above.
  • (c) Explain to your counselor the events available for a hobbyist of this collection, including shows, seminars, conventions, contests, and museum programs and exhibits.
  • (d) Explain to your counselor how you keep track of your collection. Describe your cataloging method.
4. Demonstrate your knowledge of collecting and investing. Discuss with your counselor:
  • (a) How investing and speculation would apply to your collection
  • (b) What you would look for in purchasing other collections similar to yours
  • (c) What you would expect in return value if you decided to sell all or part of the collection
5. Do the following:
  • (a) Discuss with your counselor at least 10 terms commonly used to describe your collection and be prepared to discuss the definition of each.
  • (b) Show your counselor any two groups from your collection. Explain how you organized your collection and why you chose that method. (Note: if your collection is too large to transport and your counselor is unable to view your collection directly, photographs should be available to share.)
  • (c) Explain the monetary value of your collection and where you learned about those values.
  • (d) Explain how your collection is graded for value, physical defects, size, and age. Show the various classifications or ratings used in your collection.
  • (e) List the national, state, or local association(s) related to or associated with your collection.
  • (f) Explain to your counselor the purpose of and reason for the identification number (if applicable), series, brand name (if any), and any other special identification marks.
6. Discuss with your counselor the plans you have to continue with the collection in the future.
7. Find out about career opportunities in collecting. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

Get the Collections Merit Badge Pamphlet

Dive into the world of collecting with this merit badge! You will get to go deeper than the usual coin and stamp collecting and really explore the history of other collectibles.

Discover more about "Collections"

Three years ago, Troop 25 of Emmaus, Pa., renovated its Scout room by adding a fresh coat of paint to the walls and replacing old cabinets with heavy-duty metal shelving to hold camping gear. The result gave the Scouts a cleaner, more organized space at the St. John’s United Church of Christ. One small cabinet housed awards and old records dating back to the 1930s. For a unit originally chartered in 1932, the troop committee believed those items should be on display. Two years later, phase two of the renovation project got underway by installing cabinets and countertops to create a troop museum. Some of the work was done during troop meetings, but most took place on the weekends as not to cut into program time. Still, Scouts volunteered on the weekend workdays to complete the project. Scouts stained all the wood used in the museum. They installed plywood with aluminum tracking to create doors for extra storage. If this is sounding like a project you want for your unit, Troop 25 Scoutmaster Andy Frobase says it should be a group effort. “Get the Scouts involved because not only will they learn a lot of history about the troop, but they will learn many different types of trades and skills throughout the process,” he says.

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Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.