Tahquitz Summer 2026

*Offerings are subject to change
*** Eagle Required

Mentor Badge Program

Designed for Scouts to work independently, utilizing opportunities at the camp on their own direction, and connecting with our staff to review their knowledge and experiences as they would with a Merit Badge Counselor down the hill.

*Offerings are subject to change
*** Eagle Required

Badge Descriptions by Program Area

Outdoor Skills Cabin
Patch	Requirements	Description	Intensity
	Pioneering	Knots, lashings, and a proficiency with rope are among the skills Scouts are known for. Pioneering goes over these very skills. Learning all fashion of knots, using all fashion of lashings to build structures, and learning about general knot care and techniques are things Scouts can expect to learn taking the Pioneering merit badge	Advanced
	Orienteering	For scouts interested in developing their map-and-compass skills. The badge requirements have a heavy focus on the Orienteering Sport. Expect to learn techniques for navigation, how to read a map with discrete details, and practice in making and doing orienteering courses	Intermediate
	Camping	Camping merit badge goes over all the necessary steps when planning a camping trip, on and beyond just the tent pitching and cooking. Forward planning, equipment knowledge, and an appreciation for outdoor adventures are all contained within this Eagle required merit badge.	Advanced
	First Aid	First Aid merit badge sets a strong basis for what possibly injuries a First Responder could possibly encounter, and the best course of action at approaching such injuries. A highly important merit badge for any Scout to take, and sets the basis for much of the Scouting program.	Intermediate

Nature Lodge
Patch	Requirements	Description	Intensity
	Nature	Biodiversity, nature’s hierarchy, and environmental awareness are the main topics covered in the Nature Merit Badge. Scouts will be taught much in each of these topics and complete educational activities to further their learning. This badge gives scouts a baseline level of knowledge to be a jumping off point into other ecological interests.	Beginner
	Weather	Meteorology is the study of Earth’s atmosphere and its weather and the ways in which temperature, wind, and moisture act together in the environment. In addition to learning how everyday weather is predicted, Scouts can learn about extreme weather such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes, and how to stay safe.	Beginner
	Forestry	In working through the Forestry Merit Badge, Scouts will explore the remarkable complexity of a forest and identify many species of trees and plants and the roles they play in a forest’s life cycle.They will also discover some of the resources forests provide to humans and come to understand that people have a very large part to play in sustaining the health of forests.	Beginner
	Geology	The Geology Merit Badge gives a good understanding of geologic history, geological formations, and their identification. Scouts will participate in edutainment activities including hikes and a lab experiment to help with the understanding of these topics.	Intermediate
	Environmental Science	Environmental Science is a wide spanning topic that is majorly important to being aware in society today. Scouts will learn about pollution, its impact on ecosystems, species endangerment, conservation efforts, and environmental recovery. The Environmental Science Merit Badge is very information dense, it requires attention and willingness to earn this badge. To assist scout’s understanding there are experiments, observation of nature and visual aids that are interwoven into each merit badge lesson.	Advanced
	Soil & Water Conservation	Conservation is an important action that all people should learn about and participate in. It affects life in and outside of civilization as well as the health of the planet. The Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge will have scouts learning about the earth’s resources, how they are managed, conservation practices and they will also participate in conservation efforts at Camp Tahquitz	Intermediate
	Animal Science	In this merit badge, scouts will learn about different types of farm animals, including horses, dairy and beef cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, and chickens. They will learn the basics of nutrition, diseases, and housing, along with the purpose of different breeds and cross-breeding. They will be able to get up close and personal with some of the animals down in Wrangler and see how we manage the horses and chickens.	Beginner

Craft Lodge
Patch	Requirements	Description	Intensity
	Leatherwork	The Leatherwork merit badge gives Scouts insight into what the process of making leather crafts; such as stamping, staining, and sewing, the history and origin of different leathers, and gives Scouts an opportunity to try their hand at a leatherworking project. (Note: Kits are available for purchase at the Trading Post)	Beginner
	Basketry	The Basketry merit badge is a fantastic introductory badge to craftwork. The badge covers various basketry weaves, and has the Scouts practice this by making their own basketry projects. (Note: Kits are available for purchase at the Trading Post)	Beginner
	Wood Carving	The Wood Carving merit badge helps teach scouts about general knife safety, tools, and techniques, as well as types of wood and their origins, and lets them show what they learned with a hands-on wood-carving project. (Note: Kits are available for purchase at the Trading Post)	Beginner
	Chess	The Chess Merit Badge is great for Scouts who enjoy forward thinking and careful planning. This merit badge will teach Scouts about the strategies and rules of chess, and give Scouts an opprotunity to practice by facing their instructor and fellow scouts. Chess on!	Beginner
	Art	Scouts will be able to let their creative juices run wild with the Art Merit Badge. The merit badge focused on two-dimensional art, but touches in all art forms. Class material covers a variety of material to build Scouts understanding and appreciate of art, in any form it may be in.	Beginner

Trades *NEW 2025*
Patch	Requirements	Description	Intensity
	Woodworking	The Woodworking merit badge is the most advanced Craft badge we host. Here, scouts will go into a deeper understanding of tools and safety precautions. Scouts will also create their own Woodworking project, starting at the drawing board and ending up with a masterpiece.	Intermediate
	Home Repairs	Scouts taking the home repair merit badge will learn a variety of skills from working on different projects to help with their ability to work on small projects at home.	Beginner
	Metalwork	The metalworking badge teaches scouts about the properties of metals and basic metalworking techniques. Following their introduction to general metalworking scouts will learn how to blacksmith and make two projects of their own.	Intermediate

The Ranges
Patch	Requirements	Description	Intensity
	Archery	The Archery merit badge covers the basics of archery and how to safely use a bow and arrow. This is the most physically strenuous of the shooting sports merit badges, given it requires physical strength to both draw the bow but also to hold it while aiming. Younger scouts may encounter difficulty with the shooting proficiency requirement of the merit badge	Intermediate
	Rifle Shooting	The Rifle Shooting merit badge is a course that teaches the fundamentals of safe gun handling and beginner friendly rifle shooting techniques. This merit badge is a great opportunity for a Scout to learn how to be safe and respectful with firearms in a broad context.	Beginner
	Shotgun Shooting	Shotgun Shooting is more dynamic than Rifle Shooting in that the target is no longer stationary and is flying fast through the air. Scouts that don’t have the arm strength to hold the shotgun might encounter more difficulty with earning the skill proficiency requirement of this merit badge. In addition to Rifle Shooting, this merit badge course is a wonderful opportunity for a Scout to learn how to be safe and respectful with firearms in a broad context.	Advanced

High Adventure Center
Patch	Requirements	Description	Intensity
	Climbing	The Climbing merit badge sets the foundation for the majority of Scouting’s High Adventure programs. This merit badge covers the knots and gear required to perform such activities, and challenges the scout to participate in several climbs and rappels, as the participant and belayer, to get a taste for what this sport entails.	Beginner
	Search & Rescue	Search and rescue operations require a trained and coordinated team to quickly help a lost individual. This merit badge class covers the terminology and techniques used by S&R teams, including a mock scenario for the Scouts to practice what they learned.	Intermediate
	Wilderness Survival	With all of the outdoor activities within Scouting, being prepared for the unexpected is a running theme. Wilderness Survival prepares Scouts for the possibility of getting lost in the outdoors, and how to maintain calm and act appropriately should they find themselves in this situation. A fan favorite badge for most campers.	Beginner
STEM Lab
Patch	Requirements	Description	Intensity
	Robotics	As an interdisciplinary merit badge, scouts will use their engineering talent to design and construct robots that perform simple tasks of their choosing, then practice their programming skills to allow their creations to act autonomously. Scouts will also learn the history of robots from past to present as well as see a glimpse of the future of robotics as a career choice.	Intermediate
	Electronics	In this merit badge, scouts will gain fundamental knowledge of how to design and prototype electronic circuits, learn how to read number values in binary and hexadecimal, and what career opportunities are available for this discipline.	Intermediate
	Game Design	As Scouts explore the game design process, they will examine multiple games across several genres and mediums to comprehend the game design basics, then work together to create games that they can take home and play with their troops and families. They will also come to understand the different disciplines involved in professional game development. (Note: A follow-up online meeting will be required for completion; details to be given at camp.)	Beginner
Wrangler
Patch	Requirements	Description	Intensity
	Mammal Study	The Mammal Study Merit Badge is a simple introductory badge into nature studies. It goes over baseline knowledge of the animal kingdom, mammal identification and definition, as well as some nature observation practices.	Beginner
	Horsemanship	In Horsemanship, Scouts will be able to learn basic horse care such as grooming, nutrition, and diseases. They will also learn the parts of the saddle and bridle, and see the working Wrangler area. Scouts will get to help lead horses to be ridden before going out on a trail ride where they will demonstrate the skills they learned. (Note there is a 250lbs weight limit)	Advanced
Pool
Patch	Requirements	Description	Intensity
	Swimming	Do you love to swim? Then this is the badge for you. Scouts will demonstrate their ability to perform different swimming abilities, including floating, diving, the front crawl, breast stroke, side stroke, and elementary backstroke. They will also learn basic lifesaving skills and first aid. (Note: they need to pass the swim check before any other requirement. The altitude can make swimming difficult for some scouts, even with experience.)	Intermediate
	Lifesaving	In lifesaving, scouts will learn life guarding skills and first aid. They will demonstrate different methods of saving another scout depending on different circumstances that may arise in the water and what tools are available. (Note. The swimming merit badge and swim check must be done prior to this badge.)	Advanced
Lake
Patch	Requirements	Description	Intensity
	Rowing	The Rowing merit badge will introduce Scouts to the basics of the sport. The constructs of a safe boating trip, and how to effectively maneuver such a watercraft are among the topics a Scout will learn by taking this badge. (Note: The swim check must be done prior to this badge.)	Beginner
	Canoeing	This merit badge class will give Scouts a greater understanding of boats and boating equipment, along with building and strengthening their own boating skills. (Note: The swim check must be done prior to this badge.)	Intermediate
	Kayaking	The Kayaking merit badge will allow introduce Scouts to the unique watercraft, and let them build their individual boating skills through a variety of kayaking techniques. (Note: The swim check must be done prior to this badge.)	Intermediate