Boy Scout Earns All Badges

James Calderwoood, 18, of Chevy Chase, Md., has earned all 121 possible merit badges offered in the United States under the scouting program.  He met scouting requirements in fields ranging from public health, photography, archery and even home repairs since launching his scouting career in first grade.

While it takes 21 merit badges to meet Eagle Scout requirements, very few scouts have ever collected the full compliment of available merit badges.

Calderwood qualified for his final merit badge, bugling, following a recent hiking trip on Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro.  While climbing the East African peak he was frequently seen practicing.  Scout officials said the bugling merit badge requires six months of practice.

A lot of people are trying to get to heaven that way – doing every good deed they can.  But, even if we earn every badge, we still fall short of the glory of God.