Map & Compass
A First Class Scout must orient a map without a compass. These are prominent natural features or methods they use to align their map with the real world terrain.
First Class Requirement 5a
What are landmarks (like a specific mountain peak, road, or river bend) visible on both the map and the physical surroundings?
To earn the Citizenship in the Community merit badge, a Scout must attend a meeting of their local city, town, or county government. This is the title of the person who runs that type of local government meeting.
Citizenship in the Community MB Requirements
Who is the Mayor (or City Council President, County Executive, etc., depending on the local structure)?
A Second Class Scout must identify five different wild animals, birds, or fish found in their local area. When you find the tracks of a canine, This is how you usually tell a wild fox or coyote track from a domestic dog track.
Second Class Requirement 7a; Nature ID Skills
Wild canine tracks usually have a tighter, more oval shape, and you can often draw an "X" through the center pads, which is harder to do with messy dog tracks?
To earn the Personal Fitness merit badge, a Scout must first perform a standardized physical fitness test. The push-up test measures the muscular strength and endurance of this body part.
Personal Fitness MB Requirements
What is The upper body/chest/arms (pectoral muscles, triceps, deltoids)?
Before a Scout can carry or use a pocketknife, axe, or saw on a camping trip, they must earn this certification card, often taught at the Tenderfoot level.
Totin' Chip Program; Rank Discussions
What is The Totin' Chip?
On a topographic map, different colors represent different types of land features. This specific color is universally used to represent artificial structures made by humans, such as buildings, roads, and boundaries.
Map Reading Skills; Orienteering MB
What is Black?
The U.S. Constitution outlines three main branches of the federal government. This branch includes the President, Vice President.
Citizenship in the Nation MB
What is the Executive Branch?
Part of the Environmental Science merit badge involves understanding food chains. In a forest ecosystem, this general term describes an organism that produces its own food, typically through photosynthesis.
Environmental Science MB
What is A Producer (e.g., plants, trees, grass)?
The BSA's standard fitness test includes a long run event. This is the specific distance a Scout must run or walk as fast as possible to test their cardiovascular endurance.
Personal Fitness MB Requirements
What is One mile (or a 1-mile run/walk)?
The first safety rule for using a knife, axe, or saw is to ensure a safe distance around you while working. This is the term used to measure the distance or area of safe operation.
Totin' Chip Rules
What is the Safety Circle (or Blood Circle)?
Before beginning any hike with a map and compass, a Scout should check the local magnetic variation, often called "declination." The difference between true North and magnetic North is called this.
First Class Requirement 5a discussion; Orienteering MB
What is Declination (Magnetic Declination)?
Scouts are expected to show respect for the U.S. flag. When the flag is raised in a ceremony, This is how a Scout in uniform renders a salute, and this is where a non-uniformed Scout or civilian places their hand.
Flag Etiquette; Tenderfoot Rank Requirement 5
What is a Scout in uniform salutes with their right hand to their brow; a civilian places their right hand over their heart?
The Leave No Trace principle "Respect Wildlife" teaches Scouts to observe animals from a distance. When encountering a large animal like a deer or a bear while hiking, This is something you should never do.
LNT Principles; Rank Safety Discussion
What is Never attempt to feed them, touch them, or approach them closely. Make noise and give them space?
Second Class Scouts must participate in approved physical fitness activities. Besides exercise, this is one of the two other essential factors in maintaining good physical health that the Scout Handbook emphasizes.
Second Class Requirement 8a; Health/Fitness Discussion
What is Proper nutrition/diet and adequate sleep/rest?
A Scout must properly care for their tools. After using an axe or saw, this is the best way to protect the metal blade from rust.
Tool Maintenance; Camping/Pioneering MBs
What is clean the blade and apply a light coat of oil or a protective lubricant?
When reading a map scale of 1:24,000, this ratio indicates the relationship between a distance measured on the map and the actual distance on the ground.
Map Reading; Surveying MB
What is one unit of measure (e.g., one inch or one centimeter) on the map equals 24,000 of those same units on the ground?
To fulfill requirements for Citizenship in the World, a Scout must research a global issue. Name the international organization founded in 1945 that aims to maintain international peace and security and facilitate cooperation.
Citizenship in the World MB
What is The United Nations (UN)?
To earn the Nature merit badge, a Scout learns about invasive species. This is the definition of an invasive species.
Nature MB
An organism (plant or animal) that is non-native to a specific area and causes harm to the local environment or economy?
A Scout working on the Personal Fitness merit badge must keep a daily log of their activities for a specific duration. This is the number of continuous weeks they must track their physical activity, diet, and health habits?
Personal Fitness MB Requirements
What is 12 weeks (approximately three months)?
When handling an axe or hatchet, the user should always check the handle for cracks and the head for looseness. When passing a sharp axe to another Scout, what this is the safest procedure.
Totin' Chip Rules
What is Hold the axe near the head, blade facing away, and pass the handle first to the other person?
A Scout learns how to use a compass to follow a specific bearing or azimuth. If you were following a bearing of due East, This is the specific degree measurement would you be using.
First Class Requirement 5a; Orienteering MB
What is 90 degrees (Due North is 0/360, South is 180, West is 270)?
Citizenship in the Nation requires a Scout to identify their elected representatives. This is the term limit for a U.S. Senator, who represents their entire state in the national legislature.
Citizenship in the Nation MB; US Government facts
What is a six-year term (Representatives serve two years; the President serves four years)?
First Class Scouts learn about different types of trees. This classification of trees found in most North American forests keeps its leaves year-round and typically has needles and cones.
First Class Requirement 7a discussion; Botany ID
What is a Conifer (or evergreen trees)?
For their fitness goal plan in the merit badge, a Scout must aim to improve their performance in one of the fitness test areas. The term "aerobic capacity" primarily measures this during sustained exercise.
Personal Fitness MB; Health Glossary
The maximum amount of oxygen the body can use during intense or sustained exercise?
When a Scout earns their "Firem'n Rights" (fire safety card), one key rule involves keeping the fire contained. Fires must always be built in a designated fire ring or pit, and never exceed this specific size.
Firem'n Rights Program; Tenderfoot Req 3c discussion
What is No larger than the fire circle, and typically arm's length/reach or 3 feet by 3 feet?