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A number of reasons caused this, including old requirements that were too academic, few experienced birders at summer
camps, and the fact that summer camp isn't the best time or place for birding. Fortunately Bird Study Merit Badge has been
changed to better reflect birding today.
What you can do
A Scout can now meet the revised Bird Study Merit Badge requirements with a few hours of self-study, a three-hour class
and one or two three-hour field trips. The birding community needs to provide these opportunities.
Each birder should
make sure that a Bird Study Merit Badge event is available to Scouts in their area. The best time of year for such an event
would be spring or fall to balance bird availability, easy visibility and other Scouting activities. By making it an annual
event, local birders, Nature Centers, and Audubon Societies will expose more youth to birding and the need for habitat preservation.
And you'll find that it's easy and fun to share your knowledge of birds with Scouts!
Scouting and Birding
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