Meritbadgecounselor

Merit badge counselors are the key to success in the merit badge plan. They offer their time, experience, and knowledge to help guide Scouts in one or more of the merit badge subjects.

The counselor's responsibility is to

• Assist the Scout as he plans the assigned projects and activities to meet the merit badge requirements.
• Coach Scouts through interviews and demonstrations on how to do the required skills of the craft, business, or hobby.
• Certify the Scout after determining whether he is qualified for the merit badge.

Most local councils list merit badge counselors by district so that Scouts may call for appointments.

The number of Scouts requesting help is usually no burden to the counselor, since the number of counselors is normally determined by the popularity of the badge. Counselors schedule appointments at their convenience.

Millions of Scouts "browse" among the more than 100 subjects, choosing those that seem most interesting to them. Some subjects are in craftwork, some in vocational fields, some in service to others, and many in cultural or life skills areas. In addition, certain merit badges are required for the Eagle Scout rank.

It is in the career fields that adults can make a vital impact on the life of a Scout by helping him with merit badges. Badges such as Entrepreneurship, Graphic Arts, Engineering, Chemistry, and many others provide the finest kind of orientation toward a possible career for the Scout.

Service clubs and professional societies often support the merit badge program through their vocational guidance committees. Members offer their services as counselors, and the group as a whole may help recruit and train counselors for districts or councils.

Merit badge counselors provide the means for Scouts to explore many subjects that may not be available to them otherwise. The Scout who has earned a number of merit badges gains confidence, finds greater purpose in life, and becomes a better person from his experience. This cannot happen without the service of thousands of merit badge counselors expert in particular subjects and interested in helping Scouts grow into men of character who are ready to take their place in the world as participating citizens. You are probably saying, "That's all great, but what do I do, and how do I do it?"

Your task is to satisfy yourself that each Scout who comes to you meets all the requirements for the merit badge. In this sense you are an examiner, though your larger opportunity lies in coaching - helping the Scout meet the challenge of the requirements and making him aware of the deeper aspects of the subject through your knowledge and experience.

Merit badge counselors must be members of the Boy Scouts of America. A counselor must have approval from the BSA local council, but there is no cost to serve. All volunteers are expected to complete BSA Youth Protection training within 90 days of assuming a leadership position. This training is available online at http://olc.scouting.org.

As a merit badge counselor, I agree to

• Follow the requirements of the merit badge, making no deletions or additions, ensuring that the advancement standards are fair and uniform for all Scouts.
• Have a third person present with each Scout at all instructional sessions.
• Renew my registration as a merit badge counselor annually if I plan to continue serving as a merit badge counselor.

Working on merit badges is especially enjoyable when Scouts work together. The BSA encourages this by making the buddy system a part of the merit badge program. Together the two buddies meet with merit badge counselors, plan projects, and keep their enthusiasm high.

When a Scout has decided on a merit badge he would like to earn, he must follow these steps:

• Obtain from his Scoutmaster the name of a qualified counselor for that merit badge and a signed merit badge application. (A counselor must know the subject well, be approved by the local council, be able to work effectively with Scouts, and be currently registered as a merit badge counselor with the Boy Scouts of America.)
• Along with another Scout, a relative, or a friend, set up and attend the first appointment with his merit badge counselor. The counselor will explain the requirements for the badge and help the Scout plan ways to fulfill them so that he can get the most out of the experience.
• Complete the requirements, meeting with his counselor whenever necessary until he has finished working on the badge.
• The advancement program allows the Scout to move ahead in his own way and at his own speed. Rather than competing against others, he challenges himself to go as far as his ambition will carry him. The rate of advancement depends upon his interest, effort, and ability.

How the Merit Badge Counselor Helps

• The Scout contacts you, probably by phone. You may tell him what is expected of him over the phone, or you may want to make an appointment to discuss this with him face-to-face. Personal contact will make earning the badge a better experience for you both.
• On his first visit, the Scout should bring a merit badge application signed by his Scoutmaster, Varsity Scout Coach, or Venturing Advisor. There must always be third person present (Youth Protection).
• In your discussion of what is expected, you may want to start by finding out what the Scout already knows. Spend some time helping him learn the remaining requirements, or give guidance in completing projects. You can set up additional meetings with the Scout - not only for the purpose of passing him on the requirements, but rather to help him understand the subject.
• The Scout should make another appointment with you when he thinks he is prepared to prove his ability. You set the date, time, and place.

This review session might be approached by the Scout with some apprehension. He is familiar with final exams in school and may see this meeting with you as another such experience. You can help a great deal by putting him at ease. Talk with him rather than grill or examine him. There is a big difference, yet you can still find out what he knows. Express honest enthusiasm for the things he has done, particularly if projects are involved. Your approval will give the Scout confidence.

• When he meets you, he should bring with him the projects required for completion. If these cannot be transported, he should present satisfactory evidence, such as a photograph of the project or adult certification. His Scoutmaster, Varsity Scout Coach, or Venturing Advisor might, for example, certify that a satisfactory bridge or tower has been built for Pioneering, or that the required meals were prepared for the Cooking merit badge. Your responsibility, in addition to coaching, is to satisfy yourself that the requirements have been met. Question the Scout and, if you have any doubts, contact the adult who signed the statement.
• When you are satisfied that the Scout has met the requirements, you sign his merit badge application.
• You may work with many Scouts each year as they earn merit badges. However, you might only work with a few. Your contact with these Scouts is tremendously important. Your influence is measured not by the number of Scouts with whom you work, but by the effect upon the lives of those with whom you have an opportunity to work.

Throughout your association with the Scout, keep in mind that you are in reality assisting the Scoutmaster, the Varsity Scout Coach, Venturing Advisor, and other troop and team leaders in the advancement program that the Scoutmaster, Varsity Scout Coach, or Venturing Advisor helps each Scout plan. Often, the Scout's leader will help him select the merit badges he will earn for a particular award. Whether he earns the award or not, a merit badge counselor is always interested in the Scout's progress. You should feel free to discuss his work with the Scoutmaster, Varsity Scout Coach, or Venturing Advisor at any time.

The Scout is expected to meet the requirements as stated - no more and no less. Furthermore, he is to do exactly what is stated. If it says "show or demonstrate," that is what he must do. Just telling about it isn't enough. The same thing holds true for such words as "make," "list," "in the field," and "collect, identify, and label."

On the other hand, you cannot require more of a Scout than stated. You must not, for example, say, "I want to be sure you really know your stuff, so instead of the 20 items in your collection, you must have 50 to get my signature." You can suggest, encourage, and help the Scout to get 50 things, but you must not require it.

You might wonder, then, if the requirements as stated are the limits, what there is for you to do other than help the Scout with the specifics of these requirements. Actually, you can go far beyond the requirements in your discussions with the Scout. He probably will welcome your willingness to share your knowledge well beyond the requirements, and you will make a sincere contribution to him by doing so. But it isn't required. That's the key. The Scout does not have to show his knowledge of those things beyond the requirements.

You might stress the fact that while knowledge is necessary, whether he can put his knowledge to work is the important thing in life. As you work with the Scout you can give him indirect career guidance. Many merit badge subjects can acquaint a Scout with the career opportunities in various fields. In these cases the merit badge work serves as an exploration in an adult work experience, showing him whether or not he has the interest or ability along such lines.

His activity also can expose him to the educational requirements of a subject area. You can provide the Scout with valuable information on career possibilities, show him what is most interesting to you and what is difficult. The final choice - the selection of what he will do with himself in life - is up to one person. That person is the Scout himself. However, he will appreciate your help in relating his merit badge work with his life as he goes to school, into business or a trade, and on into adult life.

If the merit badge subject relates to your position or profession, then your place of work might be the best place to meet with Scouts. Hobby-related subjects usually are handled in your home. Here you will have the proper materials for use in coaching Scouts. For a few subjects, coaching will happen in the field or where special equipment is at hand. Rowing, Rifle Shooting, Swimming, and Astronomy are good examples.

Frequently the skills of a subject can be taught to several Scouts at one time. This has a time advantage for you. However, completing the requirements must always be done on an individual basis. A Scout may not qualify for merit badges by just being a member of a group that is instructed in skills.

Scouts must qualify by personally satisfying their merit badge counselor that they can meet all the requirements. This may be hard to do in a group. When one Scout in a group answers a question, that can't possibly prove all the other group members know the answer. Then, too, each Scout learns at his own pace. No Scout should be held back or pushed ahead by his association with a group.

To see a list of all merit badges and the requirements, click [here.].

Any Boy Scout may earn any merit badge at any time. You don't need to have had rank advancement to be eligible. The following is the procedure:

• Talk to your Scoutmaster about your interests. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you. Your Scoutmaster will give you the name of a person from a list of counselors. These counselors have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.
• You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be another Scout, your parents or guardian, a brother or sister or other relative, or a friend.
• Call The Counselor. Get a signed merit badge application from your Scoutmaster. Get in touch with the merit badge counselor and tell him or her that you want to earn the merit badge. The counselor may ask to meet you to explain what is expected of you and to start helping you meet the requirements. You should also discuss work that you have already started or possibly completed.
• Unless otherwise specified, work for a requirement can be started at any time. Ask your counselor to help you learn the things you need to know or do. You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject. Troop 792 has every merit badge pamphlet in pdf.
• When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment to meet the requirements. When you go take along the things you have made to meet the requirements. If they are too big to move, take pictures or have an adult tell in writing what you have done. The counselor will ask you to do each requirement to make sure that you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.
• When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, he (or she) will sign your application (blue card). Give the signed application to your Scoutmaster so that your merit badge emblem can be secured for you.
• You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated - no more and no less. You are expected to do exactly what is stated in the requirements. If it says "show or demonstrate," that is what you must do. Just telling about it isn't enough. The same thing holds true for such words as "make," "list," "in the field," and "collect," "identify," and "label."

If a Scout has already started working on a merit badge when a new edition of the pamphlet is introduced, he should continue to use the same merit badge pamphlet and fulfill the requirements therein to earn the badge. He need not start all over again with the new pamphlet and possibly revised requirements.

There is NO DEADLINE for earning Merit Badges, except the Scout's 18th Birthday. Once a Scout has started working on a Merit Badge (i.e. obtained a signed "Blue Card" Application for Merit Badge from his Scoutmaster, had an initial discussion with a merit badge Counselor, and started working on the requirements), he may continue using those requirements until he completes the badge or turns 18.

THERE IS NO ONE-YEAR LIMIT ON SO-CALLED "PARTIALS." In contrast to the rule for rank advancements, which imposes a specific deadline for using the old requirements, The rule for Merit Badges is basically as follows:

• If the requirements change while a Scout is working on the badge, he should continue to use the same merit badge pamphlet and fulfill the requirements therein to earn the badge. He need not start all over again with the new pamphlet and possibly revised requirements. If he wishes, he may also decide to use the new requirements. It is HIS choice, and his alone.
• If a Merit Badge is discontinued, Scouts working on the badge when it is removed from the Boy Scout Requirements booklet may continue to work toward completing the badge, and get credit for earning the badge, until they turn 18. However, it may not be possible to obtain an actual merit badge patch, once the local council's supply is exhausted.
• If a Merit Badge that a Scout has already earned is discontinued and replaced with one or more other Merit Badges covering the same or similar topics (such as Rifle And Shotgun Shooting, which was replaced by two - Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting - or Skiing, which was replaced by Snow Sports), the Scout may also earn the new badge or badges. If the badge is simply renamed (such as Auto Mechanics which recently became Automotive Maintenance), Scouts may NOT earn the badge again. If the badge number in BSA's numbering system is the same before and after the change, it is a renaming. If a new number is assigned, it is a replacement.

(most of the above taken from usscouts.org)