BSA Merit Badge Workshop– American Heritage
Sunday, January 25, 2026 | 1-4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Sunday, March 22, 2026 | 1-4 p.m. ET | In-Person
How have the actions of the U.S. Army throughout American history helped build and strengthen the country?
To improve its effectiveness on the battlefield, the Army has frequently been a leader in recognizing and developing innovations and inventions. Many of its successes have benefited American society in the form of improved communications, medicine, aviation, and computers.
Explore this theme through aviation and fulfill the requirements for the American Heritage Merit Badge. Learn more about how the Army harnessed the new technology developed by the Wright brothers and how it impacted civilian life.
Successful completion of the program will fulfill five of six requirements of the American Heritage merit badge. The additional requirement may be completed prior to the workshop. The program will be led by a BSA-certified merit badge counselor.
Register for this IN-PERSON Merit Badge Workshop on Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. ET
Register for this IN-PERSON Merit Badge Workshop on March 22 at 1 p.m. ET
BSA Merit Badge Workshop– Citizenship in the Nation
Sunday, January 11, 2026 | 1-4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Sunday, February 8, 2026 | 1-4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Sunday, March 8, 2026 | 1-4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Sunday, April 12, 2026 | 1-4 p.m. ET | In-Person
What are the rights, duties, and obligations of United States Citizens? How are those sentiments reflected in the country’s founding documents?
Explore these themes and fulfill requirements for the Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge. Analyze primary sources including the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution to understand how the nation’s founding documents impact society today. Learn how these documents affect your family and community as well as the U.S. Army.
Successful completion of the program will fulfill six of the eight requirements of the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge. The additional two requirements may be completed prior to the workshop. The program will be led by a BSA-certified merit badge counselor.
Workshop Logistics
The workshop will take place in the Museum’s Conference Rooms from 1 – 4 p.m.
- Chaperones are required to stay onsite in the Museum during the workshop but do not have to attend the workshop.
- Museum staff leading this worked have completed BSA Youth Protection training.
- No outside food or drink is allowed in the Museum. Sealed water bottles or empty bottles are permitted. There are water bottle filling stations located in the Museum.
Workshop Requirements
- Participants must register in advance. Participants must register for themselves AND a caregiver. Caregivers are required to stay onsite in the Museum during the workshop.
- Participants must complete the pre-visit assignment prior to the workshop.
- Participants must attend the entire workshop to successfully complete the Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge requirements.
Workshop Prerequisite
Participants must complete the following pre-visit assignment.
- View the Museum’s Virtual Field Trip – The Road to Revolution: The French and Indian War. In this 30 minute video, learn how the French and Indian War informs our understanding of the Revolutionary War and the founding of the country.
- What events led to the American Revolution and what was their impact on the new nation?
- Read the Declaration of Independence. A transcript can be found on the National Archives website.
- How was the Declaration of Independence connected to the French and Indian War?
- Read the U.S. Constitution. A transcript can be found on the National Archives website.
- After reflecting on the document, what the is its purpose?
Pre-Workshop Activities
Two merit badge requirements (#5 & #8) must be completed outside of the merit badge workshop.
Requirement #5: Watch the national evening news five days in a row OR read the front page of a major daily newspaper five days in a row. Think about and be prepared to discuss the following: What is the national issue that you learned about while watching the news? How does that issue affect you and your family?
Requirement #8: Who is your representative to Congress? Name your two senators and a member of Congress from your congressional district. Select a national issue. Write a letter to your representative explaining your views on this issue.
Register for this IN-PERSON Merit Badge Workshop on Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. ET
Register for this IN-PERSON Merit Badge Workshop on Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. ET
Register for this IN-PERSON Merit Badge Workshop on March 8 at 1 p.m. ET
Register for this IN-PERSON Merit Badge Workshop on April 12 at 1 p.m. ET
BSA Merit Badge Workshop – Weather
Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 1-4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 1-4 p.m. ET | In-Person
How does the Army predict and measure weather patterns? What role has the Army played in creating weather forecasting and measuring innovations?
Explore these themes and fulfill requirements for the Weather merit badge. This merit badge prompts Scouts to learn more about meteorology and how to stay safe in various forms of weather. Scouts will study weather through the lens of Army readiness to understand the science of meteorology and weather forecasting.
Successful completion of the program will fulfill nine (9) of the eleven (11) requirements of the Weather merit badge. The additional two requirements may be completed after the workshop. The program will be led by a BSA-certified merit badge counselor.
Register for this IN-PERSON Merit Badge Workshop on Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. ET
Register for this IN-PERSON Merit Badge Workshop on Apr. 26 at 1 p.m. ET
Girls Scouts – Mechanical Engineering Badge
Saturday, January 3 , 2026 | 9–4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Sunday, January 4, 2026 | 9–4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Saturday, January 10, 2026 | 9–4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Sunday, January 11, 2026 | 9–4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Saturday, January 17, 2026 | 9–4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Sunday, January 18, 2026 | 9–4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Saturday, January 24, 2026 | 9–4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Sunday, January 25, 2026 | 9–4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Saturday, January 31, 2026 | 9–4 p.m. ET | In-Person
Calling all curious engineers! Design your own flying flyer. We’ll provide the material you need to create different designs and see how far it flies. Visitors are invited to drop-in throughout the day and participate in the test flights