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Scouting America · Merit Badge
Engineering
Investigate how things are engineered, meet with an engineer, design and build a project, and study the engineer's code of ethics.
Counselor Qualifications
For req 4, the engineer visit can be with me. For req 5, I push Scouts toward the systems engineering approach: stakeholders → requirements → concept → design → test.
Dustin Gamble — B.S. and M.S. Aerospace Engineering; Technical Fellow at Lockheed Martin; registered Scouting America Merit Badge Counselor (Los Padres Council).
My Counselor Plan
My operating notes for counseling this badge. Scouts can skim for context; other counselors are welcome to borrow what's useful.
- Provide a one-page systems engineering worksheet (needs, requirements, concepts, trade, design, verification) for req 5.
- Keep six short blurbs on the six engineering disciplines I've worked alongside (aero, mech, EE, SW, systems, manufacturing).
- Steer Scouts away from 6(g) unless they already have a fair project in flight — it tends to drag.
- Walk through the NSPE Code of Ethics next to the Scout Oath and Law — make them line them up side by side.
- Cross-badge tie-in: the Space Exploration Telemetry Rocket project (T-Beam flight computer + Heltec LoRa ground station, Estes Lil' Spite airframe) is an excellent req 5 systems-engineering example. Scouts can walk the needs → requirements → concept → trade → verification flow using the real payload and motor trade (E16-4 vs. F15-4).
- Capstone option: the Patrol Box 2.0 capstone is the cleanest standalone Engineering project — Scouts build a real piece of patrol equipment using the systems-engineering loop and verify it on a campout. Pairs with Inventing.
Requirements Checklist
19 total requirement items. Check marks are saved locally in this browser so you can track progress as you work. This is a convenience view — the official requirements on scouting.org are the source of truth.
1. Investigate a Manufactured Item
Select a manufactured item in your home (such as a toy or an appliance) and, under adult supervision and with the approval of your counselor, investigate how and why it works as it does. Find out what sort of engineering activities were needed to create it.
2. A Major Engineering Achievement
Select an engineering achievement that has had a major impact on society. Find out about the engineers who made this engineering feat possible, the special obstacles they had to overcome, and how this achievement has influenced the world today.
3. Six Types of Engineers
Explain the work of six types of engineers. Pick two of the six types and explain how their work is related to engineering.
4. Visit with an Engineer
Visit with an engineer (who may be your counselor, parent or guardian) and do the following:
5. Systems Engineering Design
Use the systems engineering approach to design an original piece of patrol equipment, a toy or a useful device for the home, office or garage.
6. Hands-On Engineering
Do TWO of the following:
7. Professional Engineer (P.E.)
Explain what it means to be a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.). Name the types of engineering work for which registration is most important.
8. Engineer's Code of Ethics
Study the Engineer's Code of Ethics. Explain how it is like the Scout Oath and Law.
9. Careers
Explore careers related to this merit badge. Research one career to learn about the training and education needed, costs, job prospects, salary, job duties, and career advancement.
Additional Resources
Safety and Youth Protection
All merit badge counseling sessions follow Scouting America's Guide to Safe Scouting. Scouts meet with me either accompanied by a parent or guardian, or in a group with at least one other Scout and one other registered adult present. I hold current Safeguarding Youth training.