Scouts BSA
All merit badge workshops are $25 per scout and $15 per chaperone unless otherwise noted. Merit badge workshops include general admission to the museum. Please note that no physical merit badges or patches will be handed out. BSA Scouts are responsible for bringing their own Blue Cards. While we encourage Scout Leaders to attend along with multiple Scouts from the same troop or pack, adult chaperones are not required to attend these workshops.
As a reminder, curriculum follows the Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) badge requirements, but all youth of the appropriate age are welcome to attend.
Cub Scouts
Cub Scouts include the rank of Lion Cub, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos (students in grades K - 5th).
Engineers In The Making!
Saturday, February 7th
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $25 per scout, $15 per chaperone
This merit badge workshop is open to any youth in 1st – 5th grade. We will be meeting all requirements for the following badges:
- Boy Scout Webelos Engineering
- Girl Scout Brownie Mechanical Engineering: Race Car Design Challenge
- Girl Scout Junior Mechanical Engineering: Balloon Car Design Challenge
Scouts participating in this workshop will study real-life engineers, design custom blueprints, use the Engineer Design Process, then investigate potential and kinetic energy to build, test, and race a balloon-powered vehicle and racetrack!
Scouts BSA
Scouts BSA include all BSA Scout ranks in grades 6th - 12th.
A note about pre/post-requirements: In the event that a requirement that is not being covered in the workshop is not completed by the Scout before the start of the workshop, Scouts will receive a partial for attending the workshop. These Scouts can reach out to the Merit Badge Counselor with their completed work to complete the badge. Any post-reqs can be emailed to education@patrolley.org or mailed to the museum. Additional information about this will be covered in all merit badge workshops.
Did you know that every single Merit Badge pamphlet is now available for free on the Scouting America website? Click here to download any pamphlet you need!
BSA Geology
Saturday, January 24th
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $25 per Scout, $15 per Chaperone
This merit badge workshop is open to any youth in 6th – 12th grade and is designed to help BSA Scouts meet requirements for the Geology merit badge. We will be covering ALL requirements for this merit badge! While there are no pre-requisites, we strongly encourage participating Scouts to review the Geology Merit Badge Requirements and workbook prior to the workshop. Investigate different rocks and minerals and discover how our museum got its start in part thanks to a coal mine!
We will be covering requirements 1, 2, 3, 4b, 5c1, 5c2, 5c3b, 5c4, and 5c5b.
BSA Environmental Science (Eagle Scout!)
Saturday, January 24th
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $25 per scout, $15 per chaperone
NEW 2025 REQUIREMENTS
This merit badge workshop is open to any youth in grades 6th - 12th grade and is designed to help BSA Scouts meet requirements for the Environmental Science merit badge, an Eagle Required badge. We will be covering requirements 1, 2b, 3c, 4b, 5b, 7b, 8a, 9, and 11.
Scouts are responsible for the following pre-requisites: 2a, 2b, 6, 10. If participants do not complete these requirements ahead of time, Scouts must follow up with the counselors after the workshop to complete the requirements and received a completed blue card.
- Requirement 2a: Choose an outdoor area and observe (sight, sound, and smell) its ecosystem over a two-day period. 2b: Make notes about the living, nonliving, and formerly living components you see.
- Requirement 6 involves researching rare, threatened, or endangered species and preparing a 100-word report. Alternatively, Scouts can choose to visit a site that has been designed to improve the habitat for threatened or endangered species and prepare a report on what they saw.
- For requirement 10, Scouts must choose a construction project (such as a new house or new building at their Scout camp), identify all environmental impact topics that would need to be addressed for this project, evaluate the purpose and benefits of the project, alternative to the project (including a no-action alternative), and any environmental consequences of this project. Summarize these findings in a short report and be prepared to present them to the counselor.
BSA Environmental Science Requirements
This badge was recently updated. A newly updated workbook is currently in the works. The museum also has a custom workbook on hand to accompany this merit badge workshop as well that will be available the day of the workshop.
Please note that this merit badge workshop also covers some of the requirements for the Girl Scout Think Like A Citizen Scientist Journey. Visit the Girl Scout merit badge page for full details.
BSA Programming & Cadette Coding Basics
Saturday, February 7th
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $25 per scout, $15 per chaperone
This merit badge workshop is open to any youth in 6th – 12th grade and is designed to help BSA Scouts meet requirements for the Programming merit badge. We will be covering requirements 1b, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. We will be using Python, Javascript, and HTML to create short animations, games, and drive robots!
Scouts are responsible for the following pre-requisites: 1a.View the Personal Safety Awareness "Digital Safety" video (with your parent or guardian's permission.) The Personal Safety Awareness videos replace the Cyber Chip requirement.
This merit badge is also designed to help Cadette Girl Scouts meet requirements for the Cadette Coding Basics badge. We will be covering requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
This workshop does NOT include the Cadette Coding Basics patch.
Programming Badge Requirements
Programming Merit Badge Workbook
NEW: BSA Robotics
Saturday, March 14
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Cost: $45 per scout, $15 per chaperone
This merit badge workshop is open to any youth in grades 6th – 12th grade and is designed to help BSA scouts meet requirements for the Robotics merit badge. We will be covering ALL requirements for this merit badge! While there are no pre-requisites, we strongly encourage participating Scouts to review the Robotics Merit Badge Requirements and workbook prior to the workshop.
We will be covering requirements 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 5a, 5b, 5b, and 7. We will be using Hummingbird Robotics Kits from Birdbrain Technologies in order to build and program a custom robot.
This merit badge will have a custom workbook that will be available at the museum.
BSA Communication (Eagle Scout Required!)
Saturday, April 11th
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $45 per scout, $15 per chaperone
This merit badge workshop is open to any youth in 6th – 12th grade and is designed to help BSA scouts meet requirements for the Communications merit badge. It is strongly recommended that participants be in at least 9th grade before taking this workshop. This badge is also being provided in conjunction with Vintage Communications Weekend at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum! Scouts will have the opportunity to discover the communications technology of the Trolley Era, including antique radios, typewriters, printing presses, victrolas, phonographs, and more!
Due to the nature of this badge, it is encouraged for Scouts to complete much of the workbook and requirements ahead of time. Scouts will be required to prepare several parts of this badge (detailed below) and bring completed work and materials to the workshop in order to present to the group.
We will be covering requirements 1c, 2a, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9. To meet requirement 5, we will be virtually attending a public meeting during the workshop.
As part of the requirements, Scouts will need to prepare the following ahead of time:
- 1c: Be prepared to share a short Scouting story (example: the best camping trip ever!) in a small group setting.
- 2a: Think of a creative way to describe yourself using a collage, short story, autobiography, drawing or series of photographs, a song, and/or a short skit. Prepare this at home and be prepared to use the aid you created to make a short presentation (no more than 2 minutes) about yourself.
- 4: This requirement involves interviewing someone you know fairly well, like, or respect. Conduct the interview before the workshop, then come prepared to deliver an introduction of the person as though this person were to be a guest speaker. Include reasons why the audience would want to hear this person speak.
- 6: Develop a plan to teach a skill or inform someone about something. Prepare teaching aids ahead of time and bring them with you to the workshop and be prepared to share with the group.
Scouts are fully responsible for the following pre/post-requisites: 3 and 8.
- Requirement 3 asks that Scouts to write a five-minute speech and give it at a meeting.
- Requirement 8 has Scouts plan a troop or crew court of honor, campfire program, or interfaith worship service. This must be approved by patrol leaders' council. Scouts must write a script, prepare the program, and serve as master of ceremonies. Please bring in photos, videos, and/or documentation from Scout leaders, etc. to show completion of these two requirements.
BSA Railroading
Saturday, May 2nd
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $25 per scout, $15 per chaperone
This merit badge workshop is open to any youth in grades 6th – 12th grade and is designed to help BSA scouts meet requirements for the Railroading merit badge. We will be covering ALL requirements for this merit badge! While there are no pre-requisites, we strongly encourage participating Scouts to review the Railroading Merit Badge Requirements and workbook prior to the workshop. Requirements 8b parts 1 and 2 will be fulfilled by visiting the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Scouts should bring a phone or camera, or can use drawing materials provided by the museum.
BSA Signs, Signals, and Codes
Saturday, May 2nd
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $25 per Scout, $15 per Chaperone
This merit badge workshop is open to any youth in grades 6th – 12th grade and is designed to help BSA scouts meet requirements for the Signs, Signals, and Codes merit badge. We will be covering requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. Practice communicating with semaphore flags, Morse Code, ASL, rail hand signals, and more!
Scouts are responsible for the following pre-requisites: 7. Scouts must create at least a 1-mile trail for a patrol or troop to follow that includes at least six different trail signs and markers. After Scouts have completed the trail, follow no-trace principles by replacing or returning trail markers to their original locations. Scouts can write a short report about completing the requirement and should include pictures showing each trail sign and marker used for counselor approval.
Signs, Signals, and Codes Merit Badge Requirements
Signs, Signals, and Codes Merit Badge Workbook
BSA Mail-In Merit Badge Programs
PTM is happy to offer the services of our merit badge counselors to local BSA scouts! Any BSA scout who has completed all the requirements for the following badges can mail in their completed work and a blue card filled out with their information and we will be happy to sign off on the completed requirements.
Do you have an interest in completing an Eagle Scout Project at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum? Please email us at education@patrolley.org!
Interested in being a volunteer counselor or helping out with the Scouting programs at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum? Does your troop or pack want to volunteer with us? Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@patrolley.org!
Scouting Volunteer Opportunities
Do you have an interest in completing an Eagle Scout Project at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum? Please email us at education@patrolley.org!
Want to hear about other ways you and your troop could volunteer with us?
- Interested in being a volunteer counselor or helping out with the Scouting programs at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?
- Would you like to give tours to Scouts?
- Is your troop or pack looking for ways to give back to the community?
- Would your troop or pack like to volunteer to help out during a Special Event?
- Are you looking for a community service project?
- Looking for an Eagle Scout project?
We're happy to help coordinate an exciting, helpful, and fun project or outing for your troop. Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator for more information and/or to share your ideas by reaching out to volunteer@patrolley.org!
Private Merit Badge Workshops
Are you or your Scout troop interested in one of these merit badges but the date and time don’t work for you? We also offer Private Scout merit badge workshops! Availability is limited - click the button below for more information.