Some scouts need Personal Fitness merit badge.  This is a required merit badge to make the Eagle Scout rank.  It is up to the scouts whether or not they want to work on this.  Some of the younger scouts may opt out of taking it at this time because it is a fair amount of work, but I don’t want to discourage anyone from working on it.  I want to give you a heads up  that the badge requirements have changed and seem to be a little more complicated.

We are going to start this up on Saturday morning 3/14/26, at 9:00 am at the JFK school track.  This merit badge’s requirements changed, but basically they meet twice to do some exercises, record how they did, and in the middle of that for 12 weeks they keep track of the exercises that they did.  There are other requirements, and below is some information from the merit badge counselor for the scouts.  I will also be there to help out.

Scouts should bring a copy of the new 2026 “Measures of Physical Fitness” sheet to record their “Pre-Assessment” scores. This and the whole Merit Badge Pamphlet are available here:  https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/personal-fitness/ The Merit Badge Pamphlet is free to download, as are certain PDFs the Scout will need to complete the Merit Badge requirements. Such as, the two-page “12-Week Physical Fitness Program” sheets, and the single page “Food & Drink Log.” The Scout must complete and turn these in at the end of the twelve week Merit Badge program, and also take the final assessment at JFK track on Saturday, June 6, at 9:00 a.m. to earn the Merit Badge. If the “Measures of Physical Fitness” score sheet, the “12-Week Program” sheets and the three day “Food & Drink Log” are correct and complete by 6th of June, a Scout may request a Blue Card on the spot after the final test.

• Scouts should come ready to perform vigorous physical activity and dress appropriately for potentially cool or cold weather.

• Scouts should bring a gym or beach towel, a pencil, water, and if available, a sturdy tape measure, ruler or yardstick for the flexibility test.

• Scout should have a responsible adult (someone 18 or older) with them to help keep their score.

• Scouts should decide ahead of time and indicate on their score sheets which elements for each fitness category they wish to be assessed on:

1. Either the 1 mile run (timed) OR walk (distance).
2. Either sit-ups (1 minute) OR timed plank
3. Push-ups (1 minute) OR Pull-ups (number correctly completed)
4. Back-Saver Sit-and-Reach OR Back Scratch Test (inches)

• Scouts should be familiar with the techniques for these fitness elements prior to the pre-assessment test on Saturday, March 14. They can do this by viewing the videos on the Personal Fitness Merit Badge website.