The National Outdoor Badge for Camping recognizes Scouts and Venturers who spend lots of time camping and build strong outdoor skills. It's a great goal for anyone who loves nights under the stars.
Why it's worth it
Twenty-five days and nights outdoors adds up to a lot of sunrises, rainstorms, and campfire stories. The National Outdoor Badge for Camping recognizes Scouts and Venturers who've made camping a real part of their lives and built the skills to match in cooking, first aid, or pioneering. By the time you earn it, you're the one who knows how to keep a group fed, dry, and safe in almost any weather.
Start this week
- Count the days and nights you've already camped in Scouting, using your own notes and your unit's records.
- Check that you've finished requirement 1: First Class, Sea Scout Apprentice, or Ranger requirements 1-6.
- Find out when your council's summer camp week is, since a week at an accredited resident camp is part of requirement 4.
- Pick two from Cooking, First Aid, and Pioneering, and message a counselor for one, with a parent copied.
Plan ahead: Requirement 4 needs 25 days and nights of camping, including 6 days and 5 nights at an accredited resident camp, so it takes the longest. Start your log now, ask your leader which past campouts count, and plan your summer camp week early.
Stay safe
- Follow the Guide to Safe Scouting on every trip, and check the forecast and fire rules before you go.
Requirements · 4
Every official requirement and part, numbered to match Scouting America, in plain language. Sign off against the official wording (opens in a new tab).
- Requirement 1
Earn First Class rank or Sea Scout Apprentice rank, or finish Venturing Ranger Award requirements 1–6
Tip: Make sure you've finished First Class, Sea Scout Apprentice, or the listed Ranger requirements first.
- Requirement 2
Finish all the Camping merit badge requirements
Tip: Work with a counselor on the Camping merit badge. You'll use those skills on every trip.
For example: The Camping merit badge covers trip planning, gear, menus, and a set number of nights of camping. Keep one detailed log of every trip so you can show both your counselor and your leader the same records.
- Requirement 3
Finish two of these three: Cooking merit badge or the Ranger core in Cooking; First Aid merit badge or the Ranger core in First Aid; Pioneering merit badge
Tip: Choose two from cooking, first aid, and pioneering. Pick the ones you'll enjoy and use most.
For example: Pick what you'll use most: Cooking if you like planning meals for a group, First Aid if you want to be ready for emergencies, or Pioneering if you like building towers, bridges, and camp gadgets with rope and spars.
- Requirement 4
Camp 25 days and nights in approved Scouting America outings (nights from 1–3 count), including 6 straight days and 5 nights; Scouts do that stretch at an accredited Scouting America resident camp, and Sea Scouts may spend it aboard a boat
Tip: Keep a log of every day and night you camp toward the 25. A week at an accredited resident camp, like council summer camp, can cover that part.
For example: A log entry might read: "June 14-20, council summer camp, 6 days and 5 nights, tent camping." Track every trip with dates, place, and nights so the total is easy to check.
Ask yourself
- What keeps you coming back to camping, even after the hard trips?
- Which camping skill do you rely on most now, and who taught it to you?
- What's a trip that went wrong, and what did you learn from it?
- How do you help newer campers feel comfortable on their first nights out?
Good questions to ask your Scoutmaster or crew Advisor
- Which of my past campouts count toward the 25 days and nights?
- Which summer camp session would fit my schedule best?
- What camping skill do you think I should work on next?
Helpful reads
- Venturing: plan your own adventures, How a Venturing crew works, the four ranks from Venturing to Summit, what officers do, how to plan an adventure, and the national high-adventure bases., Youth · Leaders · 5 min read
- Finding service that matters, Service hours count toward your rank, but the best ones are the ones you'd want to do anyway. Here's how to find them, arrange them, and get the most out of them., Youth · Families · 5 min read
For leaders & parents
- Help Scouts and Venturers keep camping logs so they can track their nights.
- Plan regular campouts and encourage summer camp attendance.
People & places that can help
- Merit badge counselors — Talk with them early; they can explain what's expected.
- Local council camp — Accredited resident camp for summer camping.
- Scouting America (opens in a new tab) — National Outdoor Badge information.
- National Outdoor Awards (opens in a new tab) — Scouting America's official rules for the National Outdoor Badges and Medal.
- Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab) — Find and reserve campsites on federal lands for your next campout.
- National Park Service: Camping (opens in a new tab) — Camping options and tips across national parks.
Pairs well with
Named in these requirements
Tips, examples, and questions are ideas from experienced leaders, not extra requirements. Your unit leader or counselor decides when a requirement is complete.