All worksheets / Climbing
Edition 2026Active Merit Badge
Climbing
Official Requirements & Fillable Workbook · 2026 Edition
Climbing challenges your balance, agility, and mental focus while immersing you in the vertical world. You will master Climb On Safely standards, wilderness first aid, crag ethics under Leave No Trace, essential climbing knots and rope care, harness and belay mechanics, verbal command systems, and active climbing, belaying, and rappelling on rock faces or climbing walls.
Key Requirements Covered:
- Vertical Safety & Belay Communication
- Climbing Knots, Harnesses & Gear Care
- Top-Rope Climbing & Movement Technique
- Rappelling, Anchoring & Rope Management
11Printable Pages
13Requirements
2025Reqs Revised
What is on the worksheet: Climbing Requirements
Every requirement for the Climbing merit badge, word for word as published, with room to write under each one on the printed worksheet.
1Hazards, First Aid, and CPR
Do the following:
- a Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in climbing and rappelling activities and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
- b 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, concussions, and insect bites or stings.
- c Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person.
2Leave No Trace and Outdoor Code
Learn the Leave No Trace Seven Principles and the Outdoor Code and explain what they mean.
3Proper Clothing and Personal Gear
Present yourself properly dressed for belaying, climbing, and rappelling. Explain why you are wearing each piece of gear and discuss qualities of easy movement, entanglement free and good weather protection and comfort.
4Location and Site Evaluation
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. Discuss what medical training is needed for your group when climbing and rappelling in remote areas.
5Verbal Signals
Verbal signals. Explain the importance of using verbal signals during every climb and rappel, and while bouldering. With the help of the 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
6Rope Care and Coiling
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.
7Knots
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 Prusik hitch applied to rope
8Harness, Helmet & Gloves
Harness, Helmet & Gloves. Explain the purpose of each of the following and demonstrate how to put them on correctly.
- a Commercially made climbing harness
- b Climbing helmet
- c Climbing or rappelling gloves
9The CHECK System
Identify the elements of the CHECK system and describe the meaning of each one to your counselor.
10Belaying
Belaying. Do the following:
- a Explain the importance of belaying climbers and rappellers and when it is necessary.
- b Belay three different climbers on three different routes.
- c Serve as a backup belayer on three different climbs.
- d Belay three different rappellers on three different routes.
- e Serve as a backup belayer on three different rappels.
11Climbing
Climbing. Do the following:
- a Show the correct way to directly tie a belay rope to your harness.
- b Climb at least three different routes on a rock face or climbing wall, demonstrating good technique and using verbal signals with a belayer.
12Rappelling
Rappelling. Do the following:
- a Show the correct way to directly tie a belay rope to your harness.
- b Using a carabiner and a rappel device, attach a rappel rope to your harness.
- 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.
13Storage of Climbing Gear
Demonstrate ways to store rope, hardware, and other gear used for climbing, rappelling, and belaying.
Two dates, two different things
Requirements Revision vs. Worksheet Date
Scouting America last revised the Climbing requirements in 2025. That is the badge, not this sheet — an older year does not mean the worksheet is out of date.
Verbatim Fidelity & Verification
This worksheet was checked against https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/climbing/ in Aug 2026 and reproduces the requirements word for word. Both dates are printed on the sheet, so a copy in a binder can always be placed in time.
Requirement text is © Scouting America, reproduced verbatim. The worksheet layout and design are original to this project.
Spotted a discrepancy on this sheet? Tell us and we will re-check it against the official requirements.
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