This is a list of merit badges formerly offered by the Boy Scouts of America. In some cases, the entire subject has been dropped from the merit badge roster. In others, the merit badge's name has been changed, with or without significant revision to the badge's requirements.
In 2010, in celebration of Scouting's 100th anniversary, four historical merit badges were reintroduced for one year only—Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signaling, and Tracking (formerly Stalking). Bugling merit badge was briefly discontinued in 2010 but reinstated after complaints from volunteers.
Merit badge | Created | Discontinued | Notes | Related subjects | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aerodynamics | 1942 | 1952 | Created with Aeronautics, Airplane Design, and Airplane Structure to replace Aviation; replaced, along with Aeronautics, Airplane Design, and Airplane Structure, by new Aviation | Aerodynamics | [1] |
Aeronautics | 1942 | 1952 | Created with Aerodynamics, Airplane Design, and Airplane Structure to replace Aviation; replaced, along with Aerodynamics, Airplane Design, and Airplane Structure, by new Aviation | Aeronautics | [1] |
Agribusiness | 1987 | 1995 | Replaced Farm and Ranch Management | Agribusiness | [1] |
Agriculture | 1911 | 1975 | Agriculture | [1] | |
Airplane Design | 1942 | 1952 | Created with Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Airplane Structure to replace Aviation; replaced, along with Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Airplane Structure, by new Aviation | Fixed-wing aircraft | [1] |
Airplane Structure | 1942 | 1952 | Created with Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Airplane Design to replace Aviation; replaced, along with Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Airplane Design, by new Aviation | Fixed-wing aircraft | [1] |
Ambulance | 1910 | 1911 | Replaced by First Aid | First aid | [1] |
Angling | 1911 | 1951 | Replaced by Fishing | Angling, Fishing | [1] |
Animal Industry | 1928 | 1975 | Replaced by Animal Science | Animal science | [1] |
Atomic Energy | 1963 | 2004 | Replaced by Nuclear Science | Nuclear energy | [1] |
Auto Mechanics | 1992 | 2008 | Replaced by Automotive Maintenance | Auto mechanic | [1] |
Automobiling | 1911 | 1963 | Automobile safety | [1] | |
Automotive Safety | 1962 | 1974 | Replaced by Traffic Safety | Automobile safety | [1] |
Aviation | 1911 | 1942 | Replaced by Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, Airplane Design, and Airplane Structure | Transportation | [1] |
Bee Keeping | 1915 | 1955 | Replaced Beefarming; replaced by Beekeeping | Beekeeping | [1] |
Beef Production | 1928 | 1975 | Beef cattle | [1] | |
Beefarming | 1911 | 1914 | Replaced by Bee Keeping | Beekeeping | [1] |
Beekeeping | 1956 | 1995 | Replaced Bee Keeping | Beekeeping | [1] |
Blacksmithing | 1911 | 1952 | Blacksmith, Forging | [1] | |
Bookbinding | 1927 | 1987 | Created with Basketry, Cement Work, Leathercraft, Metalwork, Pottery, Wood Carving, and Woodwork to replace Craftsmanship; replaced, along with Printing/Communications, by Graphic Arts | Bookbinding | [1] |
Botany | 1921 | 1995 | Botany | [1] | |
Business | 1911 | 1966 | Replaced Clerk; replaced by American Business | Business | [1] |
Carpentry | 1911 | 1952 | Reintroduced for 2010 only | Carpentry | [1] |
Cement Work | 1927 | 1952 | Created with Basketry, Bookbinding, Leathercraft, Metalwork, Pottery, Wood Carving, and Woodwork to replace Craftsmanship | Cement | [1] |
Cinematography | 1990 | 2013 | Replaced by Moviemaking | Cinematography | [1] |
Citizenship | 1947 | 1951 | Replaced Civics; replaced by Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Home, and Citizenship in the Nation | Citizenship | [1] |
Citizenship in the Home | 1952 | 1972 | Created with Citizenship in the Community and Citizenship in the Nation to replace Citizenship | Family | [1] |
Citrus Fruit Culture | 1931 | 1952 | Citrus | [1] | |
Civics | 1911 | 1946 | Replaced by Citizenship | Citizenship | [1] |
Clerk | 1910 | 1911 | Replaced by Business | Business | [1] |
Communications | 1965 | 2009 | Replaced by Communication | Communication | [1] |
Computers | 1967 | 2014 | Replaced by Digital Technology | Computer | [1] |
Conservation | 1911 | 1952 | Conservation movement, Habitat conservation | [1] | |
Conservation of Natural Resources | 1966 | 1972 | Replaced by Environmental Science | Conservation movement, Habitat conservation | [1] |
Consumer Buying | 1975 | 1995 | Consumerism | [1] | |
Corn Farming | 1928 | 1975 | Maize | [1] | |
Cotton Farming | 1931 | 1975 | Cotton | [1] | |
Craftsmanship | 1911 | 1926 | Replaced by Basketry, Bookbinding, Cement Work, Leathercraft, Metalwork, Pottery, Wood Carving, and Woodwork | Artisan | [1] |
Cyclist | 1910 | 1911 | Replaced by Cycling | Cycling | [1] |
Dairying | 1911 | 1975 | Dairy farming | [1] | |
Dramatics | 1932 | 1966 | Replaced by Theatre | Acting | [1] |
Electrician | 1910 | 1911 | Replaced by Electricity | Electrician | [1] |
Farm and Ranch Management | 1980 | 1987 | Replaced Farm Records; replaced by Agribusiness | Agribusiness | [1] |
Farm Arrangement | 1960 | 1973 | Replaced Farm Home and Its Planning and Farm Layout and Building Arrangements; replaced by Farm Arrangements | Agriculture, Agricultural science | [1] |
Farm Arrangements | 1974 | 1979 | Replaced Farm Arrangement | Agriculture, Agricultural science | [1] |
Farm Home and Its Planning | 1928 | 1959 | Replaced, along with Farm Layout and Building Arrangements, by Farm Arrangement | Agriculture, Agricultural science | [1][2] |
Farm Layout and Building Arrangements | 1928 | 1959 | Replaced, along with Farm Home and Its Planning, by Farm Arrangement | Agriculture, Agricultural science | [1][2] |
Farm Records | 1959 | 1980 | Replaced Farm Records and Bookkeeping; replaced by Farm and Ranch Management | Agriculture, Agricultural science | [1] |
Farm Records and Bookkeeping | 1928 | 1958 | Replaced by Farm Records | Agriculture, Agricultural science | [1] |
Firemanship | 1911 | 1995 | Replaced by Fire Safety | Firefighter, Fire safety | [1] |
First Aid to Animals | 1911 | 1972 | Replaced by Veterinary Science | Veterinary medicine | [1] |
Food Systems | 1978 | 1987 | Food systems, Botany | [1] | |
Forage Crops | 1959 | 1975 | Replaced Grasses, Legumes, and Forage Crops | Forage | [1] |
Foundry Practice | 1923 | 1952 | Foundry | [1] | |
Fruit and Nut Growing | 1953 | 1975 | Fruit, Nut | [1] | |
Fruit Culture | 1928 | 1954 | Fruit | [1] | |
Gardener | 1910 | 1911 | Replaced by Gardening | Gardening | [1] |
General Science | 1972 | 1995 | Science | [1] | |
Grasses, Legumes, and Forage Crops | 1938 | 1958 | Replaced by Forage Crops | Grass, Legume, Forage | [1] |
Handicap Awareness | 1985 | 1993 | Replaced Handicapped Awareness; replaced by Disabilities Awareness | Disability, Disability studies | [1] |
Handicapped Awareness | 1980 | 1985 | Replaced by Handicap Awareness | Disability, Disability studies | [1] |
Handicraft | 1911 | 1942 | Replaced by Home Repairs | Home repair | [1] |
Hog and Pork Production | 1928 | 1958 | Replaced by Hog Production | Pork | [1] |
Hog Production | 1959 | 1975 | Replaced Hog and Pork Production | Pork | [1] |
Horseman | 1910 | 1911 | Replaced by Horsemanship | Equestrianism | [1] |
Insect Life | 1923 | 1987 | Replaced by Insect Study | Entomology | [1] |
Interpreting | 1911 | 1952 | Interpreting | [1] | |
Invention | 1911 | 1917 | Earned by only 10 Scouts, one known surviving specimen earned by Stephen Porter.[3] | Invention | [1] |
Landscape Gardening | 1930 | 1958 | Replaced by Landscaping | Landscaping | [1] |
Landscaping | 1959 | 1966 | Replaced Landscape Gardening; replaced by Landscape Architecture | Landscaping | [1] |
Leather Work | 1928 | 1951 | Replaced by Leatherwork | Leather crafting | [1] |
Leathercraft | 1927 | 1952 | Replaced Leatherworking, and created with Basketry, Bookbinding, Cement Work, Metalwork, Pottery, Wood Carving, and Woodwork to replace Craftsmanship | Leather crafting | [1] |
Leatherworking | 1911 | 1927 | Replaced by Leathercraft | Leather crafting | [1] |
Life Saving | 1911 | 1959 | Replaced by Lifesaving | Lifesaving | [1] |
Machinery | 1911 | 1995 | Machine | [1] | |
Mammals | 1972 | 1987 | Replaced by Mammal Study | Mammal | [1] |
Marksman | 1910 | 1911 | Replaced by Marksmanship | Shooting | [1] |
Marksmanship | 1911 | 1966 | Replaced Marksman; replaced by Rifle and Shotgun Shooting | Shooting | [1] |
Masonry | 1911 | 1995 | Masonry | [1] | |
Master-At-Arms | 1910 | 1911 | Martial arts | [1] | |
Mechanical Drawing | 1933 | 1964 | Replaced by Drafting | Technical drawing | [1] |
Medicine | 1991 | 2011 | Replaced by Healthcare Professions | Medicine | [4] |
Metallurgy | 1965 | 1971 | Replaced by Metals Engineering | Metallurgy | [1] |
Metals Engineering | 1972 | 1995 | Replaced Metallurgy | Metallurgy | [1] |
Mining | 1911 | 1937 | Replaced by Rocks and Minerals | Mining | [1] |
Musician | 1910 | 1911 | Replaced by Music | Music | [1] |
Nut Culture | 1928 | 1954 | Nut | [1] | |
Ornithology | 1911 | 1913 | Replaced by Bird Study | Ornithology | [1] |
Pathfinding | 1911 | 1952 | Reintroduced for 2010 only | Blazing, Orienteering | [1] |
Personal Finances | 1962 | 1971 | Replaced by Personal Management | Personal finance | [1] |
Personal Health | 1911 | 1952 | Replaced, along with Physical Development, by Personal Fitness | Physical fitness | [1] |
Physical Development | 1914 | 1952 | Replaced, along with Personal Health, by Personal Fitness | Physical fitness | [1] |
Pigeon Raising | 1933 | 1980 | Pigeon keeping | [1] | |
Pioneer | 1910 | 1911 | Replaced by Pioneering | Pioneering | [1] |
Poultry Farming | 1911 | 1913 | Replaced by Poultry Keeping | Poultry | [1] |
Poultry Keeping | 1914 | 1974 | Replaced Poultry Farming | Poultry | [1] |
Printing | 1911 | 1981 | Replaced by Printing/Communications | Printing | [1] |
Printing/Communications | 1982 | 1987 | Replaced Printing; replaced, along with Bookbinding, by Graphic Arts | Printing | [1] |
Rabbit Raising | 1943 | 1993 | Rabbit | [1] | |
Reptile Study | 1927 | 1993 | Replaced Reptiles; replaced by Reptile and Amphibian Study | Herpetology | [1] |
Reptiles | 1926 | 1926 | Replaced by Reptile Study | Herpetology | [1] |
Rifle and Shotgun Shooting | 1967 | 1987 | Replaced Marksmanship; replaced by Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting | Shooting | [1] |
Rocks and Minerals | 1937 | 1953 | Replaced Mining; replaced by Geology | Geology | [1] |
Safety First | 1916 | 1926 | Replaced by Safety | Safety | [1] |
Seaman | 1910 | 1911 | Replaced by Seamanship | Seamanship | [1] |
Seamanship | 1911 | 1964 | Replaced Seaman; replaced by Small-Boat Sailing | Seamanship | [1] |
Sheep Farming | 1928 | 1975 | Domestic sheep | [1] | |
Signaling | 1911 | 1991 | Replaced Signaller; reintroduced for 2010 only | Flag semaphore, Morse code | [1] |
Signaller | 1910 | 1911 | Replaced by Signaling | Flag semaphore | [1] |
Skiing | 1938 | 1999 | Replaced by Snow Sports | Skiing | [1] |
Small Grains | 1959 | 1975 | Replaced Small Grains and Cereal Foods | Cereal | [1] |
Small Grains and Cereal Foods | 1943 | 1958 | Replaced by Small Grains | Cereal | [1] |
Soil Management | 1928 | 1952 | Replaced by Soil and Water Conservation | Erosion, Soil science | [1] |
Stalker | 1910 | 1911 | Replaced by Stalking | Tracking | [1] |
Stalking | 1911 | 1952 | Replaced Stalker; reintroduced as Tracking for 2010 only | Tracking | [1] |
Taxidermy | 1911 | 1952 | Taxidermy | [1] | |
Textiles | 1927 | 1972 | Replaced by Textile | Textile | [1] |
Veterinary Science | 1973 | 1995 | Replaced First Aid to Animals; replaced by Veterinary Medicine | Veterinary Medicine | [1] |
Waterskiing | 1969 | 2007 | Replaced by Water Sports | Waterskiing | [1] |
Wildlife Management | 1952 | 1972 | Replaced by Fish and Wildlife Management | Wildlife management | [1] |
Wireless | 1919 | 1923 | Replaced by Radio | Radio | [1] |
Wood Turning | 1930 | 1952 | Woodturning | [1] | |
World Brotherhood | 1952 | 1972 | Replaced by Citizenship in the World; original badge design was a globe, then in 1968 it was changed to be the Scout sign on a blue background.[5] | Citizenship | [1] |
Zoology | 1930 | 1972 | Zoology | [1] |