Scout BSA Merit Badge Programs
Tours, Programs and Badge Workshops for Scouts of All Ages!
Special Note – COVID-19 Changes
The Hiller Aviation Museum’s Merit Badge programming is subject to change and/or cancellation on an ongoing basis due to public health orders in place to mitigate spread of the COVID-19 illness. Please visit our COVID-19 page for current information.
Effective March 12, 2022, the Hiller Aviation Museum’s BSA Merit Badge programs will align with new state and county guidance, which strongly recommends, but does not require, use of face coverings indoors during K-12 education programs regardless of vaccination status. Face covering use is optional outdoors for all visitors.
Scout BSA Merit Badge Programs
Scout Merit Badge Programs are intensive, all-day programs for Grades 5 and up that allow the Scout to complete all requirements for the Aviation and Weather Merit Badge and most requirements for the Astronomy Merit Badge. Individual Scouts or small groups of Scouts from the same Troop may join one of the many open enrollment dates offered throughout the year, and Troops of 12 or more can make a special reservation for additional dates. All registrations are handled through the Hiller Aviation Museum.
Scouts may complete all requirements for their Aviation Badge in a single day. Scouts joining the Weather Badge program will need to complete a week of weather observations using a weather station built during the program and submit the results to the Museum by mail to complete the last requirement. Scouts conducting the Astronomy Badge program will need to complete sky observations in the real sky for which training will be provided during the workshop.
All in-person programs include the following:
- Admission to the Hiller Aviation Museum
- Advanced lab activities in the badge specialty, including aerodynamics, astronomy and meteorology
- Content presentations and workshops in an aviation-themed environment
- Flight Simulation missions in the Flight Sim Zone
Online Merit Badge programs fulfill all requirements and include multiple hands-on activities, but do not include admission to the museum or flight simulation.
To learn more, download our Merit Badge Program Flyer.
Aviation Merit Badge Workshops
$59 per Scout
Program Dates
Saturday, March 18, 2023
9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Availability: YES
Saturday, April 22, 2023
9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Availability: YES
Saturday, May 20, 2023
9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Availability: YES
Aviation Merit Badge Info
The in-person Aviation Merit Badge program allows Scouts to complete their requirements in an immersive aviation environment. Scouts use Hiller Aviation Museum exhibits and aircraft to satisfy the various requirements for the Aviation Merit Badge, including hands-on aircraft checkout and a realistic flight simulation session.
Scouts enrolled in an upcoming Aviation Merit Badge program may wish to review the Aviation Badge Worksheet prior to their program date.
Weather Merit Badge Workshops
$65 per Scout
Program Dates
Saturday, March 25, 2023
9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Availability: YES
Saturday, April 29, 2023
9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Availability: YES
Weather Merit Badge Info
Weather Merit Badge participants complete the requirements for the Weather Merit Badge onsite at the Hiller Aviation Museum. Special attention is given to impacts of weather on private and commercial flight, and Scouts complete a series of challenging flight simulations in instrument meteorological conditions as part of their program.
Scouts completing the on-site Weather Merit Badge program must give a weather safety talk to their family members following their program, and must also conduct a seven-day series of weather observations using a weather station that will be constructed on the program date. Confirmation of the safety talk, and data collected during the week of weather observations, must be submitted via US Mail to Hiller Aviation Museum staff members following the program prior to staff endorsing blue cards for participating Scouts.
Astronomy Merit Badge Workshops
$75 per Scout
Program Dates
Offered Fall/Winter Only. Returning Fall 2023.
Astronomy Merit Badge Info
Astronomy Badge applicants will complete most requirements during the one-day program at the Museum. When clear skies are present on the day of the program, Scouts will be responsible for completing Requirements 4A & 4B (star and constellation identification), 5D (planet observation) and 6B (a four-day Moon observation program) independently following their Saturday program. Requirements 4A & 4B will be practiced in a planetarium environment, and a tool suitable for Requirement 5D will be constructed and sent home with each Scout.
Weather permitting, all Scouts enrolled in an Astronomy Merit Badge program have the option to return to the museum for an optional evening observation session to complete Requirements 4A, 4B and 5D. Whether they join the optional weekday evening observing session or not, all Scouts must complete the basic Astronomy Observation Form and return to the Hiller Aviation Museum with their blue card for endorsement.
In the event of inclement weather at the Hiller Aviation Museum on the day of the program, Requirement 6A (lunar mapping), and 8B (planning and executing an observation session) must also be completed by Scouts at home following the program date. Scouts may use the observation session planned as part of Requirement 8B to make the observations required for Requirements 4A, 4B, 5D, 6A and one-fourth of 6B. These Scouts should complete the Astronomy Observation Long Form and return to the Hiller Aviation Museum with their blue card for endorsement.
Scouts may complete their observations independently, but have several options for nighttime observing with a group. All Scouts may join the optional weekday evening observing session held following their program date, or they may work with each other and other astronomy enthusiasts at public observatories in their area. Locally, the San Mateo County Astronomical Society hosts monthly Saturday star parties at Edgewood Park in San Carlos.
Merit Badge Registration and Fees
Registration fees must be paid at the time of enrollment and pre-registration is required. Space is limited and all registrations are subject to confirmation.
Cancellations and changes must be made at least seven days prior to the program. Refunds and changes are subject to a $10 processing fee. No refund for cancellations made fewer than seven days in advance.
Online Registration
To register online with a VISA, MasterCard or American Express, use our online registration system. Please note that online registration is only available for programs open to new enrollment. To be listed on a waiting list for a full program, email your name, Scout’s name, daytime phone number and email address to education@hiller.org.
Mail/Fax/In-Person Registration
Download the Merit Badge Registration Form and return to the Museum by mail, fax or in person:
Hiller Aviation Museum
Attn: Merit Badge Program
601 Skyway Road
San Carlos, CA 94070
Fax (650) 654-0220
Paper registrations will be processed and confirmed via email within 1-3 business days of submission. Note that space for Merit Badge programs is limited and individual registrations cannot be confirmed until processed. Online enrollment is strongly recommended for programs scheduled within the next 7 days.
Parental Permissions
Parents must complete a Scout Information and Medical Form and present it to their Scout’s counselor upon sign in at the beginning of each program. Please do not turn in Scout Information and Medical Forms ahead of time. Forms are not needed if enrollment is completed via Activity Hero.
Food
Please note that no food service except for limited snacks and drinks are available at the Museum. Scouts must have written permission from apparent or guardian to leave the Museum during lunch to eat at an offsite location. As of Spring 2021, there are no restaurants available within easy walking distance of the Museum.
More Information
Group rates and additional dates are available for Scout groups of 12 or more. Contact the Education Department at (650) 654-0200 x 222 or education@hiller.org for more information.