I’m a Scouts BSA Counsellor for the Oceanography Merit Badge. My son recently had his Eagle Scout Court of Honor and my wife (who’s not an oceanographer) and I were looking at his 37 merit badge patches. She came across his Oceanography patch (see image) but didn’t know what it was for. She started guessing. I realized that her guesses were trial definitions of “Oceanography” and that many people must associate them with our field. So, for posterity, here’s what “Oceanography” really means:

• Beach maintenance
• Beach climate
• Beach safety
• Vacationing
• Sand castles
• Water anger
• Something to do with boat travel in knots
• Star gazing in the water

[Of course, the final one is correct]