Merit Badge Counselor
Orientation
The Path to a Quality Program in Scouting
Lies in Training our Adult Leaders
120+ Merit Badges . . .
Art, Hiking, Archery, Lifesaving,
Citizenship in the World, Orienteering,
Architecture, Cooking, Small-Boat Sailing,
Public Speaking, Camping, Theater,
Personal Management, Weather,
Pets, Pioneering, Nature…
...
New subjects such as
Robotics, Scuba, GIS/GPS
will soon be available!
Objectives of this Orientation*
1.
Discuss the Purpose of the BSA Advancement Program
and how the Merit Badge Counseling Program fits within it
2.
The Role of the Merit Badge Counselor

Learning, Testing, Reviewing
3.
Before Beginning to Counsel

Qualifications and Paperwork

4.
Individual vs. Group Counseling
Describe the Process

Roles of Scout, Scoutmaster, Counselor

How to Complete A Merit Badge Card

“Partial” Merit Badges
5.
Troubleshooting
6.
Considerations for Special Needs Scouts
7.
Units’ “To Do” List
* This Orientation was written for Boy Scout Troops. Venturers and Varsity Scouts
who obtain First Class rank may also earn Merit Badges until they turn 18.
1a. The Purpose of the Program
The Merit Badge Program is an educational
tool that is unique to Scouting. It is designed
to help youth tackle new subjects with their
mentors’ help. These new experiences help
them grow into participating citizens and
adults with good character.
The badge itself is just a small piece of cloth
with a design embroidered in color,
but its significance is huge…
1b. Aims & Methods of Scouting
AIMS
(what the BSA hopes
to accomplish)
 Growth in moral
strength and
character
 Learning and
participating in
citizenship
 “Fitness” growth
and development:
physical, mental,
and moral
METHODS
(the process of growing into leaders)
Advancement: Work on self-reliance;
meet challenges
 Ideals: Live by the Oath - Law - Motto - Slogan
 Patrols: A Peer Group with an elected leader;
smaller group activities
 Outdoor Program: Camping, hiking, Leave No
Trace, high adventure, skills growth
 Adult Association: Learning from role models
 Personal Growth: Daily ‘Good Turn;’ service
projects; religious emblems
 Leadership Development: Practice good
citizenship skills, hold elected positions,
do an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project
 The Uniform: Identify with larger group;
shows commitment to the Aims
1c. The Advancement Program
4 Steps
Learning - Testing - Reviewing - Recognition
 Provides a unique educational tool to help young men grow into
adults of character, ready to take their place as participating citizens in
the World
 Allows the Scout to progress at his own rate. Accepting the challenge
of new subject matter encourages Scouts.
 Recognizes the Scout, and rewards him for accomplishments*
 Encourages Scouting ideals such as living by the Oath and Law,
and doing a Good Turn daily
* The colorful patch is a source of pride, but should not be regarded only as a reward.
It’s presence on a Scout’s sash also tells leaders and other adults that this Scout should
be able to demonstrate the knowledge he has learned in the course of completing the
badge. This is especially important for the Eagle Required badges, such as First Aid.
Many a Scout and former Scout have used the skills they learned during Rank
Advancement and the First Aid Merit Badge to help save lives.
1d. Merit Badge Counselors…
...Offer our time, experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm for
the Badges we Counsel
...May be college professors, teachers, clergy, coaches, career
professionals, parents, grandparents, Troop leaders, former
Scouts, astronauts, environmentalists, farmers, gardeners,
hobbyists, IT professionals, great speakers, landscapers,
musicians, naturalists, field guides, trades-people, transporters,
retirees, artists, business owners, crafters, conservationists,
actors, hunters, community leaders,
Olympic athletes.......
1e. Counselors help Scouts…

Develop character and self-confidence

Learn and practice communication skills

Overcome obstacles

Meet and work with new people

Research possible future careers

Develop physical fitness

Have fun (the best way to learn!)

Discover a lifetime of hobbies and interests
2a. Counseling Scenarios
There are Many Ways to Counsel Badges...
Scenario A: You are contacted by a Scout from a nearby Troop. He would like to
work with you on an Eagle Required Badge. He has four months to complete the
badge before his 18th birthday and is trying to juggle school, spring sports,
work, and Scouts. He will need some great coaching!
Scenario B: A Patrol of five Scouts wishes to work with you at meetings for a
month to complete a badge. With them, you plan what requirements they want
to do at each meeting in order to complete the badge in time for their next
Court of Honor. One of them is a Special Needs Scout. You work extra hard to
devise ways to keep him interested so the whole Patrol can advance together.
Scenario C: The District Advancement Chair has asked you to do
a Badge at their next one-day event. You have the option of deciding
how many Scouts you’d like to work with. You will decide which of
the requirements you will prepare for, and you may also tell the Chair
which requirements the Scouts will need to do ahead of the day.
(For the purposes of this Orientation, we’ll use Scenario A: working with a single Scout,
to show how the Program works. There are as many scenarios similar to these
as there are Scouts in America...)
2b. Counselor & Scout Meet
The Scout will contact you to schedule a meeting.
At this meeting
 Introduce yourself to help put the Scout at ease. They text friends 10
times a day, but it’s not easy to call a total stranger. Warm them up by
telling why you counsel this Badge, showing genuine interest and
enthusiasm for your subject!
 At the same time, interview the Scout to determine:

Preparedness: Does he have a signed Merit Badge Card?
(If so, have him give it to you so you can keep it updated as you progress through the Badge.
If not, ask him to get one from his Scoutmaster before you meet again.)
Has he read the Merit Badge pamphlet?
 Determine interest level: What does he already know about
the subject? Has he been researching possible projects?
 Discuss which requirements he would like to complete. Set shortand long-term goals that include any time requirements and
seasonal issues. Scouts may use classroom assignments to fulfill
requirements if they ‘fit’ well.

 Set the next meeting date.
2c. The Counselor’s “Helps”
“Helps”
Merit Badge Worksheets, Passports, and etc., are optional.
 Some think they make working on a Badge seem more like school.
Some Scouts will not use them, others love them.
 For many Scouts, worksheets help them understand and organize
the subject matter.
 If your Badge could benefit from a Worksheet, you may make your
own, or ask the Scout to download one. Two good examples:
 Sample Worksheets are available at www.meritbadge.com
Check out the ‘Resources’ section at the end of these Workbooks;
they are worth the paper you’ve printed them on.
 Sample Passports are available at
http:// www.relia.net/~thedane.scouting.html
These are smaller in size and scope. Perhaps better for
younger Scouts and non-required Badges.
(If you know of other good resources, please contact District Advancement with the URL’s.)
2d. Working on the Badge
During the time you are working with the Scout on the Badge:
 Teach the required skills, and encourage Scout to do so as well
 Work in opportunities to practice while learning
 If a requirement asks the Scout to “show or demonstrate,” then telling
about it is not enough. Likewise for: make, list, collect, identify, label,
and in the field.
 Expect “no more, no less” than is listed in the badge’s requirements
list. However, if a Scout wishes to do more, then go for it!
 Help the Scout evaluate his progress. This is best done when
you date and initial completed req’s on the Merit Badge Card.
 Follow-up on goals
 When the Badge is complete, congratulate the Scout
as you hand him the signed Card.
 Keep the “Counselor’s Record” portion of the Card. Use a card
file box or plastic baseball card collection sleeves.
3a. Are You Qualified?*
 Counselors must be 18. You must be registered with the BSA.
 Counselors must be approved by District and Council before doing
Badges (allow 3-4 weeks for applications to be received and for a background check)
 It’s a good idea to have an interest in working with youth!
 Have interest, skills, and education in the subjects you Counsel
 There is no restriction on the number of Badges you may sign up
to Counsel**
 There is no limit on the number of Badges that may be earned
from one Counselor**
 Counselors may counsel any Scout, including sons and relatives.
This is best done in a group setting.
 Scouts may do Badges with Counselors anywhere in the U.S.A
* Info is from “Advancement Policies & Procedures Guidelines” (BSA #33088)
** Units may impose restrictions in their Policy Manuals but the BSA sets none
3b. Are You Current?
For New Counselors or to Add
New Badges:
 BSA Adult Application
(BSA #524-501) Please
remember to sign the back of the
2nd page, which allows for a
background check.
 Merit Badge Counselor
Application
(BSA #34405)
 Forms are online at
www.northernstarbsa.org/
resources
 Forms need to be signed
by District Advancement
Chair. No Unit Leaders
need sign.
 There is no fee.
 Before Badges are Counseled,
fill out applications and give to
District Advancement.
 Follow BSA Policies when working
with Scouts
 Update your BSA “Youth
Protection” training every
two years.* This applies to
anyone who works with Scouts,
even if not associated with a Unit.
 Renew your Registration yearly
before May 31st
 Please notify District
Advancement when you
decide to ‘retire’ from
Counseling
* Online training is available at
www.northernstarbsa.org/training/
3c. Are You Ready?
After you have filled out the Applications and been approved by the
Council, what then?! Be Prepared, of course!
 Keep a recent “Boy Scout Requirements” booklet (BSA #33215)
on hand. It is updated every year and is usually more accurate than
Merit Badge Pamphlets.*
 Badge requirements are found in the front of Merit Badge
Pamphlets. Pamphlets are available for purchase at area
Scout Shops, or by going online to www.scoutstuff.org, or
by calling 1-800-323-0732.
(Pamphlets older than © 2000 should not be used.)
Decide which of the req’s would be good to prepare for. For
example, Oceanography 8b cannot be done in MN, but 8a or 8c
may. Then prepare your project ideas, gather the necessary
materials and references, search out and plan for off-site
events as appropriate to the badge.
* If the requirements have recently changed for a badge, the Scout may decide to use the former
requirements, depending on how much of the work he has already completed.
3d. Buddies and Groups
As a Merit Badge Counselor, you may be asked to work with one
Scout at a time, with a whole Patrol, or even with a large group.
 It is especially important to give individual attention to each Scout during
the badge.
 The Counselor must meet with each Scout to make sure the Scout knows
the subject matter before signing the Merit Badge Card
The Buddy System
Counselors must never meet alone with a Scout. The Scout should
bring other Scouts, a parent, guardian, other relative, or a friend.
Group Counseling
(Meetings, Weekend Camp-outs, Summer Camp, High Adventure Trips, Jamborees, Camporees,
Merit Badge Days, Walligaloo, Skills Seminars...)
Working in groups allows for use of specialized facilities:
 to work on appropriate equipment
 to tour businesses specializing in subject matter
 to meet with expert personnel
 to give Scouts in rural areas access to Counselors and Badges
4a. The Process Begins
 The Scout selects a Merit Badge, tells his Scoutmaster
 The Scoutmaster gives the Scout a blank Merit Badge card
 The Scout fills in personal data, name of badge
 The Scoutmaster
 Signs the front of the Merit Badge Card
 Provides names and numbers of Counselors from District list,
or directs Scout to Counselor available in Troop
 Asks Scout to wear his uniform and take a buddy when he meets
with his Counselor
 The Scout studies Merit Badge pamphlet* and other
resources as necessary to familiarize himself with
the subject matter
* Pamphlets may be borrowed from the Troop Library, the Merit Badge Counselor,
or purchased from the Scout Shop or online.)
4b. The Process Continues
 The Scout selects a Merit Badge Counselor, calls to introduce
himself, and schedule a meeting.
 Scout and Counselor set date, time, and place to meet.
 The Counselor encourages Scout to bring:
 A signed Merit Badge card
 Merit Badge Pamphlet
 Projects in progress, samples of school projects, ideas for
which requirements he wants to work on, etc.
 The Scout and the Counselor decide which requirements Scout
will do, discuss projects, goals for completion.
 The Scout does work on own or with other Scouts; with help from
Counselor. May require several meetings, work days, tours, etc.
 The Counselor tests each Scout individually.
 The Counselor records completed requirements.
4c. Filling out The Card
1
2
3
3) The Counselor
writes in the req.
number, date, and
initials whenever the
Scout completes
a requirement
1
1) The Scout fills out the
personal data on both sides
of card
2) The Scoutmaster signs
front of card before Scout
begins to work on badge
1
1
4d. Processing the Card
The Counselor
1. Fills in personal data
2. Signs and dates
requirements as Scout
completes them
2
1
3. Signs card when complete,
or (after event is over,
returns partially-completed
card to Scout)
4
3
4. Keeps “Counselor
Record;” gives card
to Scout.
4e. Completing the Card
1) The Scout gives remaining two
portions of card to Scoutmaster
1
2) The Scoutmaster signs completed
card, gives to Advancement Chair
3) Unit Advancement Chair records and
buys badge, files left portion of card
4) Scout keeps center portion
2
3
4
The Scouts should receive their
Merit Badges at the next Unit
Meeting, and be recognized
again at the Unit’s next
Court of Honor.
4f. A “Partial” Card
Partially completed Merit Badge
Cards are often brought back
from Summer Camps, Merit Badge
events, Camporees...
“Partials” never expire. The Unit
Advancement Chair should keep
them on file until the Scout is
ready to complete the Badge or
has turned 18.
A good way to organize them is to
put each Scout’s partial cards into
a plastic baseball card collection
sleeve, and keep them in a
3-ring binder.
This Scout has
two requirements
to complete.
5. Troubleshooting
A Counselor Should Stop Work on a Badge if
 A Scout has no Merit Badge Card, or it has not been signed by Scoutmaster
 The Scout comes to the meeting alone.
 The Scout did not get pre-approval. Some Badges require a parent or
Counselor’s permission to proceed with requirements that include off-site
visits, or using certain tools and weapons.
 The Scout is “winging it.” Never say, “That’s good enough.” This gives the
Scout false confidence that he has mastered the subject. Sign only the
requirements he completes to your satisfaction. Encourage him to come back
when he has mastered the next topic.
 A Scout asks a Counselor to sign off on a Badge that was begun at summer
camp. The Counselor may sign, but only after the Scout has demonstrated
that he has met the requirements of the Badge.
 A Scout wants a Counselor to begin a Badge 2-1/2 mo’s before his
18th birthday for a Badge with a 3-month long requirement...
 Scout has made up the required charts, lists, or logs…
 The Scout’s parent seems to be in control.
6. Special Needs Scouts
 Counselors may accept work from Special Needs Scouts in many
ways. Some examples are: Oral, taking photos to illustrate things he
may not be able to draw, recording or dictating to a helper.

Scouts may do alternate “Eagle Required” badges as noted in the Advancement Policies and
Procedures Guidelines,” (BSA #33088).
 The Scout or Unit must apply to Council Advancement before beginning
these badges.

The “Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Award Merit Badges” must be completed,
with possible alternate badges listed that have taken the Scout’s abilities into account.
The alternates chosen must be as demanding of effort as other required badges.

A Doctor’s statement of disability must accompany the Alternate
Badge Application

The Scout must do as many badges as possible before applying
for alternates for those he cannot complete.

Any record of Alternate Badges must be submitted later, along
with the Eagle Rank Application.
7. Unit “To Do’s”
Unit Advancement Chairs are Responsible for

Maintaining the Unit’s Merit Badge Counselor List, and making sure the
Unit has a current District List

Working with the Troop Librarian to maintain the MB Pamphlet library.
(There should be no Merit Badge pamphlets older than © 2000 in the Troop Library)

Making sure the Scouts are using Registered Counselors

Periodically asking parents to fill out a “Resources Survey,” available at
www.northernstarbsa.org under “Resources.” Ask parents of new Scouts to
become Counselors: It’s a great introduction to the differences between
Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. Make sure that parents of former Scouts
(former Scouts, too!) know they are welcome to counsel badges.

Training the Unit’s MB Counselors:
 Make the “Merit Badge Counselor Orientation”
(BSA #34542) pamphlet available to all.
 There are many websites designed to train Merit Badge Counselors.
One of the better ones is at http://scouting.org/scoutsource/
boyscouts/guideformeritbadgecounselors.aspx
 Let Unit MBC’s know that this Orientation is available on the
Many Waters District website at www.manywaters.nsbsa.org
The Path to a Great Program
Lies in Training our Adult Leaders
We hope this presentation has been helpful.
Feedback is always welcome. For questions and/or suggestions,
contact Many Waters District Advancement Chair
Holly Peirson, at 651-464-6743, or hpbirdscouter@msn.com
© 2009, Many Waters District, Northern Star Council BSA