Scouting Merit Badges

Trowels & Time 

Scouts working toward their Archaeology merit badge get a full hands-on experience at the museum. During this session, Scouts explore what archaeology as all about. Learn how archaeologists determine the age of a site, investigate five archaeological sites from around the world, and dig into the history of the local culture. Scouts also tour the galleries to see how artifacts tell the stories of the people who made them, talk with a museum archaeologist about careers in the field, take part in a simulated excavation, and try their hand at experimental archaeology with a hands-on activity. This is a content-rich program built for Scouts. Scouts leave with the notes they need for their merit badge counselor meeting.

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Supports Archaeology merit badge requirements 1, 2, 3, 4(a), 5, 6, 7(a), 8, 9, 10(b), and 11(b).

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Time 3 hours

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Ages 10 and above

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Minimum 8 Scouts

Rocks, Resources & Remains: 

Scouts working toward their Geology merit badge can dig into hands-on learning right here at the museum. This 1–2 hour session covers how geologists study rock formations, a chart-building activity exploring geologic time and plate tectonics, a look at how everyday materials come from raw earth resources, and a behind-the-scenes tour with our collections curator showing how fossils are prepared and preserved for display. We'll also talk about responsible collecting using Leave No Trace principles. Scouts leave with the notes they need for their merit badge counselor meeting.

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Supports Geology merit badge requirements 1, 2, 4 (Option D), 5(a), and 6.

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Time: 2 hours

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Ages 10 and above

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 Minimum 8 Scouts

Coming Soon: Mission Control  

Get ready to launch into our newest Scout program! Mission Control will take Scouts through the fundamentals of space exploration — from the history of why we explore space to how rockets and satellites actually work. Scouts will get hands-on with real space shuttle artifacts from our collection, design their own inhabited base on another world, and build a model rocket to launch on their own afterward. Stay tuned for scheduling details.

​Customize Your Visit

Interested in scheduling one of our Scout merit badge programs, or have questions about which program fits your troop's needs? We'd love to help your Scouts get hands-on with our collections while working toward their badges. Reach out to us to check availability, prices, ask about group size and timing, or talk through options for a custom visit.

Contact us at: education@mapsmusuem.org

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