The Badge Archive

We’re not web designers, and many customizations are beyond our skill level, so the only way to improve the site is to try different templates until we find the right fit. Plugins don’t always solve the issues we run into, so testing new layouts is part of our learning process.

Thank you for your patience while things shift around.

“Relocated” Pages

As we update the site, you’ll see more pages titled “Relocated.” These are not errors or broken links. We are keeping the pages we’ve created so you never hit a 404 “Page does not exist” message. Instead, each “Relocated” page will point you directly to the new location of the content, whether it has moved elsewhere on The Badge Archive or to our companion site, the Youth Activity Archive.

This includes all badge pages, which are undergoing a major transition.

Why We’re Moving So Much Content

When The Badge Archive began, it had a simple purpose: List badges, share information about them, and link to meeting plans.

But over time, the site grew far beyond that:

• We created our own meeting plan outlines
• We added detailed activity instructions
• We built the Game Time section with 100+ games
• We added ceremonies, skits, Scout’s Owns, and bridging scripts
• We wrote information pages for badges that required background knowledge
• We gathered trusted sources and simplified them for leaders and scouts

All of this was useful, but it became too much for one website. Even we struggled to find things we knew existed.

How the Youth Activity Archive Helped

Launching the Youth Activity Archive solved a huge part of the problem by moving activities to a separate site. Then when we started making them blog posts instead of pages? We gained:

• Automatic category lists that update themselves
• Easier searching and browsing
• Cleaner organization
• Less clutter on The Badge Archive
• A better way to maintain hundreds of activities

We briefly considered creating additional archives for songs, ceremonies, or information pages, but ultimately decided that two archives are enough.

Converting Badge Pages Into Posts

Our experience with the Youth Activity Archive showed us how powerful posts can be. Posts can be sorted, categorized, filtered, and grouped in ways that pages simply can’t.

So we’re moving all badge pages into posts. This will allow us to:

• Sort badges by theme (Animals, STEM, Outdoors, Holidays, etc.)
• Combine badges and fun patches into unified lists
• Include Patch Program fun patches with requirements and activities
• Build better browsing tools for leaders
• Create automatic lists that update as new items are added

Imagine searching for “Animal” and seeing every badge and fun patch across programs. Or browsing “Winter Holidays” and seeing everything that fits. That’s the goal.

Thank You for Your Patience

This is a massive project. We estimate it will take over a year to move all GSUSA and Scouting America badges… and that’s before adding Fun Patch Programs.

During this time, you’ll see:

• Layout changes
• New templates being tested
• “Relocated” pages
• Old links pointing to new posts
• Gradual improvements in sorting and navigation

We know it may look messy for a while, but we believe the end result will make The Badge Archive far more useful for leaders, parents, and scouts.

Thank you for sticking with us as we grow.

–

---

Click Here -> To see information References:

Disclaimer: The information published on The Badge Archive is built from the references listed below. These sources demonstrate that our content is grounded in facts and research, not opinion or speculation. Readers may consult them directly when looking for additional material.

• This article draws solely on the author’s firsthand experience and does not incorporate outside sources.

–

• Find out how you can support The Badge Archive!