Merit Badge University Brings Hundreds of Scouts to Campus

UA Little Rock hosted Merit Badge University on May 3, welcoming 402 Scouts and more than 150 leaders and parents to campus. Now in its third year here, the event continues to grow and draw strong participation from across the region.

Merit Badge University gives Scouts the chance to work on advancement in a structured setting, often completing up to two badges in a single day. The sessions led by volunteers and subject-matter experts were designed to be practical and provide hands-on experience.

This year, more than 40 merit badges were offered in topics ranging from First Aid and Citizenship to Chemistry and Robotics. Scouts spent the day in classrooms and labs across campus, building skills, asking questions, and making progress on their Scouting journey.

UA Little Rock’s STEM Outreach team helped support the event, continuing its work to connect young people with educational opportunities and real-world learning experiences.