Merit Badge University @ WVU
15th Annual
Merit Badge University
at West Virginia University
Merit Badge University is an opportunity for Scouts BSA members to work on an array of merit badges taught by professors and professionals of West Virginia's flagship institution. Classes are taught throughout the day, and if prerequisites are met, Scouts typically can complete an entire merit badge (or two) in one day while being taught by experts in the field!
WHEN: Saturday, February 28, 2026
WHERE: Classes will be held on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown. This year's check-in and check-out location for all badges is the WVU Mountainlair, located on the downtown campus. A pin of the location can be found here. Parking is available for FREE in the WVU Mountainlair parking garage, attached to the venue.
SCHEDULE:
8:15 - 9:00AM Check-in on 2nd floor of WVU Mountainlair, Mountainlair Ballrooms. All Scouts must be physically signed in by an adult responsible for them.
9:00AM Opening Ceremony
12:30 PM Check-out on 2nd floor of WVU Mountainlair, Mountainlair Ballrooms for any Scout taking ONLY a morning class.
12:30 - 1:00 PM Check-in on 2nd floor of WVU Mountainlair, Mountainlair Ballrooms for any Scout taking a ONLY an afternoon class.
4:30 PM Closing Ceremony
4:30 - 5:00PM Check-out on 2nd floor of WVU Mountainlair, Mountainlair Ballrooms. All Scouts must be physically signed out by an adult responsible for them.
NOTE: Check-in will NOT be available prior to 8:15AM. Please remain with your Scout until check-in is completed by the MBU staff.
NOTE: All Scouts will be led to and from their classroom locations. Some classrooms are located inside the Mountainlair. Some classrooms are located on the downtown campus, while some are located on the Evansdale or Health Sciences campus (across town). Scouts may need to travel via WVU's above-ground Personal Rapid Transit system or via WVU-owned and employee-driven vans. Scouts will always be supervised while in the classrooms, and during transit. Scouts taking a morning class and a separate afternoon class will be led to and from their classrooms.
OPTIONAL OFFERINGS FOR ADULTS: these classes will be held in the ballrooms on the 2nd floor of the Mountainlair.
- 9:30 - 3:00 Computers will be available for any adult needing to take Hazardous Weather training (please bring My.Scouting login information)
- 9:30 - 10:30 Internet Advancement / Scoutbook+ (Suggested to bring your own laptop. Registration is required)
- 11:00 - 12:00 What is the Order of the Arrow? (Registration is required)
REGISTRATION: will open TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026 at 9:00AM. Registration closes on Friday, February 20, 2026 at 6:00PM. Note: the registration open and close times are such that if you have an issue with your registration, a member of the Mountaineer Area Council staff will be available to assit you prompty.
Note: A Scouting America-registered adult Scouter will be needed in each of the classrooms to help manage logistics, as well as to help with check-in and check-out. Please register as "adult staff." Amy Garbrick will follow-up with all "adult staff". Note: do not register as adult staff if you are helping with the merit badge instruction. This adult staff registration is only for the one Scouting America-registered adult that will be assigned to each classroom to help with logistics. If you are a WVU merit badge counselor and need help with registering, please email mbuatwvu@mail.wvu.edu. All "adult staff" will be coordinated by Amy Garbrick and will need to arrive to the WVU Mountainlair by 7:30AM. Additional information to follow via email.
COST: $25 per Scout; includes all program materials and event patch. Registrations are non-transferable.
MERIT BADGE | DURATION | PRE-REQS | |
| Artifical Intelligence (new in 2026!) | full day | None. Registration available for Scouts ages 13 and up. | |
| Astronomy (new in 2026!) | full day | None. | |
| Aviation | full day | None | |
| Chemistry | full day | Perform a browning (or Maillard) reaction at home. This can involve toasting bread or browning onions, pancakes, or French toast. They should watch the following video prior to completing their Maillard reaction at home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lKzZc_OO7U | |
Citizenship in the Nation SOLD OUT | full day | pending | |
| Citizenship in Society | full day | IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the subject matter of this merit badge, and at the request of West Virginia University merit badge counselors, only Scouts ages 14 and older will be permitted to register for this badge.
| |
Citizenship in the World SOLD OUT | full day | Scouts must be First Class rank or higher. | |
Composite Materials | full day | Complete 4B; Read pamphlet. | |
| Crime Prevention | morning or afternoon | 2, 4a, 4b, 5 | |
| Cybersecurity (new in 2026!) | full day | pending | |
| Dentistry | full day | Read the Dentistry Merit Badge Requirements; Do requirement 6 - Do 2 from a, b, c, d, e. | |
| Disabilities Awareness | full day | None. | |
| Engineering | full day | Requirement #2 and #5 | |
| Fingerprinting | morning only | None. | |
| First Aid | full day | 2 (1) Assemble a personal first-aid kit for hiking and backpacking. Demonstrate the proper use of each item in your first-aid kit to your counselor. BRING THIS WITH YOU TO MBU. Resource: Personal, Family, and Troop First Aid Kit Checklist (PDF) | |
Healthcare Professions | full day | Pre-requisites and information for service project can be found here. | |
| Journalism | morning only | 4a: Bring the two stories you wrote, one chronological, one inverted-pyramid, covering the same event (about 200 words each) | |
Law | afternoon only | None. | |
Mining in Society SOLD OUT | full day | Will be going off campus in a van to a mine site; watch three videos below prior to class: NOTE: The mine requires everyone to wear BOOTS. Tennis shoes are not permitted. Please dress for the weather. | |
| Nuclear Science | full day | None. | |
Public Speaking (back in 2026!) | morning only | Prepare a 3-5 minute introduction speech; prepare a 3-5 minute speech on a topic of your choice. Registration available for Scouts ages 14 and up. | |
| Robotics | full day | Read pamphlet; the class will use a software called "Lego Mindstorms EV3." The instructor will bring a few laptops with the software pre-loaded. If any Scout wishes to bring a laptop with this free program already downloaded, the link is: https://education.lego.com/en-us/downloads/mindstorms-ev3/software#downloads. It is not required to bring a laptop. | |
| Space Exploration (back in 2026!) | full day | #2 - Design a collector’s card, with a picture on the front and information on the back, about your favorite space pioneer. Size may vary from a 3x5 postcard to a 8.5x11 sheet of paper #5b - Using magazine photographs, news clippings, and electronic articles (such as from the internet), make a scrapbook about a current planetary mission. Scrapbook should be 2-3 pages of 8.5x11 paper to 12x12 paper. We plan to cover the remaining material during WVU MBU. Students are invited to bring their own Estes (model) rocket to fly on maximum of C motor. (not required, but invited) Students are invited to bring their own motors, no larger than C motor. (not required, but invited) If any additional Badge Task Requirements have been completed before Feb. 25, students need to bring documentation and/or video of launches of completed tasks. Students are encouraged to bring their own model rocket payload for launch. Payload can be no larger than a standard chicken egg. | |
Sustainability SOLD OUT | full day | Come prepared to spend 2 hours outside in the weather forecasted for Morgantown, WV on the date of MBU@WVU. | |
| Welding | full day | pending. Registration available for Scouts ages 14 and up. |
OPTIONAL: For an additional $6 per person, all Scouts participating in MBU (as well as Scout families) will have the option to utilize the WVU Student Rec Center from 5:00 - 9:00PM on the date of MBU@WVU. Participants will have access to:
- Climbing wall, basketball courts, badminton courts, ping pong, racquetball and squash. Note: does not include use of the pool.
- Scouts wishing to use the WVU Rec Center after MBU may pay the $6 at the Rec Center. Reservation is not needed.
- Click here for directions to the WVU Student Rec Center.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
Prior to completing this registration, Scouts should meet with their unit leaders.
UNIFORM: All participants should wear a full Scouting America field uniform ("Class A") or its equivalent for their unit.
TO BRING:
- Pen and notebook/paper to take notes during merit badge classes and activities
- Documentation of any prerequisite completion and a copy of the merit badge pamphlet
- All Scouts must bring a lunch. Do not bring money to purchase a lunch as there are not restaurants available/open in all merit badge locations. You must bring a physical lunch.
PRIOR TO MBU: Complete prerequisite requirements (listed above) and bring proof of completion to MBU. Obtain and read a copy of the merit badge pamphlet for your assigned merit badge(s).
BLUE CARDS / ADVANCEMENT RECORDS: Physical blue cards or "blue sheets" will NOT be used. One week following Merit Badge University, Scout advancement records will be available electronically using the registration confirmation email. DO NOT DELETE YOUR REGISTRATION EMAIL. YOU WILL NEED IT TO ACCESS YOUR ADVANCEMENT RECORD.
EVENT SPONSORSHIP: Merit Badge University is conducted in partnership with West Virginia University and Mountaineer Area Council.
CANCELLATION / REFUND POLICY:
- In the event a merit badge session is canceled, a full refund will be issued to those registered.
- In the event that the Scout is no longer able to attend:
- a partial refund of $20 will be issued if a cancellation email is sent to info@mountaineerscouting.org by Monday, February 16 and if the spot can be filled by another Scout
- no refunds will be issued for cancellations after Monday, February 16
Map of Event
