MERIT BADGE CLASSES 2025
Embedded Files
Each class will have a merit badge counselor that will guide scouts through the merit badge to completion. Some classes require the Scout to follow up with the Merit Badge counselor after the class has concluded.
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Select the number of youth you are registering and then click on the green "Register" button.
Enter the PARENT information in the REGISTRATION CONTACT section, and the SCOUT'S information in the the Scouts BSA Youth section.
Select the Check Out Now tab, and complete payment for the course.
See below for details about the Exploration Merit Badge on March 28th and April 18th, 2026. This merit badge class is a trip to New York City and includes bus transportation and lunch. The April 18th meeting will be at Winnebago Scout Reservation. Registration is open!
Aviation & Weather Merit Badges
Aviation & Weather Merit Badges
Thursday, November 13, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM PPC Service Center
Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Lincoln Park Airport
Thursday, December 4, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM PPC Service Center
Cost: $40.00 per youth.
Registration is limited to 10 scouts.
Attendance at all sessions required to complete the merit badge.
Session 1 and 3 will be held at the Patriots' Path Council Service Center, 1 Saddle Road, Cedar Knolls, NJ. Session 2 will be at the Lincoln Park Airport.
Lawrence Faes will be the merit badge counselor for this program.
Third Annual Chess Tournament
Third Annual Chess Tournament
The PPC Chess Club is hosting the PPC Annual Chess Tournament. Scouts must know how to play chess to participate.
Saturday, November 22, 2025 - 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $20.00 per youth.
Lunch is included (pizza and soft drink).
Registration is limited to 32 scouts.
These are unrated chess games.
Chess notation is not required for the tournament.
Trophies will be awarded for the top three finishers.
Tom Andrea is the point of contact.
This program will be held at Winnebago Scout Reservation, 102 Timberbrook Rd, Rockaway, NJ.
Citizenship in the Community #3
Citizenship in the Community #3
Thursday, November 6, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $25.00 per youth.
Registration is limited to 10 scouts.
Attendance at both sessions required to complete the merit badge.
All sessions will be held at PPC Service Center, 1 Saddle Rd, Cedar Knolls, NJ.
The second session will be located at
Tom Andrea will be the merit badge counselor for this program.
Citizenship in the Community #4 - Union
Citizenship in the Community #4 - Union
Monday, October 20, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Monday, November 24, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $25.00 per youth.
Registration is limited to 10 scouts.
Attendance at both sessions required to complete the merit badge.
All sessions will be held at Union County Fire/EMS Training Academy, 1075 Edward Street, Linden, NJ.
Chris Stuben will be the merit badge counselor for this program.
Family Life Session #5
Family Life Session #5
Thursday, November 6, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
3rd meeting is on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM. Scouts should complete their 90 day program and be ready to meet with the counselor to complete the merit badge.
Cost: $25.00 per youth.
Registration is limited to 10 scouts.
Attendance at both sessions required to complete the merit badge.
All sessions will be held at PPC Service Center, 1 Saddle Rd, Cedar Knolls, NJ.
Jeanne Doherty will be the merit badge counselor for this program.
Electronics Merit Badge
Electronics Merit Badge
Saturday, December 13, 2025 - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
ALL DAY SINGLE SESSION
The Electronics Merit Badge is a fun, STEM-based merit badge that will inspire Scouts to pursue a possible career in Electronics. Scouts will learn about capacitors, transistors, and resistors while grasping the basic principals of digital techniques and demonstrating how to build a control device circuit.
Scouts will receive a kit and build a working circuit board as a part of this program.
Cost: $40.00 per youth.
Registration is limited to 10 Scouts.
The program will be held at Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation, 750 Waterloo Rd, Stanhope NJ.
Jeff Winkler will be the counselor.
Exploration Merit Badge
Exploration Merit Badge
March 28 & April 18, 2026
Explorer's Club Manhatttan 2026
Saturday March 28, 2026
Departure from Patiot's Path Council at 7:00 AM. Return approximately 5:00 PM. Bus transportation included.
Program at the Explorers Club from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. Lunch included.
This all-day session at the Explorers Club in Manhattan will provide a unique opportunity for Scouts to interact with world-class explorers and learn about their incredible adventures around the world.
$50 per youth. Registration is limited to 100 youth.
Full Class A Scout Uniform Required
Explorers Club
46 East 70th Street
New York, NY
Have you ever wondered about your surroundings and wanted to learn more about them? Have you thought about the natural world and its interactions? Have you wanted to know why a machine works or how an insect flies, or what triggers some animals to hibernate? Maybe you are intrigued by the invisible world around us: bacteria, viruses, molecules, wind currents, tides, X-rays. Perhaps you have taken a walk in the woods just to see what is over the next ridge? If so, then you are interested in exploration. Exploration is what you do when you want to discover what is out there in and beyond the world.
Topics range from Antarctica , underwater explorers, global trekking, wildlife preservation, biological explorers, and space exploration. Attached are links to the website, the merit badge book, and the merit badge worksheet.
Scouts must complete requirements 7 & 8 prior to attending event to get completion of the badge. These requirements cannot be completed on the day of the event.
Requirement 7 is “Prepare for an Expedition “ and Requirement 8 is “Go on an Expedition.” These requirements are contingent on approval by both the merit badge counselor and scout’s parents. Scouts should prepare a plan in accordance with these requirements and present it to the merit badge counselor for approval via email or in person on either March 28 or April 18. Parental approval is also required and should be documented as part of the presentation to the MB counselor.
Saturday, April 18 at Winnebago Scout Reservation
Presentations of "Go on an Expedition" plan to Merit Badge Counselors.
Resources:
1. Exploration book - print or buy
https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/Merit_Badge_ReqandRes/Pamphlets/Exploration_2020.pdf
2. Exploration pamphlet
https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/exploration/
3. Exploration workbook
http://usscouts.org/mb/worksheets/Exploration.pdf
4. Blue cards - Scouts should have blue card with them. Explorers Stamp will be added to their blue card.
Personal Fitness #2
Personal Fitness #2
Thursday, August 14, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday, August 21, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Assumes completion of approved 12 week personal fitness plan.
Prerequisite: Scouts must complete Requirement 1 (medical and dental exams) before participating.
Cost: $25.00 per youth.
Registration is limited to 10 scouts.
Attendance at both sessions required to complete the merit badge.
All sessions will be held at the Patriots' Path Council Service Center, 1 Saddle Road, Cedar Knolls, NJ.
Andre Chabenel will be the merit badge counselor for this program.
Personal Fitness - Union
Personal Fitness - Union
NOTE: This 3 session class is held in 3 different locations. Please ensure that you can attend all sessions before registering.
Program Dates:
Monday, September 29, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Union County Fire/EMS Training Academy, 1075 Edward St, Linden NJ
Monday, October 6, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Fitness assessment at Kenilworth High School, 426 Boulevard, Kenilworth, NJ
Monday, January 12, 2026 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Assumes completion of approved 12 week personal fitness plan. Kenilworth VFW, 33 South 21st Street, Kenilworth, NJ
Prerequisite: Scouts must complete Requirement 1 (medical and dental exams) before participating.
Cost: $25.00 per youth.
Registration is limited to 10 scouts.
Attendance at both sessions required to complete the merit badge.
John Gasper will be the merit badge counselor for this program.
Personal Management #4
Personal Management #4
Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday, September 25, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday, December 18, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Scouts must complete their 13 week program requirements and then attend the follow up meeting with the merit badge counselor to complete the badge.
Cost: $25.00 per youth.
Registration is limited to 10 scouts.
Attendance at both sessions required to complete the merit badge.
All sessions will be held at Eagles Landing, Camp Somers, MASR, 750 Waterloo Rd, Stanhope NJ.
Jessica Eichner will be the merit badge counselor for this program.
Personal Management #5
Personal Management #5
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Scouts must complete their 13 week program requirements and then attend the follow up meeting with the merit badge counselor to complete the badge.
Cost: $25.00 per youth.
Registration is limited to 10 scouts.
Attendance at both sessions required to complete the merit badge.
All sessions will be held at Union County Fire/EMS Training Academy, 1075 Edward Street Linden Nj 07036.
Mr. Joseph Caggiano will be the merit badge counselor for this program.
Programming #2
Programming #2
Thursday, November 13, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday, November 20 , 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Scouts must complete the appropriate "Personal Safety Awareness" videos for their rank, prior to attending the program.
Scouts will need a personal laptop for this merit badge.
Cost: $25.00 per youth.
Registration is limited to 6 scouts.
Attendance at both sessions required to complete the merit badge.
All sessions will be held at the Patriots' Path Council Service Center, 1 Saddle Road, Cedar Knolls, NJ.
Jason Frey will be the merit badge counselor for this program.
Railroading
Railroading
Thursday, October 30, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday, November 13, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $25.00 per youth.
Registration is limited to 10 scouts.
Attendance at both sessions required to complete the merit badge.
All sessions will be held at the Patriots' Path Council Service Center, 1 Saddle Road, Cedar Knolls, NJ.
Mike O'Shea will be the merit badge counselor for this program.
Surveying
Surveying
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM- Zoom Call
Saturday, November 15, 2025 - 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM- MASR
Cost: $25.00 per youth.
Registration is limited to 10 scouts.
Attendance at both sessions required to complete the merit badge.
The first session will be a zoom call, link will be emailed before start of class. The second session will be held at Eagles Landing, Camp Somers, MASR, 750 Waterloo Rd, Stanhope NJ. Please dress appropriately for the outdoors.
Matthew Sipple will be the merit badge counselor for this program.
Welding Session #4
Welding Session #4
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at PPC Service Center
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Winnebago Scout Reservation
Cost: $40.00 per youth.
Registration is limited to 8 scouts.
Attendance at both sessions required to complete the merit badge.
The first session will be held at PPC Service Center, 1 Saddle Rd, Cedar Knolls, NJ.
The second session will be located at Winnebago Scout Reservation, Handicraft Pavilion, 102 Timberbrook Rd, Rockaway, NJ.
Charlie Sonzogni will be the merit badge counselor for this program.
Consider piggybacking this merit badge with Welding which will be held on Nov. 11 & 18, at the same locations and times.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse