Charity Spotlight: Boy Scouts of America

Youth entrepreneur training and education is finally getting attention it deserves. More parents, educators, and youth-based organizations are starting to realize the benefits associated with early exposure to entrepreneurship. Following this trend, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) recently introduced their merit badge for entrepreneurship.

The Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge for Entrepreneurship

According to scouting information site, meritbadge.org, the BSA currently offers surprising 136 merit badges. Many of the badges are for achievements one would typically expect of the BSA, like camping, hiking, weather. However, the organization has adapted to provide more diverse training for America’s male youth.
Today’s scouts can earn merit badges in everything from fingerprinting and small-boat sailing to digital technology and dentistry. The entrepreneurship merit badge was introduced to teach scouts about “identifying opportunities, creating and evaluating business ideas, and exploring the feasibility… of an idea for a new business.”

Requirements for Earning BSA Merit Entrepreneurship Badge

Earning a Boy Scouts merit badge for entrepreneurship is not easy. The full list of requirements are available on the BSA’s website. Below is a brief overview of the necessary requirements for the entrepreneurship badge:

• Define entrepreneurship

• Understand the importance of the following skills for success as an entrepreneur: communication, planning, organization, problem solving, decision making, basic math, adaptability, technical and social skills, teamwork, and leadership.

• Interview a businessperson and learn about their enterprise. Learn about their experiences raising capital, successes and challenges, and the general operation of their business.

• Come up with some business ideas. Write them down. Select 3 that represent the best opportunities.

• Create a business plan based on the BSA checklist of objectives.

• Anticipate and discuss any problems with your potential business. Discuss with mentors. Anticipate ethical issues.