What is a Merit Badge?

A merit badge is an award that is presented to a Scout when he completes the requirements for one of the merit badge subjects. The badge is only a small piece of khaki cloth with a design embroidered in color, but its significance is as large as the interest of the merit badge counselor who helps a Scout earn it.

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. 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 of work as participating citizens.
MB Counselor Application Procedure

1. Complete the Merit Badge Counselor Application
2. Complete an Adult Leader Application, Form No. 28-501Y using code 42 as the position code.
3. Submit these two forms to the District Advancement Chairman for review and approval. Do not send these applications to the Council office.
4. You will be notified as to when you can start counseling Scouts.

What Do I Agree to Do?

As a merit badge counselor, I agree to:

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

A Scout's Steps for Earning a Merit Badge

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

Obtain from his Scoutmaster a signed merit badge application (blue card), and the name of a qualified counselor for the merit badge. The Scout gets the merit badge pamphlet on his subject from his unit librarian or purchases one from the Scout Shop, making sure that it is the latest version. Call the counselor to make an appointment. Along with a buddy, the Scout attend the first meeting with his 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. The Scout learns and completes the requirements in the pamphlet. The counselor assists the Scout to meet the requirements. When the Scout has finished all of the requirements, he arranges a meeting with the counselor for examination. The counselor certifies completion of the requirements. The Scout returns the unit copy of the application for merit badge (blue card) to his Scoutmaster.

More or Less?

The Scout is expected to meet the requirements as stated - no more and no less. Furthermore, he is t 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 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 nt 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 acquiant a Scout with the job 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 job 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.

How Many at a Time?

Frequently the skills of a subject can be taught to several Scouts at a 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.

Scoutsmust 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 froup 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.

So remember, you can coach more than one at a time, but only one Scout at a time can satisfy you that he has met the requirements.

Do You Need a Merit Badge Pamphlet?