The merit badge program is designed to give scouts the opportunity to explore career choices, develop hobbies and avocations, meet new adults, develop responsibility for their own education and develop a deeper sense of civic responsibility. Scouts are responsible for choosing and earning merit badges. There are currently more than 120 badges from which to choose. For a scout to earn a badge, they need to have the requirements signed off by an adult with some experience in that area. That is where you can help our troop.
Steps to Becoming a Merit Badge Counselor
1. It is required to fill out an Adult Leader Application form (current printing). BSA requires that all counselors be registered Scouters. The most recent version of the application must be used and filled in completely. This is a three part form and each page of the online version needs to be completed. The information provided is treated confidentially and will be used to perform a background check of the applicant. There is no fee to be a counselor. Download BSA Adult Application.
2. Fill out a Merit Badge Counselor Information Sheet, specifying the badges that you wish to teach. Please list only those badges for which you are fully qualified. Place an explanation of your qualifications on the back of the form. Download Merit_Badge_counselor_form. You will find a complete list of merit badges with their requirements at MeritBadge.org.
3. All merit badge counselors must take the online Youth Protection Training (YPT) course. This can be done on-line my creating an account at https://myscouting.scouting.org and selecting the YPT. This 20 minute course shows all Scouters the BSA requirements for interacting with scouts. Once completed, you will be able to print out the completion certificate and attach it to your applications.
4. Submit your paperwork to Dave Miller, Troop Advancement Chairman, or an Assistant Scoutmaster at one of the troop meetings.
5. National requires that each adult re-charter every year. Since there is no fee involved, the District simply confirms that each counselor intends to remain a counselor for the coming year.
