STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) is all the rage these days by parents for their kids. Although the kids are liking it too when it is made fun (think robotics contests and such). Well the Scouts have been doing “STEM” before it was called that.

I got into a discussion recently with a Scouting alumni friend Daniel Feigelson (also an Eagle Scout, former OA Section Chief, former National Conference Vice Chief, etc…) about this and mentioned that the Scouts used to have the Invention merit badge. He didn’t know that but did some digging and wrote a nice post about the current Inventing merit badge (See Inventing Merit Badge blog post.)

I said I’d track down the requirements and finally got a “round-tu-it” and shared with him. Thought I need to also share with the hobby.

There were only two requirements:

• Invent and patent some useful article.
• Show a working drawing or model of the same.

Simple right? Only 11 Scouts earned the merit badge from 1911 to 1917. It was discontinued in 1918.

From the 1911 Handbook:

Invention merit badge requirements, c 1911

The patch is obviously extremely rare. For the decades the only known existence was what was pictured on the 1914 Scout calendar.

1914 Scout calendar showing the merit badges

Invention merit badge in lower left corner.

A couple of people did some digging and did locate one of the families of a Scout who earned the merit badge. The family still had the sash with the patch on it. I don’t think as of this post that the sash has moved into the collectorate though.