Merit Badge Counselors
Our girls are having fun learning new skills, making new friends, and sharing in experiences they may have never thought possible. One of those experiences is that of earning Merit Badges. These little circles of cloth open up whole new worlds to our scouts. They learn about our country and the world, careers, hobbies, and life skills. They are great way to dip your toe in the pool of life and see how you like it.
This great opportunity does require adult support in the form of Merit Badge Counselors. This is where our troop needs to step up and see if we can fill the void in counselors within our troop. It will be great if our troop can offer many different badges without having to attend programs like Scoutmaster Bucky or Toro. Having adults we know and trust run a class or at least be available should a Scout want to complete a badge, is a great asset for our troop. So if you are interested in volunteering as a counselor, here are the details on what it takes to make a difference in the life of our Scouts.
The merit badge counselor is a key player in the Scouts BSA advancement program. Whatever your area of expertise or interest—whether it is a special craft or hobby (basketry, leatherwork, coin collecting), a profession (veterinary medicine, aviation, engineering), or perhaps a life skill (cooking, personal management, communications)—as a merit badge counselor, you can play a vital role in stirring a Scout’s curiosity about that particular topic. By serving as a merit badge counselor, you offer your time, knowledge, and other resources so that Scouts can explore a topic of interest.
If you are not yet a merit badge counselor, it is easy to become a volunteer.
First, you should review the Merit Badges available to lead, there are over 150, so something is sure to be a fit for you. Once you have selected one or more, complete the BSA Merit Badge Counselor Info Form. When completing this form you can decide to work with all Scouts in our Council or District or just scouts in certain troops. For example you could decide to only counsel Scouts in both the boys and girls troops 283. When completed please print and turn in to our committee chair for processing.
Scouting.org has the list of merit badges and their requirements. Download the Merit Badge Counselor Information form.
Second, you will need to register with the Boy Scouts of America, by completing, and turning in the “Adult Application.” The council will then process the application. (Every applicant is screened.) Download this fillable form, then print it off and give it to the committee chair for processing. If you have already completed an adult application for another position you are still required to submit a second application to become a merit badge counselor.
Final step, each merit badge counselors are expected to complete BSA Youth Protection. This training can be done through The BSA’s Online Learning Center . The Boy Scouts of America seeks to create a safe environment for young people and adult leaders to enjoy the program and related activities. BSA Youth Protection training helps preserve that environment. When completed please print off the certificate and turn in along with your adult application and info form. If you have already completed YPT for another position you do not need to complete it again to become a merit badge counselor.
More info about being a counselor can be found at the BSA website.
This great opportunity does require adult support in the form of Merit Badge Counselors. This is where our troop needs to step up and see if we can fill the void in counselors within our troop. It will be great if our troop can offer many different badges without having to attend programs like Scoutmaster Bucky or Toro. Having adults we know and trust run a class or at least be available should a Scout want to complete a badge, is a great asset for our troop. So if you are interested in volunteering as a counselor, here are the details on what it takes to make a difference in the life of our Scouts.
The merit badge counselor is a key player in the Scouts BSA advancement program. Whatever your area of expertise or interest—whether it is a special craft or hobby (basketry, leatherwork, coin collecting), a profession (veterinary medicine, aviation, engineering), or perhaps a life skill (cooking, personal management, communications)—as a merit badge counselor, you can play a vital role in stirring a Scout’s curiosity about that particular topic. By serving as a merit badge counselor, you offer your time, knowledge, and other resources so that Scouts can explore a topic of interest.
If you are not yet a merit badge counselor, it is easy to become a volunteer.
First, you should review the Merit Badges available to lead, there are over 150, so something is sure to be a fit for you. Once you have selected one or more, complete the BSA Merit Badge Counselor Info Form. When completing this form you can decide to work with all Scouts in our Council or District or just scouts in certain troops. For example you could decide to only counsel Scouts in both the boys and girls troops 283. When completed please print and turn in to our committee chair for processing.
Scouting.org has the list of merit badges and their requirements. Download the Merit Badge Counselor Information form.
Second, you will need to register with the Boy Scouts of America, by completing, and turning in the “Adult Application.” The council will then process the application. (Every applicant is screened.) Download this fillable form, then print it off and give it to the committee chair for processing. If you have already completed an adult application for another position you are still required to submit a second application to become a merit badge counselor.
Final step, each merit badge counselors are expected to complete BSA Youth Protection. This training can be done through The BSA’s Online Learning Center . The Boy Scouts of America seeks to create a safe environment for young people and adult leaders to enjoy the program and related activities. BSA Youth Protection training helps preserve that environment. When completed please print off the certificate and turn in along with your adult application and info form. If you have already completed YPT for another position you do not need to complete it again to become a merit badge counselor.
More info about being a counselor can be found at the BSA website.