Were you a Boy Scout? Your old memorabilia could be worth thousands of dollars today

Since its founding in 1910, over 130 million people in the U.S. have been members of the Boy Scouts of America, which rebranded as Scouting America in 2024. In 2017, the organization announced that children of all genders would be able to join, and the new name reflects that shift. The brand refresh followed decades of declining participation rates, worsened by a horrific sexual misconduct scandal. The organization was required to pay settlements to over 90,000 abuse survivors, ultimately leading to a bankruptcy declaration in 2020.

Since 2023, Scouting America has implemented new rules aimed at reducing the risk of abuse, including requiring two leaders to be present at meetings and outdoor excursions, along with stronger background checks.

While the brand’s popularity has dipped in recent years, its memorabilia has gained value—and if you have some you’re willing to part with, you might be able to cash in.

Vintage badges

Throughout the scouting organization’s history, more than 200 merit badges have been offered to members, of which currently 135 remain available.

Those that have been discontinued or replaced can be found on sites like eBay and range in value depending on how rare or old they are. A bundle of badges and other collectables from the 1950s is on sale for $77. Meanwhile, another seller has auctioned off badges from the 1980s and 90s, and is asking for close to $50 (granted, the package includes over 40 patches).

According to Scout Smart, the Surveying badge is one of the rarest, as it requires Scouts to “undertake field exercises involving measuring angles and distances, determining elevations, and plotting field data using appropriate surveying software.” If you happen to have one from the early years of the organization, it could be worth hundreds of dollars.

Keep your eyes peeled for the ‘Original 56′

There are higher market values for the original 56 badges that were established as a part of the scouting program when the BSA was founded. The vintage variety of the badges that have used the same logo for over 100 years are also usually worth more:

Do your research, as some unexpected badges are worth a lot

According to Scout Smart, the Surveying badge is one of the rarest, as it requires Scouts to “undertake field exercises involving measuring angles and distances, determining elevations, and plotting field data using appropriate surveying software.” One vendor on eBay, dating their Surveying badge to between 1913 and 1921, is currently selling it for $299. Surveying forms part of the original collections, but the logo has changed over the years. Another badge from the original collection is that for Civics, which was later split into different badges. A vintage Civic badge sells for over $100.

The discontinued list is another place to look. A Bee Farming badge from the 1930s is currently selling on eBay for over $120.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.