Over the course of a boy scout’s trail to Eagle, we spend a lot of time working on outdoor skills, survival strategies and handicraft-type merit badges.  Speaking from personal experience, there is much opportunity that can be missed if these activities are not done with a spiritual element involved…no matter the religion.  That’s where programs like Duty to God, Heart of Scouting and other religiously focused tools can help promote values and “spiritual badges” such as:

• Appreciation of Serving Others merit badge
• Strong Work Ethic merit badge
• Loving the Scriptures merit badge
• Practical Leadership Experience merit badge
• Meaningful Prayer merit badge
• Spiritual Experiences merit badge

I was once an Assistant Varisty Scout Coach for six years (2001-07) and thought scouting was only about teaching the boys how to camp, cook and get along in the wild for a few days.  Since then, I have discovered it is so much more!!  It was only after reading Trails To Testimony, attending Wood Badge and working for the Heart of Scouting pin that I really began to catch the vision.  I saw how these spiritual badges are important too and that they should be the foundation for everything else to be built upon.  How else does a boy live the Scout Oath and Law in his everyday life??