The worksheet sits on the kitchen table. Crumpled at the edges. Highlighter bleeding through page three. Your Scout stares at requirement 4b — "Discuss with your counselor what citizenship in the community means to you" — and you can practically hear the gears grinding.
Been there. We've all been there.
The Citizen in Society merit badge isn't like the others. It's not a test. And that worksheet? In real terms, no campfire to build. In practice, this one lives entirely in the space between your Scout's ears and the world outside their bedroom door. It's a thinking tool. Because of that, no first-aid scenario to act out with a neckerchief and a stick. Think about it: no knots to tie. Most people miss that distinction entirely.
What Is the Citizen in Society Merit Badge
Introduced in 2022, Citizen in Society became the newest Eagle-required merit badge — the first addition to the required list since 1993. On top of that, that alone tells you something. But the BSA didn't add it for busywork. They added it because the definition of citizenship has shifted, and the old framework wasn't catching the nuance Worth knowing..
The badge focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, and ethical leadership. Not as buzzwords. Day to day, as lived practice. That said, scouts explore identity, bias, upstander behavior, and what it means to build communities where people actually belong. Practically speaking, the worksheet is the scaffold. It structures conversations that would otherwise float away.
It's Not a Workbook in the Traditional Sense
Here's what trips up parents and even some counselors: the official BSA "worksheet" isn't a fill-in-the-blank packet. It's a discussion guide. The requirements say "discuss," "explain," "describe," "give examples." Nowhere does it say "write a paragraph" or "complete the chart.
Some troops print third-party workbooks from meritbadge.org or similar sites. Think about it: those can help organize thoughts. But they're not official. They're not required. And if a Scout treats them like homework — hunting for the "right answer" — they've missed the point entirely Less friction, more output..
Why It Matters / Why People Care
This badge lands at a weird intersection. That said, it's required for Eagle. Here's the thing — it deals with topics that make some adults uncomfortable. And it asks 13-year-olds to articulate things most adults struggle to name.
The Eagle Clock Is Ticking
For a Life Scout closing in on their 18th birthday, this badge can become a bottleneck. It requires multiple counseling sessions. It can't be knocked out at summer camp in a morning. In practice, it demands reflection — and reflection takes time. Troops that wait until the last six months to introduce it? They're setting Scouts up for a scramble Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
And yeah — that's actually more nuanced than it sounds That's the part that actually makes a difference..
It's the First Badge That Asks "Who Are You?" Before "What Can You Do?"
Citizenship in the Community, Nation, and World — the three older badges — focus on systems. Voting. What biases do you carry? Day to day, government structure. Important stuff. International relations. But Citizen in Society asks: *How do you show up for people who aren't like you? When have you stayed silent when you should've spoken?
That's different. That's personal. And that's why it matters Small thing, real impact. Practical, not theoretical..
Counselors Are Still Figuring It Out
Because the badge is new, there's no decade of institutional knowledge. Consider this: scouts deserve consistency. And a few treat it like a checklist. Some counselors run it like a seminar. Here's the thing — the quality of the experience varies wildly. Others assign reading and meet weekly. They rarely get it.
How It Works — Breaking Down the Requirements
The badge has 11 requirements. A few ask for research or examples. So most are discussion-based. Here's how they actually play out in practice.
Requirement 1: Identity and Diversity
Discuss with your counselor what identity means. Explain how identity can include characteristics such as race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and socioeconomic status.
This opens the whole badge. It's not a vocabulary quiz. A good counselor will ask: "Which parts of your identity do you think about daily? In practice, which ones do you never think about? Why the difference?
Scouts who've never been a minority in any room often freeze here. That's not failure. That's the work.
Requirement 2: Bias and Stereotypes
*Define stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and bias. Give examples of each. Discuss how they affect individuals and communities.
The definitions are easy. The worksheet prompt — "Describe a time you made an assumption about someone that turned out to be wrong" — is gold. A Scout might say "I don't have biases." That's the bias talking. The examples are where it gets real. Use it.
Requirement 3: Inclusion and Belonging
Explain the difference between diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Discuss why each matters.
DEI gets thrown around like confetti. Plus, belonging is the newer piece — and arguably the most important. Diversity is being invited. Because of that, inclusion is being asked to dance. But belonging is choosing the music. That framing clicks for teenagers Worth keeping that in mind..
Requirement 4: Upstander Behavior
*Define upstander. Describe a situation where you or someone else was an upstander. Explain the impact.
This is the heart. Practically speaking, not bystander. Upstander. In practice, the Scout needs a real story — theirs or someone else's. "I saw a kid getting teased and I told the teacher" counts. So does "I didn't say anything and I still think about it." Honesty beats heroics every time And that's really what it comes down to..
This changes depending on context. Keep that in mind That's the part that actually makes a difference..
Requirement 5: Ethical Leadership
Discuss what ethical leadership means. Give an example of a leader you admire and explain why.
Notice it doesn't say "famous leader.In practice, " The best answers are usually a coach, a teacher, a senior patrol leader. Someone the Scout has watched up close Worth keeping that in mind. Took long enough..
Requirement 6: Civil Discourse
Explain how to have a respectful conversation with someone you disagree with. Demonstrate with your counselor.
"Demonstrate" means role-play. On top of that, it feels awkward. In real terms, do it anyway. The Scout picks a low-stakes topic — pineapple on pizza, best superhero, school uniforms — and practices listening to understand, not to reply.
Requirement 7: Community Research
Research an organization in your community that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. Share what you learned.
Food banks. Because of that, cultural centers. That's why the Scout calls them. Because of that, disability advocacy orgs. Asks questions. Visits if possible. LGBTQ+ youth groups. This gets them out of the house and into the ecosystem It's one of those things that adds up..
Requirement 8: Personal Action Plan
Create a plan to improve your community's inclusivity. Discuss with your counselor.
Not "save the world.Small. Make the troop meeting space more accessible. Sit with someone new at lunch. That said, start a buddy program for new Scouts. " One concrete action. Doable. Measurable That's the part that actually makes a difference..
Requirements 9–11: Scouting Context
Requirement 9 – Scouting Context
Scouting has always been about bringing people together, but the modern movement is deliberately reshaping that promise to reflect a more equitable world. The Scout Oath (“On my honor I will do my best to be true to God, my country, and the Scout Law”) and the Scout Law itself—“A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent”—serve as a moral backbone for inclusion. When a troop actively seeks out members of varied backgrounds, abilities, and identities, it lives out the law’s call to be “friendly” and “helpful” beyond superficial pleasantries.
Example: A troop in a predominantly suburban neighborhood invited a refugee family to attend weekly meetings. By sharing stories of the family’s cultural traditions, the Scouts learned how “courteous” and “kind” behaviors can bridge language gaps and dispel stereotypes. The family’s presence also prompted the troop to review its meeting space for accessibility, aligning the physical environment with the Scout Law’s spirit of “brave” and “clean” (both interpreted as moral and physical safety).
Requirement 10 – Leadership Within the Troop
Every Scout, regardless of rank, can act as a leader for inclusion. In practice, leadership doesn’t require a position; it requires initiative. A Senior Patrol Leader might model inclusive language by correcting peers who use unintentionally biased terms, while a Tenderfoot could start a “buddy bench” where new members sit when they need support Still holds up..
Real‑world scenario: During a camping trip, a Scout noticed that a younger camper with autism was sitting alone during meals. Instead of waiting for an adult, the Scout introduced themselves, asked about the camper’s favorite snack, and helped them join a small group at the table. The camper’s eyes lit up, and the experience taught the troop that small acts of connection can have outsized impact on belonging.
Requirement 11 – Personal Reflection and Growth
The final piece of the puzzle is personal reflection. Scouts are encouraged to keep a journal or discuss weekly with their counselor about moments when they felt they either fostered inclusion or missed an opportunity. This habit turns abstract concepts into lived experience Which is the point..
Journal prompt example: “What assumption did I make about a teammate this week? How did I discover it was wrong, and what will I do differently next time?” Answering honestly builds self‑awareness, a prerequisite for ethical leadership and upstander behavior.
Conclusion
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are not abstract buzzwords; they are the daily practices that shape a healthy troop and a compassionate community. Here's the thing — by understanding bias, embracing upstander actions, modeling ethical leadership, practicing civil discourse, researching local DEI organizations, and crafting a personal action plan, Scouts transform ideals into tangible change. Day to day, within the Scouting framework—where the Scout Law provides a moral compass—these skills become second nature, ensuring that every Scout not only respects differences but actively builds a space where every member feels they truly belong. This continuous cycle of learning, acting, and reflecting prepares today’s Scouts to lead tomorrow’s inclusive world.
