This Austin-centric list which suggests resources and locations which may help a troop develop a hands-on, adventurous merit badge program. Please note the inclusion of this list is not necessarily endorsement.
Do you have any resources you wish to share? Please email the Web Admin.
Refer also to the BSA-Sponsored events on the Merit Badge Events page.
American Cultures
Celebrations or festivals in or near Austin:
- AACC Lunar New Year Festival in January or February
- Dragon Boat Festival in April
- AARC CelebrASIA in May
- Travis County Juneteeth or Central Texas Juneteeth in June
- Fredericksburg Oktoberfest or Pflugerville Deutschen Pfest in October
- Round Rock Diwali Festival in October
- San Marcos Sacred Springs Powwow in October
- Mexiarte Museum’s Viva la Vida Festival and Parade in October
- ESB-MACC Day of the Dead Festival in November
- New Braunfels Wurstfest in November
- Austin Celtic Festival in November
- Austin Powwow in November
- ESB-MACC Tamalda in December
Place of worship, school, or other institutions in Austin:
Animal Science
Visiting King Ranch in South Texas, BRC Ranch out toward Houston, or or Natural Pasture Farms in Gause may support the beef cattle option.
Visiting The Jersey Barnyard near LaGrange or Volleman’s Family Farm near Gustine may support the dairy option.
Visiting the Austin Farm Sanctuary in Paige, Lone Star Goats in Lampasas, or Natural Pasture Farms in Gause may suport the sheep or goat option.
Visiting the Blue Star Ranch toward Brenham or Natural Pasture Farms in Gause may suport the avian option.
Archaeology
At the Houston Museum of Natural Science Archaeology Merit Badge class, Scouts explore human cultures through the clues they left behind. Examine museum artifacts, complete a mock dig, and create a cuneiform tablet.
Check the musuem Scout Schedule for upcoming classes.
Aviation
The Lone Star Flight museum near Houston provides a hands-on experience including pre-flight inspection with the small aircraft and flying a route in a flight simulator in real time. Merit badge workshops are offered every second Saturday of each month.
Visit the Lone Star Flight museum Scout Workshops page for upcoming dates.
Bird Study
The Travis Audubon offers classes and field trips which may complement the earning of the birding merit badge. These are not merit badge classes.
Visit the Travis Audubon field trips page and classes page for current offerings.
At Moody Gardens, scouts can earn the Bird Study merit badge. Scouts will learn all they need to know about these feather friends and complete requirements needed for their badge through guided bird watching, an animal presentation, and a Rainforest pyramid tour!
Visit Moody Garden’s Education Programs for more information.
Climbing
Austin Ascent offers instruction at Enchangted Rock to provide participants with solid rock climbing and rapelling echniques and teach critial safety procedures. Qualified BSA Merit Badge Counselors are on staff. Program includes equipment and instruction.
Visit Austin Acscent for more information
Coin Collecting
Find upcoming Coin Shows at the J Fitz Coin and Currency Shows page and the Coin Zip Texas Coin Shows page.
Visit The Bureau of Engraving & Printing in Fort Worth, Texas.
Engineering
At the Lone Star Flight Museum hear Houston, learn how the Wright Brothers were master engineers solving multiple problems to invent powered aircraft. Study the properties of materials by performing heat conductivity and energy transfer experiments, disassemble an engine down to the piston to see how the components make it work, and talk to an engineer to learn about the career opportunities for you.
Visit the Lone Star Flight museum Scout Workshops page for upcoming dates.
Environmental Science
The Boy Scout Environmental Science program will help scouts understand the importance of critical habitats, such as the San Marcos Springs. Scouts will explore various environmental science concepts while learning about the endangered species of Spring Lake. This program is approximately 2.5 hours in length. This program is inspired by The Environmental Science Merit Badge but is not an official badge program and does not meet all badge requirements. Every tour includes a glass-bottom boat ride.
Visit the Meadow’s Center Scouting Programs page.
At Moody Gardens, scouts can earn the Environmental Science merit badge. From history to types of pollution, this badge gives scouts a greater awareness about how important it is to protect the environment around them. Badge requirement activities will be included along with a pyramid tour!
Visit Moody Garden’s Education Programs for more information.
Fire Safety
Austin Fire Department accomodates station visit tours to groups of 30 or fewer. Begin scheduling early because it can take several weeks to coordinate.
See their Public Education Services page for how to arrange a vist.
Fish & Wildlife Management
At Moody Gardens, scouts can earn the Fish & Wildlife Management merit badge. Scouts will learn how to conserve and manage our wild resources in this interactive badge! From management practices to threatened species, we discuss the basics of keeping wildlife safe and abundant. An animal presentation and a pyramid tour are included with this badge workshop!
Visit Moody Garden’s Education Programs for more information.
Fly Fishing
Living Waters in Round Rock offers many events and classes which may complement the earning the fly fishing merit badge. These are not merit badge classes.
Visit Living Water’s events page and classes page for upcoming dates.
Gardening
The Texas Honeybee Farm is located just West of Austin off of 290 towards Dripping Springs. Their beekeeping classes may complement the Gardening merit badge. Classes are usually held when the weather is neither too cold nor too hot: usually February through May and September though November.
Visit the Texas Honeybee Farm’s Education for more information.
Geology
Innerspace Cavern offers a 2.5 hour merit badge class with all materials. Discussions led by a geologist, using pictures and samples, help the students gain an understanding of the earth, mining, road building, careers, rocks and minerals. Following the class time, students sift through a bag of dirt to find semi-precious gemstones. Using what they find, they start a rock collection which they keep in a craft box. Cave tours are not included, yet are available at a special Scout price.
Visit Inner Space Cavern’s Scout Groups for more information.
At the Houston Museum of Natural Science Geology Merit Badge Class, Scouts examine fossils, explore the history of the Earth and the processes that have shaped it over time. Visit the Hall of Paleontology to see how HMNS preserves and displays fossils.
Check the musuem Scout Schedule for upcoming classes.
Golf
Instruction resources may include Butler Pitch & Putt Instructional Clinics or First Tee Programs.
Par 3 Golf Courses in Austin: Butler Pitch and Putt and Harvey Penik.
Beginner Disc Golf Courses in Austin: Circle C Park, and Zilker Park.
Horsemanship
At Circle Ten’s Trevor Rees-Jones Scout Camp both Guided Trail Rides and Horsemanship Merit Badge classes are available for Scouts BSA Troops and Venturing Crews through the lush pine and hardwood forests of East Texas. Beyond the Badge is open to youth registered in Scouts BSA Troops and Venturing Crews as well as registered adults. Ravines, creeks, and meadow views along with occasional glimpses of deer, raccoon, rabbits, squirrels, and other forest life are some of the features along the trails. No prior riding expierence is necessary.
Visit Circle Ten’s Scouting Event for more information about the 2025 program.
Indian Lore
Attend the Austin Powwow usually held in November or the Sacred Springs Powow in San Marcos usually held in October.
Visit the Bullock Musuem in Austin
Insect Study
At Moody Gardens, scouts can earn the Insect Study merit badge. During this workshop, scouts will learn all about insect biology, anatomy, and how important they are to the environment! Participants will look forward to fulfilling badge requirements in addition to a guided Rainforest pyramid tour, animal presentation, and more!
Visit Moody Garden’s Education Programs for more information.
Inventing
Visit the Edison Museum in Beaumont.
Landsape Architecture
At Moody Gardens, scouts can earn the Landscape Architecture merit badge. Scouts will put their environmental design skills to the test while completing badge requirements with a Moody Gardens Landscape walk and enjoying a Rainforest pyramid tour!
Visit Moody Garden’s Education Programs for more information.
Mammal Study
At Moody Gardens, scouts can earn the Mammal Study merit badge. Scouts will learn everything from mammal classification to biology and complete badge requirements with an included animal presentation and pyramid tour!
Visit Moody Garden’s Education Programs for more information.
Visit the Wildlife Exhibit at the Texas Science and Natural History Museum on UT campus.
Metalwork
Pioneer Farms in Austin provides a fast-paced introductory class qualifies students to complete the Boy Scout Metalwork merit badge. Teaches basic hammer skills, basic ways to work metal with forging, bending and decorative twists, with a small project. Safety training included.
Visit Pioneer Farm’s Scouting Programs for more information.
Nature
At Moody Gardens, scouts can earn the Nature merit badge. Scouts will learn to admire the natural world around them while completing their badge requirements and participating in an animal presentation, Nature Trail walk, and pyramid tour!
Visit Moody Garden’s Education Programs for more information.
Oceanography
At Moody Gardens, scouts can earn the Oceanography merit badge. From biology to geography, scouts will learn about our oceans first hand and complete requirements needed for their badge while visiting the Aquarium pyramid.
Visit Moody Garden’s Education Programs for more information.
Orienteering
Earn the orienteering merit badge at the Spring-O at Lost Pines Scout Reservation. This is the most fun you’ll EVER have (with a map and compass).
Visit the Spring-O Orienteering Merit Badge Class for more information.
Pottery
Art Off Center in Taylor provides a unique environment to fulfill the Pottery merit badge. Troops will tour of the facility and we’ll begin with a fascinating discussion of clay–how it was formed and its unique characteristics and historical uses. Additionally, we’ll discuss the various opportunities in the clay fields. Subsequently, Scouts will make a project using pinch, slab, and/or coil building techniques. The pieces will be fired and glazed after the completion of the class. Throwing on the potters’ wheel will also be demonstrated and discussed with the group.
Visit Off Art Center’s Scout Badge Workshop for more information.
Personal Management
A+FCU’s youth financial education team has registered as merit badge counselors for Personal Management Merit Badge. Their team offers multiple classes each year, and parents are welcome to attend with their Scout. Just like with any other merit badge, Scouts need to get approval from their Scoutmaster before starting this class.
Sign up with the Captiol Area Council to be notified when classes become available.
Plant Science
At Moody Gardens, scouts can earn the Plant Science merit badge. This badge immerses scouts into the world of plants and even the science behind how they grow! A Rainforest Pyramid tour is included along with badge requirement activities.
Visit Moody Garden’s Education Programs for more information.
Visits to the following may help support the Plant Science merit badge:
- Barton Springs Mill in Dripping Springs
- Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg
Railroading
The Rosenberg Railroad museum offers a Railroading merit badge workshop.
See the Rosenberg Scouts page for upcoming dates.
Reptile and Amphibian Study
At Moody Gardens, scouts can earn the Reptile and Amphibian Study merit badge. Scouts will learn to identify various local species and complete badge requirements in addition to an animal presentation and Rainforest pyramid tour!
Visit Moody Garden’s Education Programs for more information.
Scuba Diving
Lost Pines Scout Reservation Summer Camp is proud to offer the SCUBA merit badge, with PADI certification. This program is available for scouts 13 years and older by the start of the camp session they attend. Thursday and Friday mornings, we will arrange to transport the participants offsite for their open water dives.
Find more information at LPSR Summer Camp 2025.
Scouting Heritage
Often, the Capitol Area Council will set-up a Scouting memorabilia exhibit at the Frank Fickett Center for JOTA/JOTI in October. They may offer a Scouting Heritage class during JOTA/JOTI.
Snow Sports
At Worth Ranch Summer Camp experience the thrill of skiing like never before on our unique artificial ski hill! Perfect for summer fun, Scouts 13 and over can enjoy this innovative slope that offers the excitement of skiing, snowboarding, and sledding in the heat of the Texas summer. Don’t miss your chance to conquer the slopes and create unforgettable memories!
Learn more about the 2025 summer camp.
PS. It’s in Oklahoma, yet the Hale Scout Reservation also has an artificial slope as part of their summer camp!
Soil and Water Conservation
At Moody Gardens, scouts can earn the Soil and Water Conservation merit badge. Scouts will discover the importance of soil and water in a healthy ecosystem. We will dive into what each means to the environment and how to protect these valuable resources with activities and a guided Rainforest Pyramid tour!
Visit Moody Garden’s Education Programs for more information.
Sustainability
At Moody Gardens, scouts can earn the Sustainability merit badge. Scouts will learn how to identify the best practices to maintain a healthy planet and complete requirements needed for their badge while enjoying a specialized Moody Gardens Sustainability Walk and pyramid tour.
Visit Moody Garden’s Education Programs for more information.
Theater
Attend the Shakespeare in the Park or Zilker Theatre Productions’ Summer Musical at the Zilker Hillside Theater.
Traffic Safety
Do you need help kick starting the Traffic Safety Merit Badge for your Scouts? The “Arrive Alive” program was started by a Scouting parent and has been working with local schools and law enforcement agencies for years. The program is being adapted to provide your Scouts with the opportunity to complete Traffic Safety requirements 1a, b, c & d in a 45-minute interactive session. Leaders and parents are welcome to join the conversation about how alcohol, drugs, and distractions while operating a motor vehicle or marine vessel can result in tragedy and severe consequences. Hear a real life story that changed four families’ lives forever. And, discuss how Scouts can address awkward or uncomfortable situations by partnering with other Scouts and parents. Arrive Alive is available for unit meetings; contact Tom Crawford at tomcrawford3@earthlink.net.
Truck Transportation
In Corpus Christi, the Del Mar Merit Badge College which is held once annually usually includes the Truck Transportation and Traffic Safety merit badges as a nearby CDL training facility. Previous sessions have included the opportunity to drive a big rig simulator.
Visit the recent Del Mar Merit Badge College page for the most recent information.
Wilderness Survival
Camp Tonkawa Outdoor Learning Center, a not-BSA camp north of Dallas, offers a Primative/Wilderness Surival Skills camp which meets the requirements for the merit badge.
Find upcoming dates on the Camp Tonkawa Surival Skills page.