Virtual/Online Merit Badge Listing

last revised Tuesday, May 25th, 2021

Note: this page is volunteer-maintained, and updated roughly monthly; it is NOT a comprehensive list and focuses on Council merit badge “days” and series of multiple sessions offered across several weeks.  Individual merit badge counselors around the country are generously offering programs in their own areas of specialty but there are far too many to list and keep updated. Many pop up and are announced and completed in the space of less than a week.  The best way to learn about these programs is to follow social media pages like the Virtual Merit Badge Classes Facebook group and the Illinois Merit Badge Finder Facebook page.

For all virtual merit badge programs, please make sure to check the time zone since these classes are offered virtually to scouts all over the country.

Scouts who have not earned the Cyber Chip for their grade are encouraged to attend one of Three Fires Council’s online safety programs.

Local In-Person Programs
  • Rolling Meadows Park District has announced several Saturday morning electives through September 2021.
  • Morton Arboretum is offering in-person Geocaching this spring, Programs are announced through late March, so check back for additional offerings.
  • Space Jamboree: Save the date for this annual STEM-focused merit badge weekend featuring camping, an a wide variety of merit badge programs including  both robotics and pool robotics. This mini-camp was run successfully in-person in the summer of 2020, so will definitely return in 2021.  The event runs Friday August 6 to Sunday August 8th in Rantoul, IL.
  • Three Harbors Council Online MB Clinics: Three Harbors Council in Milwaukee has resumed in-person, weekend elective badge programs including Motorboating, Sailing, and Dog Care.
Spring/Ongoing Programs
  • Calcasieu Council has a final virtual merit badge Saturday on May 22, including several Eagle and elective badges. They have no virtual programs on their summer calendar.
  • Camp Fear Council is offering a one-day Merit Badge day on Saturday, May 22nd, as well as a two-week virtual Merit Badge College in June. Mix and match programs, with many Eagle badges included in the mix.
  • Capitol Area Council/Lost Pines Scout Reservation: Elective-focused virtual merit badge weekends planned through October 2021.
  • The Cell Virtual Merit Badge Clinics: these free clinics are offered in sessions of two consecutive Saturday mornings. Upcoming programs include Emergency Preparedness and Citizenship in the Nation. Monthly sessions have been announced through the end of 2021.
  • Daniel Boone Council is offering online programs weekly with many, many classes announced through the spring and summer.
  • Epic Merit Badges: Epic offers a continuing series of online merit badges. Current offerings include Citizenship in the Nation and World, and they regularly rotate through many of the other Eagle badges. Sessions announced through mid-July. Please note: these classes are held at Hawaii Standard Time so make sure you check the time difference before enrolling!
  • New England Base Camp: New sessions have been announced through mid-June; mostly electives with some Eagles in the mix.
  • Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium: Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon programs on outdoor-themed Eagle and elective throughout the spring and summer.
  • Saint Louis Chess Club offers regular sessions for the Chess merit badge.
  • Suffolk County Council Virtual Merit Badges: No summer programs on the calendar but planning to offer virtual programming in the fall.
  • Western Los Angeles County Council: a monthly weekend Virtual Merit Badge University program featuring roughly a dozen badges (elective and Eagle) across Saturday and/or Sunday. Sign-ups typically go live about a week in advance, so check back for course offerings and registration. Weekends are scheduled through the end of 2021, though badges have not yet been announced for later dates.
Virtual Summer Camps
  • Central Florida Council’s Camp Lanoche, a pioneer in online merit badges has a series of merit badge workshops scheduled through July including Environmental Science, Camping, and all three Citizenships.
  • Connecticut Rivers Council’s Camp Kinda-Like-a is back with two weeks of programming in July featuring First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, and Personal Fitness along with a dozen or so electives.
  • Mason-Dixon Council has announced the return of their CyberEquipe virtual program featuring 11 Eagle-required badges and over 20 electives. There are two week-long sessions in July.
  • Palmetto Council is offering several weeklong afternoon elective badges throughout June.
  • Verdugo Hills Council (right in the heart of Hollywood) is offering a week-long Cyber Film Camp from July 5 to 9, including MovieMaking, Animation, and Photography Merit Badges.  Synchronous programs run 9am-12 noon Pacific Time, with optional programs from industry experts beginning 1pm Pacific.
Archived/Inactive Programs

These Councils have previously offered programs but do not appear to have any currently on the calendar:

Self-Paced Programs, Virtual Counselors, and Other Resources
Reference Materials