03/20/2026
The Bugling Merit Badge may rank 141 out of 141 in 2025—and that should get our attention.
Not because bugling has lost its value. But because it reminds us how easily an old and honorable skill can fade when a new generation is not invited to carry it forward.
Bugling is not just another merit badge. It is one of Scouting’s great heritage skills—part of the Original 57 merit badges from 1911—and a living echo of camp tradition, ceremony, discipline, and service. Long before screens and shortcuts, the bugle called Scouts to rise, gather, eat, retire, and remember. It was the soundtrack of camp life and a symbol of leadership.
Today, Bugling sits at the very bottom of the rankings. In 2024 it was 138 of 138. In 2025 it fell to 141 of 141. That tells us something important: this badge is now one of the rarest in Scouting, and perhaps one of the most at risk of being forgotten.
And yet, rarity can also mean importance.
Some badges are popular because they are required. Others endure because they speak to something deeper. Bugling teaches confidence, breath control, discipline, musicality, ceremony, and service to others. It connects young people to history, to patriotism, to camp tradition, and to moments of remembrance that still matter deeply today. When a Scout learns to sound a bugle call, he or she is not just earning a badge—they are becoming a keeper of a tradition.
That is why we partnered with Greg Sinatra and Scout Buglers
Their mission is simple: to help advance bugling in the Scouting world, encourage more young people to learn the calls, and ensure this time-honored tradition has a future. They meet monthly in the Atlanta Area Council at Marietta National Cemetery, and they are proud to align our efforts with Taps for Veterans.
If we want Bugling to have a lasting legacy in Scouting, here are a few ways forward:
🎺 Introduce Scouts early — let them hear live bugle calls at camporees, courts of honor, and flag ceremonies.
🎺 Create modern learning tools — videos, printable guides, play-alongs, and digital resources can make the badge far more accessible.
🎺 Connect bugling to service — when Scouts see how bugling can honor veterans and serve their communities, the skill gains deeper meaning.
🎺 Build local bugling groups — mentoring, fellowship, and regular practice make all the difference.
🎺 Celebrate buglers publicly — recognition inspires participation.
The truth is, Bugling may be near the bottom in numbers—but it should never be near the bottom in value.
Let’s change the story. Let’s spread the word. Let’s inspire a Scout to pick up a bugle, sound the calls, and keep this proud tradition alive for generations to come.
Please share your bugling journey and tell us why this skill still matters. The benefits to the next generation are beyond measure.
Taps for Veterans
Scouting America
Scouter Mom
Thebandmom
