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Programming merit badge

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Earning the Programming merit badge will take you “behind the screen” for a look at the complex codes that make digital devices useful and fun. Without programs, today’s high-tech gadgets would be little more than empty shells. But given clear instructions, digital devices can do amazing things and perform operations that would have seemed like magic to people in the past.

By the time you fulfill the requirements for the Programming merit badge, you will be able to work a little of that “magic” yourself. And you might find yourself joining the legions of young programmers who create so much innovative software. Whatever the need, somebody somewhere has written a program to answer it. You could become that somebody. Happy programming!


GET STARTED PROGRAMMING

Get help with Requirement 5! Select a programming language for sample programs, resources, tips, videos and more. Use the dropdown menu to filter languages by industry.


MERIT BADGE REQUIREMENTS

Visit https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/programming/ for the latest Programming Merit Badge requirements


JAMBOREE RESOURCES

Videos and activities used during the inaugural launch of the Programming Merit Badge at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree.

Robotic arm activity video
Factory automation activity video
Embedded programming activity video

15 Comments on Programming merit badge

  1. ScoutLeader // April 12, 2016 at 10:58 pm // Reply

    Anyone know of good, online resources for completing the “History” and “Intellectual Property” requirements of the programming merit badge?

  2. I second the question about the gaming industry. My son wants to be a gaming programmer and that industry is missing in the dropdown choices.

  3. Why is there no gaming industry in the drop down menu?

  4. It doesn’t show me a list of programming programs to use like the video said.

  5. Good post, I just can’t understand why HTML5 isn’t on the list?

  6. hello?

  7. If the BSA discourages the use of Merit Badge Worksheets, why is there a link to a third party merit badge worksheet on this blog?

    • BSA does allow the use of Merit Badge worksheets as a tool for helping Scouts to organize their work on merit badges, and a way to document written requirements. They don’t substitute for a conversation or discussion with the counselor, of course.

  8. agree with jross233

  9. I believe that this merit badge will give scouts a look into the world of STEM. ScienceTechnologyEngineeringMathmatics is taking over. If one person learns one little code, it may give the understanding of a new language and era.

  10. PatrioticBoy // October 22, 2015 at 1:41 pm // Reply

    Awesome!

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