Top 5 Merit Badges Earned in 2025
We’ve crunched the numbers, and are excited to share the Top 5 Merit Badges earned by Heart of Virginia Council Scouts in 2025! 
Heart of Virginia Council Scouts earned a total of 8,325 merit badges in 2025! Here’s the breakdown…
| Merit Badge | Earned |
|---|---|
| Citizenship in the World | 237 |
| Communication | 228 |
| First Aid | 226 |
| Citizenship in the Nation | 224 |
| Citizenship in the Community | 186 |
| Swimming | 186 |
| Citizenship in Society | 182 |
| Camping | 181 |
| Cooking | 175 |
| Family Life | 172 |
| Personal Management | 172 |
| Environmental Science | 169 |
| Emergency Preparedness | 164 |
| Leatherwork | 157 |
| Personal Fitness | 156 |
| Archery | 140 |
| Chemistry | 138 |
| Rifle Shooting | 137 |
| Kayaking | 130 |
| Chess | 128 |
| Wood Carving | 120 |
| Animation | 119 |
| Shotgun Shooting | 117 |
| Photography | 113 |
| Fishing | 106 |
| Space Exploration | 106 |
| Sustainability | 105 |
| Art | 98 |
| Fingerprinting | 97 |
| Salesmanship | 95 |
| Canoeing | 89 |
| Astronomy | 88 |
| Basketry | 88 |
| Soil and Water Conservation | 88 |
| Robotics | 87 |
| Mammal Study | 83 |
| Pulp and Paper | 83 |
| Moviemaking | 80 |
| Wilderness Survival | 77 |
| Geology | 76 |
| Nuclear Science | 75 |
| Fish and Wildlife Management | 74 |
| Entrepreneurship | 71 |
| Weather | 71 |
| Geocaching | 70 |
| Bird Study | 69 |
| Signs, Signals, and Codes | 67 |
| Music | 65 |
| Graphic Arts | 64 |
| Engineering | 60 |
| Golf | 59 |
| Nature | 59 |
| Game Design | 58 |
| Electricity | 55 |
| Archaeology | 54 |
| Forestry | 52 |
| Collections | 51 |
| Pottery | 49 |
| Public Speaking | 49 |
| American Heritage | 48 |
| Fire Safety | 48 |
| Mining in Society | 48 |
| Programming | 48 |
| Insect Study | 47 |
| Automotive Maintenance | 46 |
| Genealogy | 46 |
| Fly Fishing | 44 |
| Scouting Heritage | 42 |
| Metalwork | 41 |
| Railroading | 38 |
| American Indian Culture | 37 |
| Aviation | 37 |
| Search and Rescue | 37 |
| American Business | 36 |
| Digital Technology | 36 |
| Orienteering | 36 |
| Oceanography | 35 |
| Pets | 35 |
| Sculpture | 34 |
| Welding | 34 |
| Small-Boat Sailing | 33 |
| Law | 32 |
| Lifesaving | 32 |
| Model Design and Building | 32 |
| Pioneering | 32 |
| Crime Prevention | 30 |
| Electronics | 30 |
| Rowing | 30 |
| Reptile and Amphibian Study | 29 |
| Gardening | 28 |
| Woodwork | 28 |
| Coin Collecting | 27 |
| Reading | 26 |
| Stamp Collecting | 26 |
| Radio | 25 |
| Scholarship | 24 |
| American Labor | 23 |
| Climbing | 22 |
| Disabilities Awareness | 22 |
| Painting | 22 |
| Hiking | 21 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 21 |
| Motorboating | 19 |
| Drafting | 18 |
| American Cultures | 17 |
| Exploration | 16 |
| Traffic Safety | 16 |
| Animal Science | 15 |
| Snow Sports | 15 |
| Skating | 13 |
| Cycling | 12 |
| Farm Mechanics | 12 |
| Health Care Professions | 11 |
| Home Repairs | 10 |
| Safety | 10 |
| Architecture | 9 |
| Dog Care | 9 |
| Energy | 9 |
| Horsemanship | 9 |
| Scuba Diving | 8 |
| Dentistry | 7 |
| Landscape Architecture | 7 |
| Truck Transportation | 7 |
| Plant Science | 6 |
| Plumbing | 6 |
| Inventing | 5 |
| Textile | 5 |
| Theater | 5 |
| Whitewater | 5 |
| Athletics | 4 |
| Sports | 4 |
| Backpacking | 3 |
| Public Health | 3 |
| Journalism | 2 |
| Bugling | 1 |
| Cybersecurity | 1 |
| Multisport | 1 |
| Pathfinding | 1 |
| Surveying | 1 |