Merit Badge

Counselor

Training

Prepared by: Robert C. Warner

Piedmont District

Blue Ridge Mountains Council

Original Edition: September 1, 1995

Revision 1: September 1, 1998

Revision 2: October 13, 1998

Revision 3: December 3, 1999

Revision 4: January 20, 2000

Revision 5: April 21, 2001

Originally prepared as a training program for the Merit Badge Counselors in Piedmont District. Revisions 2, 3 and 4 and the accompanying Power Point program and slides were prepared in fulfillment of the requirements for the Triad Commissioner of Science Doctoral Program. Presented at the Blue Ridge Mountains Council 1998 University of Scouting on November 7, 1998, at the 1999 University of Scouting on December 4, 1999, and again at the 2001 University of Scouting on February 3, 2001. Revision 5 converted the format to MSWord in preparation for posting on the US Scouting Service Project web site.

For comments, questions or corrections, please contact Bob Warner: email: rcwscouts@aol.com; land line: (804) 384-6306; or snail mail: 5313 Hickory Hill Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24503

Table of Contents

Objective:

"All Merit Badge Counselors must be trained in the aims of Scouting and in advancement procedures."

"The district or council advancement committee should train counselors either as a group or individually."

Advancement Committee

Policies and Procedures

Reasons:

• Knowledge
• Understanding
• Uniformity
• Vision

MERIT BADGE PROGRAM QUIZ

[Test your knowledge of the BSA Merit Badge Counselor Program]

1. A Merit Badge Counselor may only be a counselor for four Merit Badges. T F

2. A Merit Badge Counselor may only be a counselor for six Merit Badges. T F

3. A Merit Badge Counselor may not coach his own son or close relative
(i.e., nephew) unless he is part of a group of Scouts all working on the
same Merit Badge. T F

4. A Merit Badge Counselor who works only with a single unit needs only
the unit committee chairman's and chartered organization representative's
approval before being approved by the Scout Executive. T F

5. Persons serving as Merit Badge Counselors must be registered as a
Merit Badge Counselor with the Boy Scouts of America. T F

6. Registered Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters who also serve as
Merit Badge Counselor do not need to separately re-register as a Merit
Badge Counselor. T F

7. A Scout may earn no more than six Merit Badges from the same Merit
Badge Counselor. T F

8. Once a Scouter is approved as a Merit Badge Counselor, he is approved
for life and never has to be reapproved again. T F

9. A unit Board of Review may approve the awarding of a Merit Badge in lieu
of an approved Merit Badge Counselor. T F

10. A Scout must complete all the requirements for a Merit Badge within
12 months or he must start over. T F

11. A Merit Badge Counselor may take the Scout beyond the specific
requirements of the Merit Badge so he may discover more about the
subject and continue the learning process. T F

12. Due to the BSA policies related to child protection and two deep
leadership, a Merit Badge Counselor must have another adult present
during all Merit Badge Counseling sessions. T F

13. A Merit Badge Counselor for scoutcraft areas such a Pioneering Cooking,
Hiking and Camping must accompany the Scout on these activities;
therefore, it is usually more appropriate for the Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster to be the Merit Badge Counselor. T F

14. There is a training program for Merit Badge Counselor. T F

15. A unit Board of Review, at the option of the Advancement Chairman, may
examine a Scout on any part of a completed Merit Badge. T F

16. If because of the weather, locale, or some other condition makes meeting
all of the conditions of the Merit Badge requirements impractical, the Merit
Badge Counselor with his greater pool of skill and knowledge in the area
may substitute requirements for those stated for the Merit Badge. T F

17. Merit Badge Counselors must be at least _____ years old. _____

18. The four steps in the advancement and Merit Badge program are:

(1)______________, (2)______________,	(1)___________
(3)______________, and (4)______________,	(2)___________
	(3)___________
	(4)___________

19. The requirements for a Merit Badge on the Eagle required list has one set of requirements in the Scout's The Boy Scout Handbook, a different set in
the Merit Badge Pamphlet, and a third set in the Boy Scout Requirements,
current edition. What should the Merit Badge Counselor do? _____________

1. Use the set in the Scout's The Boy Scout Handbook because those are the ones in effect when the Scout joined the Boy Scouts.
2. Use the set in the Merit Badge Pamphlet since that is the official publication for the Merit Badge.
3. Create an optimum set of requirements by combining the requirements of all three publications.
4. Use the requirements as listed in the Boy Scout Requirements.

20. A Merit Badge Counselor must present:

(1)______________, (2)______________,	(1)___________
(3)______________, and (4)______________	(2)___________
	(3)___________
	(4)___________

The

Administrative

MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS--THEIR APPROVAL AND LISTING

The following are salient points from the BSA’s "Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures," Publication 33088C, 1999 Printing, relating to the approval and listing of Merit Badge Counselors. These points include BSA requirements for the District and the Council.

"Article X. Program (Advancement)--Rules and Regulations, Clause 13:

"Responsibilities of the Council Advancement Committee:

"Promoting Advancement:

"Approving Merit Badge Counselors and Publishing List of Counselors:

"Qualifications of Counselors:

The following is not in the current publication. However, the form (34405) is still available.

"Maintaining a Current List of Merit Badge Counselors:

"Troop...Merit Badge Counselors:

"Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures," also states that the council summarizes the "monthly District Advancement Report Summar(ies)..." and includes this summarization "...on the Application for Renewal of the Local Council Charter. (p 6)

Noted in its deletion:

and that the District Advancement Committee should refer "to copies of the past few council charter renewals..." to determine which "...merit badges are most popular."

The

Award

What is a Merit Badge?

• an award based on completing a set of specific requirements

• a small piece of khaki cloth with a colored design

• the significant interest of an adult in helping a boy

• a subject of interest to a Scout

• a subject of interest to an adult

• a subject required to reach the Eagle rank

• a craft or hobby

• an idea of service

• a vocational field

Career Fields

• vital impact on the life of a Scout

• may involve service clubs, unions or professional societies

• professional society members can be Merit Badge Counselors

• professional societies can help recruit and train Merit Badge Counselors

Merit Badge

Counselor

Requirements

Requirements for a Merit Badge Counselor

• Must possess the moral, educational and emotional qualities

• Must be at least 18 years old

• Must be a citizen of the USA or satisfy an approved alternate

• Subscribe to:

• the Declaration of Religious Principles

• the Scout Oath or Promise

• the Scout Law

• Have unique skills and education or experience or knowledge in the subject

• Have the interest to turn a color-embroidered piece of khaki cloth into something of significance for a Scout to want to earn it.

• Must complete an Adult Application with a Position Code of "42" and the Merit Badge Counselor Information (MPCI) form

• Must be approved by:

• the District Advancement Committee

• the Scout Executive or his designee

• the Council Advancement Committee

 

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The Purpose of Scouting

• to promote, through cooperation with other agencies:

• the ability of youth to do things for themselves and others

• to teach youth patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred virtues

To achieve this purpose

emphasis is placed on:

• educational program
• oaths, promises and codes

for:

• character development
• citizenship training
• mental fitness
• physical fitness

Religious Principles

1. Does not define what constitutes a belief in God or the practice of religion

2. Does not require membership in a religious organization

3. Does prefer and strongly encourage membership and participation in the religious programs and activities of a religious organization

4. Respects the convictions of those who exercise their constitutional freedom to practice religion

5. The standards by which a Scout's membership in a religious body is evaluated are those of that body. Therefore, an Eagle applicant must provide a reference from his religious leader to indicate whether he has lived up to their body's expectations

Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures as an interpretation of Article IX,
Section 1, Clause 1 of Charter and By Laws of the Boy Scouts of America (p 16)

Boy Scout Advancement Procedure

1. Learning

2. Testing

3. Reviewing

4. Recognition

 

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Purpose of The Review

1. To make sure that the work has been learned and completed

2. To check to see what kind of experience the boy is having in his patrol and troop

3. To encourage the Scout to advance to the next level

THE REVIEW IS NOT AN EXAMINATION

Appropriate questions:

• where did he learn his skill

• who taught him

• what value did he gain from earning this recognition

What the Board of Review Learns about the Merit Badge Program

• Did the Scout do what he was suppose to

• What kind of experience is the Scout having

• What changes need to be made in the program

• What are the Scout's ideals and goals

• Is there a good standard of performance

• Does the Scout recognize and understand the value of Scouting in his home, unit, school and community

The

Merit Badge

Process

The Merit Badge Process

1. A Scout is guided to the requirements for a Merit Badge.
2. The Scout finds the requirements in:

1. Boy Scout Requirements
2. Merit Badge Pamphlet, at:

1. the Troop Library
2. the public library
3. a friend (peer)
4. a friend (adult)
5. a local store stocking Scout supplies
6. a Scout store or trading post

3. Internet

3. The Scout looks at the requirements and decides he wants to pursue the Merit Badge.
4. The Scout indicates his interest in a particular Merit Badge to his Scoutmaster, who:

1. gives him an interview to determine interest, enthusiasm, and preparedness
2. gives him a signed Application for Merit Badge with the District Merit Badge Counselor List
3. helps the Scout locate the name and phone number of the district/council approved Merit Badge Counselor
4. encourages the Scout to wear his Class A uniform when he visits the counselor with his buddy

5. The Scout telephones the Merit Badge Counselor and makes an appointment.
6. The Merit Badge Counselor sets the date and time for the Scout and his buddy and suggests the Scout:

1. bring the Merit Badge Pamphlet
2. bring the Application for Merit Badge
3. prepare by reading over the requirements and start working on some of the areas
4. bring the work he has started or accomplished
5. bring any other materials he may need
6. bring any other documentation he may have

7. The Merit Badge Counselor verifies the current requirements for the Merit Badge.
8. At the first meeting, the Merit Badge Counselor and the Scout decide upon:

1. any projects that will be required (write these out)
2. a tentative schedule for completing the requirements both short-term and long-term, keeping the other obligations (Scout, school, church, etc.) in mind (write these completion date goals out)
3. dates, times and location for future meetings

9. The number of counseling sessions depend on the difficulty of the Merit Badge requirements and the preparation and ability of the Scout.
10. The Scout is expected to meet the requirements for the Merit Badge as stated--no more and no less.
11. The Scout is coached and encouraged with a buddy present. The Merit Badge Counselor may expand on the information in the Merit Badge Pamphlet based on his knowledge, experience and expertise in the subject. He is encouraged to tell about his own experiences that positively reinforce the subject matter of the Merit Badge requirements.
12. The Merit Badge Counselor assists the Scout to meet the requirements.
13. The Scout is always tested individually, but with a buddy present, and as each requirement is completed the Merit Badge Counselor marks it on the application.
14. The Merit Badge Counselor certifies when the Scout has completed the requirements and hardily congratulates him on completing the requirements.
15. When possible, the Merit Badge Counselor attends the Court of Honor when the Scout receives public recognition of his accomplishment.

The Merit Badge Process--Group

1. Either the troop committee, the Patrol Leader Council (PLC) or the district (i.e., Merit Badge College) decides to offer a Merit Badge to the entire troop or a group of Scouts (avoid Merit Badge factories).
2. A Merit Badge Counselor is selected using the District Merit Badge Counselor List and a tentative schedule is developed in mutual accord between the counselor and the troop or district leadership.
3. The Merit Badge Counselor develops the presentations and a learning aid handout. Individual sessions should usually be limited to 30 minutes at Troop meetings. Games are useful in developing the knowledge, skills and enthusiasm for the Scouts and should be liberally used.
4. The Merit Badge Counselor should go over the requirements with the Scouts at the initial meeting and define his expectations for meeting each requirement with a positive outlook (don't forget to consider the age dichotomy within the troop).
5. Some or all testing may be accomplished by written tests. Remaining requirements must be done on an individual basis.
6. Some sessions may utilize guest experts to add variety. Also visual and tactile aids help stimulate interest and attention.

Counseling Techniques

1. Scout must feel welcome and relaxed.
2. Techniques:

1. Stimulate the Scout's interest by showing him something related to the Merit Badge subject (don't overwhelm the Scout--remember he's probably a beginner).
2. Start the Scout with easy skills or questions.
3. Carefully review each requirement.

3. Insist that the Scout do exactly what the requirements call for:
4. Show or Demonstrate

• Make
• List
• In the field
• Collect, identify and label

5. Don't increase the requirement.
6. Scout may undertake more activities on his own initiative (encourage without pushing him off course).
7. During testing, the Merit Badge Counselor may find the Scout needs help learning a particular area. The Merit Badge Counselor teaches the needed skill, but then retests to ensure the area has been learned.
8. Encourage practice.
9. Follow up.
10. Encourage self-evaluation (reflection).
11. Establish an atmosphere that encourages the Scout to ask for help.
12. Take a genuine interest in the Scout's projects and encourages completion.

MERIT BADGE LIBRARY

Merit Badge Counselor Publications

26-501R, Adult Application, 2001 (3 pp)

Adult registration form used for Merit Badge Counselors and marked in upper right hand blocks "MERIT BADGE COUNSELOR" and "DISTRICT NAME." Consists of a cover sheet, an instruction and information sheet and a 3-copy registration form. Required of all Merit Badge Counselors whether already a registered Scouter or not.

4439, Work Sheet for Building a Merit Badge Counselor List, no edition, 1999 printing (6 pp)

Work sheet for building a Merit Badge Counselor List; primarily for use by the District or Council staff.

33088C, Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures, 1999 (60 pp)

Handbook for Scouters responsible for advancement at the Council, District and Unit levels. Contains the current BSA policies, procedures, rules and regulations as well as other information.

33215D, Boy Scouts Requirements--2001, 2001 (208 pp)

Contains complete official requirements for each Merit Badge, advancement and special awards, Requirements is this publication may be more current than the Merit Badge Pamphlet, therefore, this publication takes precedence.

33105, The Boy Scout Handbook, 11th Edition (472 pp)

No longer contains requirements for Merit Badges, but covers advancement and special awards. Requirements in this publication are frequently outdated and therefore its use in a Merit Badge Counseling program is limited.

34124A, Application for Merit Badge, 1999 (6 pp)

Three panel, blue wallet-sized card that: (1) shows that the Scout has permission to start working on a particular Merit Badge; (2) records his progress; and (3), when completed, provides a separate panel record for the Scout, the Counselor and the Unit.

34405, Merit Badge Counselor Information, 1998 (1 p)

Form used to identify the Merit Badge Counselors, the Merit Badges they are willing to coach, and the necessary Counselor information; and by which the District secures the Counselor's agreement to follow the Merit Badge requirements and BSA policies.

34520, Merit Badge Counseling, 1995 (8 pp)

Pocket size, valuable booklet for all counselors and should be made available to them by the unit, district or council advancement committee.

34532, A Guide for Recommending Merit Badge Counselors, 1995 (8 pp)

Single legal sheet folded into 4 panels; provides basic information on Merit Badges and counselors as an aid for Scouters in recruiting Merit Badge Counselors; information very closely related to information contained in Merit Badge Counseling above.

34542, Merit Badge Counselor Orientation, 1995 (2 pp)

An 8 1/2 x 11, pre-punched sheet of paper with the basic summary of the most critical areas of Merit Badge Counselor program and thus the Merit Badge Counselor Training. Best buy for a district to give their counselors.

34724, Highlights for the District Advancement Committee...an Overview, 1989 (12 pp)

A brief pamphlet describing the basics of the advancement program in the Boy Scouts of America including definition of terms.

U4509, The Merits of Scouting Poster

Full color poster depicting each of the merit badges that Boy Scouts can earn
(18" x 24").

Merit Badge Pamphlets

The Merit Badge Pamphlets are written for Scout-age boys; they are not necessary for either the Scout or the Counselor. It is felt that a qualified Counselor can coach the Scout through the requirements as identified in the latest issue of Boy Scout Requirements. The information in the pamphlet will help the Counselor to know what the Scout may be studying and the level of learning expected by the Boy Scouts of America; and the pamphlets may also contain suggestions for project or demonstrations that may stimulate the Counselor's ideas. At times, the requirements in the Merit Badge Pamphlet may lag behind the requirements in the Boy Scout Requirements due to editing and production delays in issuing the Merit Badge Pamphlet. The Boy Scout Requirements criteria take precedence. However, once a Scout has started working on a Merit Badge, he may stay with the requirements in effect when he started and shall not be required to meet newly introduced changes. The Boy Scouts of America started a program about three years ago of attempting to review each Merit Badge Pamphlet at least every five years and then updating and re-issuing them if required.

Current Merit Badge Pamphlet

And

Merit Badge Requirement

Revision Dates

The following Table shows the latest Copyright and Revision dates for each of the Merit Badge Pamphlets currently in effect, and the date of the last change to the Requirements for each badge as compiled by the U. S. Scouting Service Project, Inc. In addition, it contains the current BSA Publication (Stock) Number for each pamphlet. The Stock Numbers are taken from the 2000 Official catalog (Page LI 4).

There is a listing of the merit badge pamphlets and their last revision date on the inside back cover of the Boy Scout Requirements book each year (The 2001 edition is #33215D), but when checked carefully errors and/or omissions are frequently found in this listing. The table below has been revised to correct discrepancies in that list that have become apparent when more recent pamphlets have been found available (and from the 2001 Catalog listing). In particular, the U. S. Scouting Service Project has verified both earlier and later dates than those in BSA's listing by physical inspection of merit badge pamphlets at local Scout council trading posts or Scout Shops™.

New stock numbers appear for three pamphlets (Animal Science, Aviation, and Stamp Collecting) in the 2001 Catalog, but have not been verified in the Scout Shop™ yet, and thus the Pamphlet Copyright or Revision Dates are unknown.

When there is no date in the "Pamphlet Revision Date" column, the most recent edition date is the copyright date. These dates (Copyright and/or Revision) usually do NOT correspond to the date of the latest revision to the requirements for the Merit Badge. (The date is the date the CONTENT of the pamphlet was last updated.)

The BSA has used a number of techniques for identifying the most current edition of these pamphlets. The following descriptions all identify pamphlets that were last updated in 1985:

• © 1969 - Revised in 1985
• 1985 Edition
• 1990 printing of the 1985 Edition
• 2nd 1998 printing of the 1985 Revision
• 1985 Revision

If the date listed in the table below is 1985, any of them can be used by Scouts and Counselors, but the requirements page should be checked against the requirements on the U.S. Scouting Project site (http://usscouts.org/meritbadges.asp), or in the current edition of the Boy Scout Requirements Book.

Note that in recent years, when the content has been updated, the stock number, like other BSA publications, has been changed from 33123 to 33123A, 33123B, etc. If the stock number has changed, you should use the newer book, regardless of the dates listed below. Note that an initial letter is used in the catalog to designate which edition of the catalog is being used (W in 1999, X in 2000, Y in 2001).

If you find a pamphlet with a later publication or copyright date or a newer stock number than I have listed below, please contact pwolf@usscouts.org with the Merit Badge name, BSA stock number (e.g.. 33999A, 33999B, etc.) and the exact wording of the revision description (as described above - (e.g. ©1999, 1999 Revision, 2nd 1999 printing of the 1985 Revision, etc.). If the booklet also has revised requirements, a copy of those requirements would also be appreciated so the site can be updated.

The REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL MERIT BADGES posted on the U.S. Scouting Project website are regularly updated and, as this handout is prepared, current as of January 1, 2001. If you are starting a Merit Badge, using the requirements listed on that website will provide the most correct set available. Never relay on those in the Merit Badge Pamphlet. Revised requirements for seven merit badges were included in the 2001 Requirements Book, and became effective at the start of 2001: Animal Science, Auto Mechanics, Aviation, Engineering, Lifesaving, Stamp Collecting, and Swimming.

Additional Merit Badge pamphlets are in the process of being rewritten, with the goal of updating all of them within 4-5 years (a rate of around 25 per year). As new pamphlets are issued, when they contain new requirements, Scouts will have the option of starting with the new requirements as soon as the pamphlets are issued, or they may start work using the old requirements until the next edition of Boy Scout Requirements is issued. Once a Scout starts with a set of requirements he continues with those requirements until he finishes the Merit Badge or decides to start over with the latest requirements, unless a special announcement is made by BSA, such as was done with Personal Fitness Merit Badge in 1999.

The "Requirements Revision Dates" in the tables below reflect the date the revisions first appear in Boy Scout Requirements. Note that Music and Bugling, while separate Merit Badges, with separate requirements, are covered in one pamphlet—Music and Bugling.