As we stated in Historic Merit Badge Program A Go (for real this time!), we are going to be taking an in-depth look at each of the four Historic Merit Badges in the next few days.  First up was Carpentry Merit Badge, then Signaling Merit Badge, and now Tracking!

Tracking Merit Badge was first offered in 1911 under the name Stalking, and was discontinued in 1952.  Stalking had one additional requirement that was not included as part of the Historic Merit Badge Program, and that was to follow the trail of  a person.  According to the Tracking Merit Badge support material, it was decided to omitt this requirement and switch the name to Tracking based on what the term stalking means in today’s language.

Original Stalking Merit Badge Book:
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/Stalking_MBP_Historical.pdf

New Information for Tracking Merit Badge:
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/historic_tracking_new.pdf

Tracking Merit Badge Requirements:

1. Demonstrate by means of a [tracking] game or otherwise, ability to [track] skillfully in shelter and wind, etc., showing how to proceed noiselessly and “freeze” when occasion demands.
2. Know and recognize the tracks of ten different kinds of animals or birds in his vicinity, three of which may be domestic.
3. Submit satisfactory evidence that he has trailed two different kinds of wild animals or birds on ordinary ground far enough to determine the direction in which they were going, and their gait or speed. Give the names of animals or birds trailed, their direction of travel, and describe gait and speed; or submit satisfactory evidence that he has trailed six different kinds of wild animal or birds in snow, sand, dust, or mud, far enough to determine the direction they were going and their gait or speed. Give names of animals or birds, their direction of travel, and describe gait and speed.
4. Submit evidence that he has scored at least 30 points from the following groups:
   Group (f) and 4 of the 5 groups (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) must be represented in the score of 30 and at least 7 points must be scored from (a), (b), or (c). Make clear recognizable photographs of
5. (a) Live bird away from nest – 4 points each
6. (b) Live woodchuck or smaller wild animal – 3 points each
7. (c) Live wild animal larger than woodchuck – 4 points each 
8. (d)  Live bird on nest – 3 points each
9. (e)  Tracks of live wild animal or bird – 2 points each
   AND
10. (f) Make satisfactory plaster cast of wild animal or bird tracks with identification imprint on back of cast – 2 points each

Related Current Merit Badges:

• Orienteering
• Citizenship in the Community

This historical merit badge will only be available during the 100th Anniversary year of Scouting. The Tracking merit badge counts toward rank advancement.  Requirements must be completed by Dec. 31, 2010.