1 Managing Merit Badge Counselors

Recruiting Merit Badge Counselors Typically parents of scouts o Parent survey o Don’t forget relatives, friends, professionals Previous committee members Reach out to people in the community Schools and colleges, Parents groups, Local businesses, Service clubs, Trade groups, Religious organizations, Neighborhood associations, Government agencies, The armed services, Chartered organizations, Nonprofit organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Guide to Advancement topic

Registering Merit Badge Counselor s Even if already registered with a unit, every counselor must submit a separate BSA adult application for the position of merit badge counselor (code 42). There are no exceptions. “Merit badge counselor” is a council or district position. Merit badge counselors who are re-registering need not complete a new leader application. Approval of merit badge counselors is the responsibility of the council advancement committee, not the unit. Guide to Advancement topic

Registration Requirements New Adult Application, complete including signature authorizing background check Do not register multiple positions on the same application Youth Protection Training Certification ( Merit Badge Counselor Information Form Approved by the local council/district for each of their badges Guide to Advancement topic

Forms Needed to Register as a Merit Badge Counselor Guide to Advancement topic

Complete Youth Protection Training Good for Guide to Advancement topic

Position Code 42: District Position Position Code 42 currently is not listed Write in Position Code 42 on application No fee position

Finalizing Registration Submit completed forms to your District Advancement Chairman, District MBC Coordinator or designee The District Advancement Chairman will check all paperwork for correctness If everything is correct he/she will submit the Adult application with background check authorization and YPT certification to the Council Registrar The District Advancement Chairman will retain the MBC Information Form The background check takes 30 days Last step: The MB counselor must be trained

Special Certifications and Trainings CPC provides training for a limited set of certifications (Rifle Shooting, Climbing, COPE) Specific training is required for some BSA activities, including merit badges. Guide to Advancement topic

Merit Badges Requiring Special Qualifications or Current Certifications by MBC or Supervisor Archery Canoeing Climbing Kayaking Lifesaving Rifle Shooting Rowing Scuba For details refer to Guide to Safe Scouting and the 2013 Guide to Advancement Shotgun Shooting Snow Sports Swimming Whitewater A counselor must hold the specific certification or work with someone who does.

Merit Badge Counselor Limitations No limit to the number of merit badges an individual may counsel (except when lacking skills and education in the subjects) Unit Leader may limit to the number of merit badges a Scout may earn from a single counselor (policy must apply to all scouts in the unit) Registered counselors may counsel Scouts in other Councils

Merit Badge Counselor Lists District Advancement Chairman maintains a list of certified, trained merit badge counselors o Lists released to Scoutmaster and Unit Advancement Chairman o Do not give the Scout the complete list o Provide the Scout only with name of MB Counselor and his/her phone number o Protect against identify theft

Re-registration (District Recharter) Required annually Unit Advancement Chairman/Unit Merit Badge Coordinator reports updates and changes to District YPT must be current, if not, will be dropped MB Counselors who are not identified to be retained are dropped from the District Charter District submits updates and changes to Council by end of June District publishes updated unit merit badge counselor lists and list of available District MB Counselors

Addressing Merit Badge Myths At what age or rank may Boy Scouts work on merit badges? What is the maximum number of merit badges a Scout may work on at the same time? Is a Scout allowed to work on a merit badge without his unit leader’s “approval”? None if registered as Scout No limit No longer required; discussion is held

If a Scout has too many unfinished merit badges, may the Scoutmaster limit how many others he may begin? Is it appropriate to tell a Scout he must earn all or most of his Eagle-required badges before he earns any others? Is the Scoutmaster permitted to serve as a troop merit badge counselor for some merit badges like Camping or Hiking? Addressing Merit Badge Myths During discussion above, Scoutmaster should provide counseling on what to do Scoutmaster could only suggest this Permitted only if unit leader is registered and approved as counselor

Addressing Merit Badge Myths What is the maximum number of badges a youth may earn from one counselor? How many badges may one counselor be approved to counsel? May you counsel your son? May you counsel in other units, districts, or councils? SM can limit, as long as policy is same for all scouts National places no limit Yes, but… Yes

Addressing Merit Badge Myths Due to tight schedules, is a camp staff member allowed to make minor adjustments so requirements can be finished at camp? Once you are registered and approved as a counselor, at what point must you reregister and become reapproved? When does a “partial” expire? Absolutely not Annually When no longer eligible to register as a Boy Scout

MBC Info Contacts Bob Ellingwood – Ft. Vancouver District Advancement Chair, CPC MBC Coordinator – Julie Pond – Ft. Vancouver District Eagle Board Chairman – Mike Pervere – Ft. Vancouver District MBC Coordinator –