Introduction
The Citizenship in the Community merit badge is designed to help Scouts better understand their role in their local community. This badge not only teaches important civic knowledge, but it also encourages Scouts to take action and become more involved in improving their surroundings. By earning this badge, you’ll gain insight into how local governments function, the importance of being an active citizen, and how community service can make a difference. Let’s dive into what it takes to successfully earn this badge!
Timeframe/Difficulty
The Citizenship in the Community merit badge typically takes a few weeks to complete, depending on the availability of community meetings and volunteer opportunities. While the tasks may seem simple, several requirements, like attending council meetings and participating in volunteer work, can take time to coordinate. Difficulty-wise, it is considered moderate—Scouts need to be proactive and engaged in their community, but none of the requirements are particularly difficult if planned well in advance.
Tips for Success
- Plan Ahead: Some requirements, like attending a local government meeting or completing volunteer hours, can take time to arrange. Start working on these early.
- Ask Questions: When attending community meetings or interviewing government officials, be prepared with thoughtful questions to deepen your understanding.
- Choose a Cause You Care About: For the volunteer service requirement, pick an organization or issue that aligns with your personal interests.
- Document Everything: Take notes during meetings, interviews, and volunteer work. This will make it easier to share your experiences with your merit badge counselor.
- Stay Engaged: This badge requires active participation in your community. The more involved you are, the more rewarding the experience will be.
Want to earn the other Citizenship based merit badges? You’re in luck! I have guides for all 4 Eagle required Citizenship merit badges. You can find them under the merit badge section of the site!
Complete Guide
***This guide is only intended as a starting point for your research. Directly copying the information offered here is plagiarism. Doing your own research will allow you to get the most out of this badge and maintain the 12 points of the scout law. A scout is trustworthy!***
Requirement 1
- Discuss with your counselor what citizenship in the community means and what it takes to be a good citizen in your community. Discuss the rights, duties, and obligations of citizenship, and explain how you can demonstrate good citizenship in your community, Scouting unit, place of worship, or school.
To start, you’ll need to discuss with your counselor what citizenship in the community means and the responsibilities it carries. Consider how you demonstrate good citizenship in places like school, your place of worship, or even your Scout troop. Good citizens are involved, respectful, and helpful. Discuss topics like:
- Rights and Duties: What rights do citizens enjoy (e.g., voting, freedom of speech), and what responsibilities come with those rights (e.g., paying taxes, obeying laws)?
- How You Can Contribute: From small acts of kindness to volunteering, how can you actively improve your community?
Requirement 2
2. Do the following:
- On a map of your community or using an electronic device, locate and point out the following:
- Chief government buildings such as your city hall, county courthouse, and public works/services facility
- Fire station, police station, and hospital nearest your home
- Parks, playgrounds, recreation areas, and trails
- Historical or other interesting points of interest
- Chart the organization of your local or state government. Show the top offices and tell whether they are elected or appointed.
This step involves some hands-on exploration of your local area. You’ll need to use either a physical map or an electronic one to locate important community landmarks. Here’s what to focus on:
- Government Buildings: City hall, the courthouse, and public service facilities.
- Emergency Services: The nearest fire station, police station, and hospital.
- Recreational Areas: Parks, playgrounds, and trails where people in your community gather.
- Historical Sites: Identify any significant historical landmarks or points of interest in your area.
Once you’ve done this, research how your local or state government is structured. Are key leaders elected or appointed? This will help you understand how decisions are made in your community.
Requirement 3
3. Do the following:
- Attend a meeting of your city, town, or county council or school board; Or attend a municipal, county, or state court session.
- Choose one of the issues discussed at the meeting where a difference of opinions was expressed, and explain to your counselor why you agree with one opinion more than you do another one.
You are required to attend a meeting of your city council, town council, school board, or a court session. If you don’t know where you local government meets, you can find more information here. During this meeting, observe how local government functions and how citizens participate. Pay special attention to any debates or disagreements, as you’ll need to choose one issue where differing opinions were expressed. After the meeting, explain to your counselor why you agreed with one opinion more than the other.
Requirement 4
4. Choose an issue that is important to the citizens of your community; then do the following:
- Find out which branch of local government is responsible for this issue.
- With your counselor’s and a parent’s approval, interview one person from the branch of government you identified in requirement 4a. Ask what is being done about this issue and how young people can help.
- Share what you have learned with your counselor.
Pick an issue that is currently important to your community—this could be anything from environmental concerns to a proposed new development. Once you’ve chosen an issue, do the following:
- Identify the Responsible Branch: Which local government department or agency is handling this issue? For example, zoning issues might be handled by the planning department.
- Interview a Government Official: With approval, interview someone involved in this issue. This might be a city council member, a department official, or another key figure. Find out what is being done and how young people like yourself can contribute. You might be surprised how open your local government officials are to talking to the members of their community.
Requirement 5
5. With the approval of your counselor and a parent, watch a movie that shows how the actions of one individual or group of individuals can have a positive effect on a community. Discuss with your counselor what you learned from the movie about what it means to be a valuable and concerned member of the community.
Watch a movie that showcases how an individual or a group can have a positive impact on their community. Films like “Pay It Forward” or “Erin Brockovich” are good examples. Discuss with your counselor what the movie taught you about community involvement and leadership.
Requirement 6
6. List some of the services (such as the library, recreation center, public transportation, and public safety) your community provides that are funded by taxpayers. Tell your counselor why these services are important to your community.
Many community services are funded by taxpayer money. List several services your community provides—libraries, public transportation, and parks are good examples. For each service, explain to your counselor why they are important to the well-being of the community.
Requirement 7
7. Do the following:
- Identify three charitable organizations outside of Scouting that interest you and bring people in your community together to work for the good of your community.
- Pick ONE of the organizations you chose for requirement 7a. Using a variety of resources (including newspapers, fliers and other literature, the Internet, volunteers, and employees of the organization), find out more about this organization.
- With your counselor’s and your parent’s approval, contact the organization you chose for requirement 7b and find out what young people can do to help. While working on this merit badge, volunteer at least eight hours of your time for the organization. After your volunteer experience is over, discuss what you have learned with your counselor.
Identify three charitable organizations in your community that align with your interests. These could be anything from animal shelters to food banks. After researching these organizations, pick one to focus on. You will need to:
- Contact the Organization: Reach out to learn how you can contribute as a young volunteer.
- Complete at Least 8 Hours of Service: Volunteer your time with the organization. This requirement allows you to get hands-on experience in making a difference in your community.
- Reflect on Your Experience: After you’ve completed your service, discuss with your counselor what you learned and how it impacted you.
Requirement 8
8. Develop a public presentation (such as a video, slide show, speech, digital presentation, or photo exhibit) about important and unique aspects of your community. Include information about the history, cultures, and ethnic groups of your community; its best features and popular places where people gather; and the challenges it faces. Stage your presentation in front of your merit badge counselor or a group, such as your patrol or a class at school.
The final step is to create a presentation that highlights the unique aspects of your community. This can be in the form of a slideshow, video, or speech. Include details about your community’s history, cultures, important places, and any challenges it faces. Present this to your counselor, patrol, or a class at school.
Conclusion
The Citizenship in the Community merit badge is an excellent way to learn about the importance of active participation in your local area. From attending meetings and volunteering, to learning about your community’s services and government structure, this badge offers a variety of experiences that will leave you more informed and engaged. By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to earning the badge and becoming a more responsible and involved citizen.