Swimming is a leisure activity, a competitive sport, and a basic survival skill. Scouts who earn this badge will learn about safety when swimming and diving, how swimming can contribute to overall fitness and health, and gain some basic competitive swimming skills
- The Swimming merit badge was one of the original 57 merit badges issued by the Boy Scouts of America in 1911.
- Swimming merit badge is required for the National Outdoor Badge for Aquatics.
Swimming merit badge is an option for the Eagle Scout rank. Scouts can choose to earn Cycling or Hiking instead.