Boy Scouts of America
Merit Badges

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
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Waterskiing

  1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while waterskiing, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, blisters, and hyperventilation.
  2. Do the following:
    1. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Explain how such conditions are recognized.
    2. Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR on an adult mannequin for AT LEAST three minutes.
  3. Before doing the following requirements, successfully complete the BSA swimmer test. Jump feetfirst into water over your head in depth, swim 75 yards or 75 meters in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards or 25 meters using an easy resting backstroke. The 100 yards or 100 meters must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating as motionless as possible.
  4. Know the Water-Skier's Safety Code. Promise that you will live up to it. Follow it in all water work for this badge. Know the safety precautions that must be used by the boat operator in pulling skiers.
  5. Show the following water-skier signals to safety observer in boat: in-gear, start, faster, slower, speed required, speed OK, turns, stop, back to dock, cut motor, skier in water. Help others to ski by acting as the safety observer in the boat.
  6. Show you can adjust binders that fit, to fit. Put on skis in knee-deep water.
  7. Make a shallow-water start on two skis without help.
  8. Show you can fall properly in avoiding an obstacle. Drop handle and coast to a stop without loss of balance.
  9. Show you can recover skis that have come off during a fall. Put skis on in deep water. Make a deep-water start on two skis without help.
  10. Show you can cross both wakes and return to center of wake without falling. Repeat three times.
  11. On two skis, jump off the wake. Lift both skis clear of the water.
  12. During a demonstration run, lift one ski clear of the water for 2 seconds. Then do the same with the other ski. Show that you are steady and comfortable on skis at all times.
  13. Ski on one ski for 30 seconds. Show reasonable control.

Weather

  1. Define meteorology. Explain how the weather affects farmers, sailors, aviators, and the outdoors construction industry. Tell why weather forecasts are important to each of these groups.
  2. Name five dangerous weather-related conditions. Give the safety rules for each when outdoors and explain the difference between a severe weather watch and a warning. Discuss the safety rules with your family.
  3. Draw cross sections of a cold front and a warm front showing the location and movements of the cold and warm air, the frontal slope, the location and types of clouds associated with the front, and the location of rain. Tell the differences between a cold front and a warm front.
  4. Tell what causes wind, why it rains, and how lightning and hail are formed. Explain the difference between high and low pressure systems in the atmosphere and tell which is related to good and poor weather.
  5. Identify and describe clouds in the low, middle, and upper levels of the atmosphere. Relate these to specific types of weather.
  6. Draw a diagram of the water cycle and label its major processes. Explain the water cycle to your counselor.
  7. Define acid rain. Identify which human activities pollute the atmosphere as well as the effects such pollution can have on people.
  8. Do ONE of the following:
    1. Make one of the following instruments: wind vane, anemometer, rain gauge, hygrometer. Keep a daily weather log for 1 week using information from this instrument as well as from other sources such as local radio and television stations or NOAA Weather Radio. The following information should be recorded at the same time every day: wind direction and speed, temperature, precipitation, and types of clouds. Be sure to make a note of any morning dew or frost. In the log, also list the weather forecasts from radio or television at the same time each day and show how the weather turned out.
    2. Visit a National Weather Service office or talk with a local radio or television weathercaster, private meteorologist, local agricultural Extension service office, or university meteorology instructor. Find out what type of weather is most dangerous or damaging to your community. Determine how severe weather and flood warnings reach the homes in your community.
  9. Do ONE of the following:
    1. Give a talk of more than 5 minutes to your unit explaining the camping safety rules in the event of lightning, flash floods, and tornadoes. Before your talk, show your outline to your counselor for approval.
    2. Read several articles about acid rain and give a prepared talk of more than 5 minutes about the articles to your unit. Before your talk, show your outline to your counselor for approval.

Whitewater

  1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while working on the Whitewater merit badge, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, blisters, and hyperventilation.
  2. Do the following:
    1. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Explain how such conditions are recognized.
    2. Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR on an adult mannequin for AT LEAST three minutes.
  3. Before doing the following requirements earn the Canoeing merit badge, then do the following:
    1. Demonstrate basic canoe-handling skills by completing the Scout Gate Test within 120 seconds while paddling tandem with a buddy.
    2. Review and compare BSA Safety Afloat and the American Whitewater Affiliation Safety Code and demonstrate your understanding of these principles by answering questions from your counselor.
  4. Identify and explain the use of safety equipment on running water.
  5. Explain the International Scale of River Difficulty and apply the scale to the stretch of river where you are practicing and demonstrating your whitewater skills. Identify the specific characteristics of the river that are factors in your classification according to the International Scale.
  6. Explain how to scout and read a river both while afloat and from ashore. Explain open and closed V's, shoals with broken or dancing water, boils, strainers, broken drops, haystacks, dams, falls and lowhead obstructions, eddies, whirlpools, crosscurrents, flat rocks, standing waves, sheer drops, and heavy water. Demonstrate your ability to read the river where you are practicing and demonstrating your whitewater skills.
  7. Explain the differences between flatwater and whitewater canoes; identify the advantages and special uses for kayaks and decked canoes in running water. Identify the different materials used in modern whitewater canoe construction and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
  8. Identify paddles designed for whitewater use and explain their special characteristics.
  9. Do ONE of the following:
    1. Demonstrate paddle strokes in the bow position of an open canoe on running water, for forward movement, sideways movement, and backward 4. Repeat in the stern position.
    2. Demonstrate forward, backward, and sideways movements on running water using a single- or double-bladed paddle in a kayak or decked canoe.
  10. While paddling aloud or with a partner in an open canoe, or while alone in a kayak, demonstrate forward and back ferry, eddy turn, peeling out of an eddy, and high and low braces.
  11. Explain and demonstrate:
    1. Self-rescue and procedures when capsized in running water.
    2. Safe rescue of others in various whitewater situations.
    3. Portaging -- when and how to do it.
    4. The whitewater buddy system using at least three persons and three craft.
  12. Discuss the use of inflatable boats on moving water. Explain how to safely outfit and use an inflatable boat in whitewater including the type of craft suited to certain water conditions, how to maneuver the craft on the water, and what special safety precautions should be taken when using an inflatable boat.
  13. Explain the risks of "tubing" on moving water.
  14. Participate in a 1-day whitewater trip for beginners. Help to prepare a written plan specifying route, schedule, equipment, safety precautions, and emergency procedures. Determine local rules and obtain permission from local property owners. Explain what steps you have taken to comply with the BSA Safety Afloat and the American Whitewater Affiliation Safety Code. Execute the plan with others.

Wilderness Survival

  1. From memory, describe the priorities for survival in a backcountry or wilderness location.
  2. Describe ways to
    1. avoid panic and
    2. Maintain a high level of morale when lost.
  3. Show that you know firsthand aid for injuries or accidents likely to occur in backcountry outings, including hypothermia, hyperthermia, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, frostbite, dehydration, sunburn, stings, ticks, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.
  4. Tell what you would do to survive in the:
    1. Cold and snowy
    2. Wet (forest)
    3. Hot and dry (desert)
    4. Windy (mountains or plains)
    5. Water (ocean or lake)
  5. Make up a small survival kit an be able to explain how each item in it is useful.
  6. Show that you can start fires using three methods other than matches.
  7. Do the following:
    1. Tell five different ways of attracting attention when lost.
    2. Show how to use a signal mirror to attract attention when lost.
    3. From memory, describe five international ground-to-air signals and tell what they mean.
  8. Show that you can find and improvise a natural shelter minimizing the damage to the environment.
  9. Spend a night in your shelter.
  10. Explain how to protect yourself against insects, reptiles, rodents, and bears.
  11. Show three ways to purify water.
  12. Show that you know the proper clothing to be worn in your area on an overnight in extremely hot weather and extremely cold weather.
  13. Explain why it usually is not wise to eat edible wild plants or wildlife in a wilderness survival situation.

Wood Carving

  1. Give the qualities of Wood that are useful for carving. Tell why you chose the wood used in requirements 4 and 5.
  2. Do the following:
    1. Describe five wood-carving tools. Tell their use.
    2. Describe several kinds of sharpening stones. Tell how they are used.
    3. Show how to sharpen a pocket-knife and other tools used in wood carving. Use a sharpening stone and a "slipstick" that you have made.
  3. Show the safety principles for using a pocketknife and woodcarving tools.
  4. Plan and carve in the round a simple object. Prepare it for finish.
  5. Plan and carve in low relief a design on some simple project. Prepare it for finish.

Woodwork

  1. Do the following:
    1. Describe how timber is grown, harvested, and milled. Tell how lumber us cured, seasoned, graded, and sized.
    2. Collect and label blocks of six kinds of wood useful in woodworking. Describe the chief qualities of each. Give the best uses of each.
  2. Do the following:
    1. Show proper care and use of all working tools and which you own or use at home or school.
    2. Sharpen correctly the cutting edges of two tools.
  3. Make something useful of wood. Use a saw, plane, hammer, and brace and bit to make it. Cut parts from lumber which you have measured and squared from working drawings.
  4. Do the following:
    1. Make a working of a carpentry project. List the material needed.
    2. Take it. Report on the time spent and cost of things used.
  5. Do any TWO of the following:
    1. Make working drawings of a project needing
      • Beveled or rounded edges or curved or incised cuttings.
      • Miter, dowel, or mortise and tenon joints. Make it.
    2. Make something for which you have to turn duplicate parts on a lathe.
    3. Make a cabinet, box or something else with a door or lid fastened with inset hinges.
    4. Help make a repair wooden toys for needy children; or help carry out a carpentry service project.
    5. Make a scale model of a house or barn.
  6. Talk with a cabinetmaker or carpenter. Find out job opportunities and conditions, needed training, apprenticeship, work hours, pay rates, and union organization for woodworking craftsmen where you live.
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Modified: 10:09 PM Sunday, October 26, 1997