Scouting America has introduced its first merit badges focused on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The new badges, available from October 2025, guide participants through hands-on exploration of algorithms, digital threats and the ethical dimensions of emerging technologies. Working alongside expert counselors, Scouts learn to identify deepfakes, understand algorithmic bias, create secure passwords and grapple with questions around data privacy and responsible innovation.
The curriculum reflects mounting concerns about digital literacy among young people. The AI badge pushes Scouts to examine how automation is reshaping employment and society, while the cybersecurity component covers everything from recognizing social engineering attacks to preventing cyberbullying. Both badges position Scouts to envision futures as cybersecurity analysts, AI engineers or digital forensics experts — career paths that barely existed when today's Scout leaders were earning their own badges.
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Scouting America's launch of AI and cybersecurity merit badges signals a cultural reframing of what it means to be "prepared." For decades, being prepared meant tying knots and building campfires. In 2025, survival is digital, and AI literacy is a basic life skill. For brands, the opportunity is clear: help families navigate this age of rapid automation by creating tools, resources and experiences that make digital competence accessible, ethical and empowering — not just another source of parental anxiety.