Merit Badge Madness 2027

Location: SUNY Oneonta, Oneonta, NY

Open to all Scouts BSA (Scout Rank and higher, including Eagle Scouts earning palms)

Important Note: All Scouts attending must have current, paid active registration in Scouting America as of Jan 1, 2027 (There is no charter lapse period from now on). Those who are not active will not be able to participate and refunds will not be given. 

Date & Time: Saturday, January 2, 2027

8-8:45 am: Registration / Check-In

8:45 am: Opening Ceremony

9:00 – 12:00: Morning Session

12-12:45 pm Lunch ( Bring Your Own; no food on Campus)

1-4:00: Afternoon Session

4:00 pm Departure – No Closing Ceremony

Fees: The cost for this event is $25 per Scout. Payments will not be accepted on the day of the event.

Registration: Please register online at leatherstockingcouncil.org before December 28, 2026. No walk-ins.  Scouts BSA ID number is required.

Lunch: Lunch WILL NOT be served this year. All Scouts should bring their own lunch and drink.

Uniform: All Scouts attending should be in Class A Uniform

Merit Badge Completion: Upon completion of all requirements for the assigned merit badge, your counselor will sign off in Scoutbook.  Scouts must have their Scout ID # available. Member IDs must be entered and/or verified on Scoutbook during event registration.  Some classes have pre- and/or post-requisites. 

PLEASE NOTE: Participation in the event DOES NOT guarantee completion or earning of a merit badge. SCOUTS MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT ALL REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE MERIT BADGE COUNSELOR.

BSA Test Lab - Sewing & Military Service & Veterans

The Scouts BSA Test Lab is an exciting way to help in the development of fun and interesting new topics unique to the Scouts BSA Program. The requirements for each badge have the look and feel of merit badges,

Sewing and Military Service and Veterans will be out of the test lab at the time of Merit Badge Madness. Should the badge be approved as a new merit badge in 2027, Scouts will be credited as having earned that badge and signed off in scout book

Class Size

Limited space: 1st come, 1st serve. Class sizes limited to 25 Scouts; some classes could be 15 or less

Class offerings

Morning Session:

Programming                             Health Professions

American Heritage                     1st Aid – All Day

Electricity                                  Photography

Digital Technology                    Disability Awareness

Geology                                     Cooking (Session 1)

Fingerprinting                            Camping

Communications – All Day 

Afternoon Session:

Engineering                               Citizenship in the World

Sewing (test lab)                       1st Aid (all day)

Communications – All Day        American Business

Scouting Heritage                      Cyber Security

Soil & Water Conservation        Space Exploration

Moviemaking                            Cooking (Session 2)

Artificial Intelligence                 Electricity

Military Service & Veterans (Test Lab)

Recommendations for 1st year Scouts include:

Programming                       Health Professions       American Heritage                  Photography                        Digital Technology       Disability Awareness

Fingerprinting                     Sewing                          Military Service & Veterans

Scouting Heritage               Space Exploration         Moviemaking

Prerequisites:

• 1st Aid:
  • 2(b)(1) - "Assemble a personal first aid kit for hiking and backpacking..." Scouts are to bring their kit to class
    • This is a hands-on skills class and will involve touching one another in simple ways, such as applying a bandage or splint.
• Photography:
  • Bring a device to take pictures
  • Watch the digital safety video located here: https://www.scouting.org/training/youth/scouts-bsa/
• Communications:
  • 5: Attend a public meeting and prepare an objective report that shows all viewpoints
• Digital Technology & Programming:
  • Bring a Chromebook/laptop
• Cooking:
  • 2C:  Track your daily level of activity and your daily caloric need based on your activity for five days

Please note: Some of the merit badges will only receive partial completion. It is up to the Scout to work with the counselor on completing the outstanding requirements.