As of January 1, 2014 the Cooking merit badge is an Eagle-required merit badge.  In addition, the requirements for the Cooking merit badge have changed.  eTrailToEagle now supports this change and our reports and other tools will reflect this.

There have been many questions on the Cooking merit badge and we like the blog post by Byan on Scouting.  He talks about the changes and how that affects your scouts:

• Scouts who already started Cooking MB using old requirements: They’re fine and may finish with the old requirements. They will not need to re-earn the merit badge with the new requirements, but they may switch to the new ones if they choose. There is no time limit between starting and completing a badge, although a counselor may determine so much time has passed since any effort took place that the new requirements must be used.
• Scouts who already earned Cooking MB: They may purchase or be presented with the new, silver-bordered Cooking MB patch (regardless which requirements were involved). They don’t need to re-earn it now that it’s Eagle-required. But they can’t wear both the green- and the silver-bordered versions.
• Scouts who begin Cooking MB in 2013 or 2014: They may use the old or new requirements — their choice.
• Scouts who begin Cooking MB in 2015 or beyond: They must use the new requirements.

If you have any questions on this change, please let us know.

Thanks!