EARN THE BOY SCOUT STAMP COLLECTING MERIT BADGE!
The world's most popular hobby, stamp collecting is enjoyed by millions throughout the world.
Through this hobby, you can experience history: postage stamps are like tiny windows that
introduce the people of the world to the country's leaders, customs, history, products, and
environment. In 2015, only 996 Stamp Collecting Merit Badges were earned by Scouts making it
one of the rarest merit badges earned within the Boy Scouts of America.
The Stamp Collecting Merit Badge will be offered during World Stamp Show New York 2016 at the
Javits Convention Center, New York, NY. Scouts only need to attend one session: either Monday,
May 30 th , 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or Saturday, June 4 th , 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
World Stamp New York 2016 will have some of the nation's finest and most famous collections on
display within the aisles of frames.;
Registration is live on the Great New York City Council website.
May 30 registration link is https://www.bsa-gnyc.org/stampcollectingMB
June 4 registration link is https://www.bsa-gnyc.org/stampcollectingMB2
There will be a $20 registration fee which will include starter material and tools for stamp collecting.
Space will be limited to 20 Scouts on May 30 th and 30 Scouts on June 4 th .
There are two prerequisites for Stamp Collecting Merit Badge. They are as follows:
Requirement #7.a. Scouts design a stamp for a country (U.S. or other country). The correct
currency must be shown and the design must highlight some aspect of the history, culture, or
geography of that country. This should also be brought to the program, where they will be asked to
explain the design and share some information about the country. Attached is a form to use for
documenting their Stamp Design.
Requirement # 7.c. Write a review of an interesting article from a stamp newspaper, magazine,
book, or Web site (with your parent's permission). A number of articles will be sent to the Scouts
who register for the merit badge. They will have the opportunity to select one of a number of
philatelic (stamp collecting) or postal oriented articles and prepare a review on one article.
Scouts will need to be in their Class A uniform, bring a bag lunch, and each Scout will need to bring
a Merit Badge Blue Card filled out and signed by their Scoutmaster.
If you have any questions, email to Mr. Bill Shea, BSA Stamp Collecting Merit Badge Counselor
and member of the Scouts on Stamp Society International, at william.shea@sbcglobal.net.