Family Life

Requirements were REVISED effective January 1, 2023 .

To see the changes which were made, Click here.

For the previous requirements, Click here.

This Merit Badge
is Required to earn the Eagle Scout Rank

  1. Prepare an outline on what a family is and discuss this with your merit badge counselor. Tell why families are important to individuals and to society. Discuss how the actions of one member can affect other members.
  2. List several reasons why you are important to your family and discuss this with your parents or guardians and with your merit badge counselor.
  3. Prepare a list of your regular home duties or chores (at least five) and do them for 90 days. Keep a record of how often you do each of them. Discuss with your counselor the effect your chores had on your family.
  4. With the approval of your parents or guardians and your merit badge counselor, decide on and carry out a project that you would do around the home that would benefit your family. Submit a report to your merit badge counselor outlining how the project benefited your family.
  5. Plan and carry out a project that involves the participation of your family. After completing the project, discuss the following with your merit badge counselor:
    1. The objective or goal of the project
    2. How individual members of your family participated
    3. The results of the project
    1. Discuss with your merit badge counselor how to plan and carry out a family meeting.
    2. Prepare a meeting agenda that includes the following topics, review it with your parents or guardians, and then carry out one or more family meetings:
      1. How living the principles of the Scout Oath and Scout Law contributes to your family life
      2. The greatest dangers and addictions facing youth in today's society (examples include use of tobacco products, alcohol, or drugs and other items such as debts, social media, etc.)
      3. Understanding the growing-up process and how the body changes, and making responsible decisions dealing with sex
      4. Personal and family finances
      5. A crisis situation within your family
      6. The effect of technology on your family
      7. Good etiquette and manners

      *This conversation may take place with only one or both of your parents or guardians.

      BSA Advancement ID#: 129
      Scoutbook ID#: 47
      Requirements last updated in: 2023
      Pamphlet Publication Number: 35893
      Pamphlet Stock (SKU) Number: 635735
      E-Book Stock (SKU) Number: 656019
      Pamphlet Copyright Date: 2016

      Worksheets for use in working on these requirements: Format
      Word Format PDF Format

      Blanks in this worksheets table appear when we do not have a worksheet for the badge that includes these requirements.

      Page updated on: May 11, 2024

      Materials found at U. S. Scouting Service Project, Inc. Websites may be reproduced and used locally by Scouting volunteers for training purposes consistent with the programs of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) or other Scouting and Guiding Organizations. No material found here may be used or reproduced for electronic redistribution or for commercial or other non-Scouting purposes without the express permission of the U. S. Scouting Service Project, Inc. (USSSP) or other copyright holders. USSSP is not affiliated with BSA or WOSM and does not speak on behalf of BSA or WOSM. Opinions expressed on these web pages are those of the web authors. You can support this website with in two ways: Visit Our Trading Post at www.ScoutingBooks.com or make a donation by clicking the button below.
      (U.S. Scouting Service Project Donation)

      (Ruth Lyons Memorial Donations)