Look, when I first heard about the Citizenship in Society merit badge, I'll admit I rolled my eyes a little. Another citizenship badge? But after working through it with my own troop, I realized this one’s different. It’s not about memorizing facts or passing a test. It’s messy. It’s real. And honestly? It might be one of the most important badges Scouts can earn today. Let’s cut through the confusion and talk about what this badge actually requires and why it matters.
What This Badge Is (And What It’s Not)
Unlike the citizenship badges focused on government or community, this Eagle-required badge dives into diversity, equity, inclusion, and ethical leadership. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) rolled it out in 2021, and it’s sparked more questions than any badge I’ve seen in 15 years as a Scoutmaster.
Here’s the core: It’s about learning to lead with integrity in situations where people are treated unfairly.
Why BSA Created This Monster
Simple. The world’s complicated. Scouts needed something forcing them to wrestle with real-world issues like discrimination, privilege, and standing up for others. I’ve seen kids freeze when they witness bullying or racist jokes. This badge gives them tools to act.
My Troop’s Wake-Up Call: Last year, a quiet scout confessed he felt excluded during campouts because of his learning disability. None of the adults noticed. Earning this badge made our entire troop confront unconscious biases we didn’t know we had.
The Meat and Potatoes: Citizenship in Society Requirements Broken Down
Tackling the Citizenship in Society merit badge requirements isn’t about checking boxes. Each requirement pushes you to think, discuss, and reflect. Here’s a no-fluff breakdown:
| Requirement # | What You Gotta Do | Real Talk: Why It's Tough |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Investigate your country's diversity and how different groups contribute | Scouts often realize they've never seriously considered systemic inequalities |
| 2 | Define discrimination, identity, bias, and more | Terms like "systemic discrimination" spark heated debates |
| 3 | Share a personal experience where you were treated unfairly OR witnessed unfair treatment | Requires brutal honesty – many Scouts clam up initially |
| 4 | Research someone who stood up against injustice | Easy research, hard part is connecting it to modern Scouting |
| 5 | Document examples of ethical leadership (or lack thereof) | Spotting unethical leadership in daily life is eye-opening |
| 6 | Brainstorm actions to create welcoming spaces in Scouting | Ideas are easy – implementing them requires courage |
| 7 | Have two deep conversations about diversity with someone different from you | Fear of saying the wrong thing paralyzes many Scouts |
| 8 | Document how you've defended others' beliefs respectfully | Forces Scouts to admit past failures to act |
| 9 | Discuss inclusive leadership with your merit badge counselor | The counselor's attitude makes or breaks this requirement |
The Requirement Scouts Struggle With Most (#3)
Requirement 3 asks Scouts to recount personal experiences with unfair treatment. In my troop, we spent 3 meetings on this alone. One scout finally shared how a teacher assumed he cheated because English wasn’t his first language. Another admitted staying silent when his friends mocked LGBTQ+ Scouts.
Hard truth: If your counselor rushes through this, find another one. This is the heart of the citizenship in society merit badge.
Navigating the Citizenship in Society Merit Badge Workbook
The official BSA workbook is... okay. It’s necessary for documentation but feels sterile. Combine it with these raw resources:
- News Digests: Sites like NPR’s Code Switch or SPLC’s Teaching Tolerance (now Learning for Justice) provide real-world discussion starters.
- Local Community Leaders: Invite activists, immigrant advocates, or disability rights organizers to troop meetings. Their stories hit harder than textbooks.
- The "Ugly Journal" Method: Have Scouts keep brutally honest private journals. Not for sharing – just to process uncomfortable thoughts before discussions.
Pro Tip: Skip generic historical figures for Requirement 4. Research local heroes. Did someone in your town fight redlining? Challenge school segregation? It makes injustice tangible.
Counselor Red Flags: Choose Wisely
A bad counselor can ruin this experience. Avoid anyone who:
- Says "Just write something down" for Requirement 3
- Rushes through discussions ("We've only got 30 minutes!")
- Dismisses modern examples of discrimination
- Won’t share their own struggles with bias
Good counselors? They’ll share cringe-worthy stories about times they failed to speak up. They create psychological safety. Our troop’s best counselor cried talking about his gay brother’s experience in Scouts pre-inclusion policies.
Why Some Scoutmasters Hate This Badge (And Why They’re Wrong)
Yeah, I said it. I’ve heard the grumbles: "Too political." "Too touchy-feely." "Not real Scouting." That’s lazy thinking. Scouting prepares leaders. Ignoring society’s toughest conflicts doesn’t make them disappear. I watched a 14-year-old Eagle candidate facilitate a discussion on racial profiling better than most adults. That’s the power of this badge.
If your troop avoids this badge, demand better.
Beyond the Blue Card: Life Skills You’ll Actually Keep
Forget knot-tying for a sec. Here’s what surviving the Citizenship in Society merit badge teaches you:
| Skill | How It Translates Off-Trail |
|---|---|
| Calling Out vs. Calling In | Learning to correct bias without humiliating others (vital for workplaces) |
| Active Allyship | Moving beyond "I’m not racist" to "Here’s how I’ll disrupt racism" |
| Ethical Courage | Speaking up when it’s easier to stay quiet (college group projects, anyone?) |
| Inclusive Facilitation | Making sure everyone’s heard (game-changer for future leaders) |
Your Citizenship in Society FAQ Dump
Can I fail the Citizenship in Society merit badge?
Technically no, since there’s no test. But counselors won’t sign if you blow off requirements. I rejected a scout who refused to discuss LGBTQ+ inclusion ("My church says it’s wrong"). He came back 6 months later after talking to a gay uncle.
How long does it take to earn?
Minimum 4-6 weeks if you meet weekly. Rushing defeats the purpose. Our troop spans it over 3 months with "reflection weeks" between heavy discussions.
Are there pre-approved events for requirements?
Nope. That’s the point. You must find relevant experiences locally. Attending a Black History Month event? Interviewing a disabled veteran? Document how it connects to the badge.
My troop is all white guys. How do I do Requirement 7 ("diverse conversations")?
Get creative. Volunteer at a refugee center. Interview elderly Asian community members about pandemic discrimination. Join an online Scout forum with international members. Excuses don’t fly.
Can parents sit in on discussions?
Only if the scout requests it AND the counselor agrees. Usually a bad idea. Scouts self-censor with parents watching. I make parents wait outside.
Documentation: Don’t Screw This Part Up
BSA audits these blue cards more than others. Your proof must be solid but not intrusive:
- Requirement 3/8: Written reflections (1-2 pages) work best. Don’t record conversations without consent.
- Requirement 4: Include research sources and a short analysis connecting it to Scouting values.
- Requirement 7: Notes summarizing conversations (who, when, key insights). No personal details about interviewees!
Requirement 7 Failed Example: "Talked to Maria about diversity."
Winning Example: "Conversation with Maria (immigrant from Mexico, 52) on 4/15. Discussed her experience with language discrimination at work → how this relates to Scouts excluding scouts with accents. She suggested creating a 'no mocking' rule during campouts."
Final Thoughts from the Trenches
This badge forced me to confront my own blind spots. I once interrupted a Latina scout explaining microaggressions because "we needed to stay on schedule." Hypocritical much? Owning that with my troop was humbling but necessary.
Is the Citizenship in Society merit badge perfect? Nope. Some requirements feel clunky. But it’s pushing Scouting where it needs to go. Scouts who earn it don’t just get a patch – they walk away less afraid of tough conversations. That’s leadership.
Got horror stories or triumphs with this badge? Share ’em. We’re all figuring it out together.
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