Last Chance: Scouts Can Earn the Railroading Merit Badge in One Day at the National Railroad Museum on Nov. 7

Liz Van Pay Press Releases

Last Chance: Scouts Can Earn the Railroading Merit Badge in One Day at the National Railroad Museum on Nov. 7


Registration for the Museum’s only Railroading Merit Badge Workshop of the year closes November 5th and is capped at 300 Scouts

GREEN BAY, Wis. – October 28, 2026 – There is still time to register for the 2026 Railroading Merit Badge Workshop at the National Railroad Museum on Saturday, Nov. 7, but not much. Registration closes on Thursday, Nov. 5, or sooner if the workshop reaches its limit of 300 Scouts and 100 adult leaders. It is the only Railroading Merit Badge Workshop the Museum offers each year.

In one day, Scouts can earn the Railroading Merit Badge by rotating through six educational stations, each covering a different side of railroading. Every station challenges participants with hands-on activities, including time with real, full-size railroad equipment, led by Museum experts and railroad professionals.

Along the way, Scouts will learn to identify the types of freight railroads carry and name every Class I railroad. Operation Lifesaver will teach them about railroad safety and signaling, and they’ll discover how a locomotive works, how a museum curates its collection, and how to plan their own trip on Amtrak.

“The Railroading Merit Badge program at the National Railroad Museum is designed to get Scouts in, teach them what they need to earn the badge in a single day, and get everything signed off to turn in to their Scout leader,” said Justin Lambrecht, Education Director at the National Railroad Museum. “And what better place to do it than in the shadow of a Union Pacific Big Boy and General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s World War II command train? Come for the course, earn the badge, and check out some truly amazing pieces of American railroading history that you won’t find anywhere else.”

No prerequisites are required, though Scouts are encouraged to read the Railroading Merit Badge pamphlet beforehand. The Museum provides blue merit badge cards, and a counselor of record will be on site to sign them. Cub Scouts are also welcome; their activities can count toward other awards but not the Railroading Merit Badge.

Workshop Details

  • Date: Saturday, November 7th, 2026
  • Time: Check-in 8-8:30 AM, closing ceremony 3:30 PM; Scouts may explore the Museum until 5 PM
  • Location: National Railroad Museum, 2285 South Broadway, Green Bay
  • Cost: $15 per participant
  • Registration deadline: Thursday, November 5th, or when the workshop fills
  • Capacity: 300 Scouts and 100 adult leaders
  • What to bring: Class A uniform, weather-appropriate clothing, a signed first aid release form, a pencil and clipboard, a water bottle, and a packed lunch

Registration is online only at nationalrrmuseum.org/railroading-merit-badge-workshop. Spots are first-come, first-served, and Scout leaders are encouraged to share the opportunity across their councils before the deadline.

Questions on the programming can be directed to the Museum’s Education Department at nrrmeducation@nationalrrmuseum.org, or by calling 920.437.7623.

About the National Railroad Museum

Founded in 1956 and located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the National Railroad Museum inspires lifelong learning by providing dynamic educational opportunities through the preservation of railroad objects, engaging exhibits, and innovative programs.

Media Contact

Liz Van Pay
Marketing & Communications Director
National Railroad Museum

lvanpay@nationalrrmuseum.org
(920) 437-7623