LEADERS' GUIDE Summer Camp 2026

Wente Scout Reservation Merit Badge Offerings 2026

American Heritage Hard 20 14+ Req. 3c Offered EVEN years only. Lumberjack Academy
American Labor Med. 20 14+ Offered ODD years only. Complex discussion topics. Lumberjack Academy
Animal Science Med. 15 2-hr session. Corral
Archery Hard 24 Firearms Use Permission Slip. MUST be able to pull a 25 lb. bow. (Sunday) 2-hr session. Bow pull required on Sunday! May require extensive practice outside session. Older Scout priority. Target & Range Sports
Architecture Med. 25 Handicraft
Art Easy 20 May require work outside session. Handicraft
Astronomy Hard 25 Requires observation time outside session. Nature
Backpacking Med. 30 Req. 6b, 8c, 9d, 10 & 11a-c Offered combined with Camping EVEN years only. Scoutcraft
Basketry Easy 25 Requires extensive time outside session. Handicraft
Bird Study Hard 25 Requires observation time outside session. Nature
Camping* Med. 30 Req. 4b, 5e, 7b, 8d, 9a&b not covered. Offered combined with Backpacking (Even years) & Hiking (Odd years). Scoutcraft
Canoeing Med. 16 MUST Pass Swim Test before start of badge. 1-1/2hr session. MUST be able to launch, carry & store boat with partner! Waterfront
Chemistry Med. 20 Reqs. 2a & 4a Offered EVEN years only. Nature
Chess Med. 30 Requires time outside session to complete tournament. Handicraft
Citizenship in the Nation* Med. 20 14+ req. 7 Lumberjack Academy
Citizenship in the World* Hard 20 14+ Lumberjack Academy
Climbing Hard 12 14+ 2-hr session. Climbing
Communication* Hard 16 14+ Req. 5 Requires extensive time & planning outside session. Req 3 and 4 also require planning outside of class. Lumberjack Academy
Composite Materials Med. 20 Handicraft
Cooking* Hard 24 Reqs. 4 (Home Meals) & 6 (Trail Meals) 1-1/2 hr session. We can't accommodate all dietary restrictions. Scoutcraft
Cycling** Hard 18 14+ Riding requirements completed outside session/camp. Mtn Biking
Emergency Preparedness* Hard 20 14+ Reqs. 2 & 9. 1b is done outside of session. Must have First Aid merit badge to complete. Lumberjack Academy
Engineering Med. 15 Lumberjack Academy
Entrepreneurship Med. 25 Offered combined with Salesmanship. Requires time outside session. Handicraft
Environmental Science** Hard 30 Requires observation time & extensive writing outside session. Nature
Exploration Med. 15 Scoutcraft
Fingerprinting Easy 30 1-1/2 hr session Monday OR Tuesday. Handicraft
Fire Safety Hard 20 req. 5c,e & g w/ family Field Trip to local Fire Station requires drivers. Bag lunch provided. Scoutcraft
First Aid* Hard 12 req. 2b(1) bring Personal First Aid kit 1-1/2 hrs. Scouts must attend all 4 sessions throughout the week AND a 1-hr session on Friday from 11-12. Scoutcraft
Fish & Wildlife Management Med. 30 Req. 5d requires extensive design, construction & observation outside session. Nature
Fishing Med. 12 Req. 10 not covered Fishing gear is provided by camp! Requires fishing outside session. Nature
Fly Fishing Med. 12 Req. 11 not covered Fly Fishing gear is provided by camp! May require fishing outside session. Nature
Forestry Med. 12 Field trip Friday to local Lumber Mill. Bag lunch provided. Nature
Game Design Hard 16 14+ Requires technical writing & extensive work outside session. Lumberjack Academy
Gardening Med. 15 req. 2, 5 & 8 not covered at Camp. Offered combined with Plant Science. Reqs. 2, 5, & 8 are not covered at camp. Nature
Geocaching Med. 20 Req. 7 & 9. GPS provided at camp. Offered EVEN years only. Scoutcraft
Geology Med. 30 Requires collection & observation time outside session. Offered EVEN years only. Nature
Hiking** Med. 30 Req. 4 & 5 not covered Offered combined with Camping in ODD years only. Scoutcraft
Horsemanship Med. TBD 13+ 5-ft or taller, limit based on # of horses 3-hr session Monday-Thursday. Must wear long pants & closed toe shoes every day. Corral
Insect Study Med. 30 Req. 3b Offered EVEN years only. Nature
Journalism Med. 10 Req. 4 Requires extensive writing & time outside session. Field Trip Friday. Lumberjack Academy
Kayaking Med. 20 MUST pass Swim Test before start of badge. 1-1/2 session. Waterfront
Leatherwork Easy 20 Handicraft
Lifesaving** Hard 16 13+ MUST have earned Swimming Merit Badge before start of badge 1-1/2 hr session. 400 yard swim at start of class (4x length of Swim Test) Waterfront
Mammal Study Easy 30 Req. 3 & 5 may require work outside session. Nature
Mining in Society Med. 25 Offered ODD years only. Nature
Moviemaking Med. 20 MUST bring own digital video camera. May not share with others. Requires film & edit time outside session. Handicraft
Music Med. 25 Not required to bring a musical instrument. Handicraft
Nuclear Science Hard 20 14+ Recommend prior knowledge of basic Chemistry. Offered ODD years only. Nature
Oceanography Med. 30 Requires observation time outside session. Nature
Orienteering Med. 20 May require extensive time outside session. Scoutcraft
Photography Med. 20 MUST bring own digital camera for use all week. May not share with others. Handicraft
Pioneering Med. 20 1st Class Working knowledge of Scout to First Class knots & lashings recommended 2-hr session. Scoutcraft
Plant Science Med. 15 2-hr session offered combined with Gardening. Requires work outside session. Nature
Pottery Med. 12 Handicraft
Public Speaking Med. 10 Requires time outside session. Requires speech writing & delivery with audience. Lumberjack Academy
Pulp & Paper Med. 30 Requires work outside session. Nature
Reptile & Amphibian Study Med. 30 Req. 8 not covered Requires observation time outside session. Offered ODD years only. Nature
Rifle Shooting Med. 32 Firearm Use Permission Slip 2-hr session. May require practice shooting outside session. Target & Range Sports
Rowing Med. 12 Must pass Swim Test before start of badge. Waterfront
Salesmanship Med. 25 Offered combined with Entrpreneurship. Requires time outside session. Handicraft
Scouting Heritage Med. 25 Eagle Trail
Search & Rescue Med. 20 Offered EVEN years only. Scoutcraft
Shotgun Shooting Hard 6 Firearm Use Permission Slip now 1-1/2-hr session. May require practice shooting outside session. Target & Range Sports
Signs, Signals & Codes Easy 20 Offered ODD years only. Scoutcraft
Small-Boat Sailing Hard 14 14+ Must pass Swim Test before start of session Limit based on operable boats, extra spaces may be available at camp. Waterfront
Soil & Water Conservation Easy 20 Nature
Space Exploration Med. 20 Nature
Swimming** Med. 15 Must pass Swim Test before start of badge 1-1/2-hr session. Water contains fish & lake weed. Waterfront
Textile Easy 20 Offered EVEN years only. Handicraft
Weather Med. 35 Will not finish 9a unless started prior to camp Requires observation outside session. Req 11 requires planning and delivering a speech on hazardous weather, ideally at the Scout's Wednesday night campfire. Nature
Wilderness Survival Med. 25 Requires Overnight Outpost to complete, you build your shelter & spend the night in it. Scoutcraft
Woodcarving Med. 15 Totin' Chip Handicraft