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Climbing Merit Badge requirement resources include the Merit Badge Worksheet Adobe Acrobat PDF,
video links, Leave No Trace, Outdoor Code, commands, and cross-references to Merit Badges and
Boy Scout Awards. Climbing is a fun and popular Summer Camp Merit badge.
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Climbing merit badge
Status: Elective
Created: 1997
Discontinued: no
BSA Advancement ID: 133
Requirements revision: 2007
Latest pamphlet revision: 2006


Climbing requirements

  1. Do the following:
    a. Show that you know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur during climbing activities, including heat and cold reactions, dehydration, stopped breathing, sprains, abrasions, fractures, rope burns, blisters, snakebite, and insect bites or stings.
    b. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person.
  2. Learn the Leave No Trace principles and Outdoor Code, and explain what they mean.
  3. Present yourself properly dressed for belaying, climbing, and rappelling (i.e., appropriate clothing, footwear, and a helmet; rappellers and belayers must also wear gloves).
  4. Location. Do the following:
    a. Explain how the difficulty of climbs is classified, and apply classifications to the rock faces or walls where you will demonstrate your climbing skills.
    b. Explain the following: top-rope climbing, lead climbing, and bouldering.
    c. Evaluate the safety of a particular climbing area. Consider weather, visibility, the condition of the climbing surface, and any other environmental hazards.
    d. Determine how to summon aid to the climbing area in case of an emergency.
  5. Verbal signals. Explain the importance of using verbal signals during every climb and rappel, and while bouldering. With the help of the merit badge counselor or another Scout, demonstrate the verbal signals used by each of the following:
    a. Climbers
    b. Rappellers
    c. Belayers
    d. Boulderers and their spotters
  6. Rope. Do the following:
    a. Describe the kinds of rope acceptable for use in climbing and rappelling.
    b. Show how to examine a rope for signs of wear or damage.
    c. Discuss ways to prevent a rope from being damaged.
    d. Explain when and how a rope should be retired.
    e. Properly coil a rope.
  7. Knots. Demonstrate the ability to tie each of the following knots. Give at least one example of how each knot is used in belaying, climbing, or rappelling.
    a. Figure eight on a bight
    b. Figure eight follow-through
    c. Water knot
    d. Double fisherman's knot (grapevine knot)
    e. Safety knot
  8. Harnesses. Correctly put on at least ONE of the following:
    a. Commercially made climbing harness
    b. Tied harness
  9. Belaying. Do the following:
    a. Explain the importance of belaying climbers and rappellers and when it is necessary.
    b. Belay three different climbers ascending a rock face or climbing wall.
    c. Belay three different rappellers descending a rock face or climbing wall using a top rope.
  10. Climbing. Do the following:
    a. Show the correct way to tie into a belay rope.
    b. Climb at least three different routes on a rock face or climbing wall, demonstrating good technique and using verbal signals with a belayer.
  11. Rappelling. Do the following:
    a. Using a carabiner and a rappel device, secure your climbing harness to a rappel rope.
    b. Tie into a belay rope set up to protect rappellers.
    c. Rappel down three different rock faces or three rappel routes on a climbing wall. Use verbal signals to communicate with a belayer, and demonstrate good rappelling technique.
  12. Demonstrate ways to store rope, hardware, and other gear used for climbing, rappelling, and belaying.

Boy Scout Requirements, 2014 Edition (BSA Supply No. 33216 - SKU# 619576)

The text of these requirements is locked and can only be edited
by an administrator.


Worksheet A FREE workbook for Climbing is available here! Adobe Acrobat PDF
Or click here to print just the Climbing requirements. has PDF and DOC versions of
Boy Scout merit badge workbooks,
Webelos workbooks, and Cub Scout workbooks.
  1. Guide to Safe Scouting: Climbing and Rappelling
  2. In 1963, Eagle Scout Jim Whittaker was the first American to summit Mt. Everest.

Requirement resources

1: First Aid
1a. Heat Reactions - Cold Reactions - Dehydration - Stopped Breathing - Sprains - Abrasions - Fractures - Rope Burns - Blisters - Snakebite - Insect Bites - Stings
1b. CPR

Related awards

Sports and Fitness Awards

Sports-related awards

See also

Boy Scout portal
Varsity Scout portal
Venturing portal
General Merit Badge information

External links

  1. Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills Graydon and Hanson editors
  2. Topping Out: Boy Scouts of America
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