Merit Badge Counseling
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Revision as of 15:54, 10 January 2010 by Brucejohnson (Talk | contribs) (→As a Merit Badge Counselor you agree to)
Become a Counselor for Motorboating & Small-Boat Sailing Merit Badges
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The Coast Guard Auxiliary recently entered into an agreement of mutual support with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). This will help lead local Boy Scouts to you so they can earn the Motorboating and Small-Boat Sailing Merit Badges, and it gives you the chance to take on an important roll that may potentiall grow your membership with the Scouts, their parents, and their leaders. There are more than a million Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, and Venturers in the United States -- This agreement - complemented by BSA's Motorboating and Small-Boat Sailing Merit Badges - presents an incredible growth opportunity. According to a BSA statistics, Scouts nationwide earn aquatics merit badges at higher rates than just about any other topic. Boy Scout troops, Scouts, Sea Scouts, and Venturers need our assistance with fulfilling the requirements for Motorboating and Small-Boat Sailing merit badges. |
Two Important Merit Badge Roles: Merit Badge Counselor and Auxiliary Instructor
Although they don’t have to be, the merit badge counselor and the Auxiliary instructor can be the same person:
- Instructors do not have to be BSA members but becoming a merit badge counselor (and BSA Member) helps support Scouts as they work through Merit Badge activities. It can also provide positive public affairs and recruitment opportunities - such as having your flotilla meeting place as the location for appointments with Scouts to review merit badge progress.
- Merit badge counselors are key players in the Boy Scout advancement program. Whatever your area of expertise, you can play a vital role as a merit badge counselor. By serving as a merit badge counselor, you offer your time, knowledge and other resources to help Scouts explore a topic of interest.
If you aren't yet a merit badge counselor, it's easy to volunteer
You'll need to register with the Boy Scouts of America through your BSA local council. This entails contacting the local council to obtain, complete and return the Adult Application and a Merit Badge Counselor Application where necessary. Every applicant is screened as the council processes the application.
You can locate your BSA local council by going to BSA's Local Council Locator at scouting.org and entering your ZIP code.
To qualify as a merit badge counselor, you must
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be proficient in the Merit Badge subject by vocation, avocation, or special training
- Be able to work with Scout-age boys
- Be registered as a Merit Badge Counselor with the Boy Scouts of America (a BSA Adult Application is used for the requirement)
- Renew your registration annually if you would like to continue as a Merit Badge Counselor for the following calendar year
As a Merit Badge Counselor you agree to
- Follow the requirements of the latest BSA Merit Badge requirement revisions for each Merit Badge selected
- Make no deletions or additions to the requirements, ensuring that the advancement standards are fair and uniform for all Scouts
- Counsel the Scout to:
- Keep appointments
- Be in uniform
- Bring a legibly filed out Merit Badge Application card (Blue Card) signed by his unit leader
- Bring a buddy (friend or adult) to all instructional sessions as per BSA Youth Protection Guidelines
