What are the purposes and goals of the Merit Badge program:
How a Scouts goes about getting a Merit Badge:
Selecting a Merit Badge Counselor:
Important Tips on for meeting with your counselor.
1. Opportunities for scouts to plan and carry out projects
toward their own growth and development.
2. Chances for scouts to learn about a wide variety of interesting subjects.
3. Orientation in these fields to serve as a springboard to further interest.
4. Help to the Scout in discovering his talents and abilities.
5. Useful skills in many subjects leading to capable, confident, participating citizenship.
6. Involvement in activities of great interest.
1. He needs to get a signed merit badge from the Advancement Chairman.
2. Phone the merit badge counselor and tell that person he wants to earn the badge. Go to see the counselor to find out what is expected of him. Do this before starting work.
3. Get the merit badge pamphlet on his subject. His Patrol or troop may have one he can borrow. The local library has copies of the merit badge booklets. He may also buy one in the Scout Service center.
4. Learn and do the requirements as described in the merit badge booklet. (No more or no less)
5. When he is ready, he will call the counselor again to make an appointment. Bring along the things he has made to meet the requirements or proof of what he has done. The counselor will spend time with him to make sure that he knows his stuff. When the counselor is satisfied that the Scout has done what is required, he will sign the boy's merit badge card.
6. The Scout will give the signed form to the Advancement Chairman
who will get the badge for him. It will be presented to him in front of the troop.
The Advancement Chairman, Scoutmaster, and Assistant Scoutmaster has current list a of names and phone numbers of all merit badge counselors in the area. This list is updated once a year by the District. When you have selected the merit badge you wish to work on, check with the Advancement Chairman for the name and phone number of counselor to contact. When you are ready you and your buddy, or parent, brother, sister, relative, or friend make an appointment with your counselor. A good counselor will also help you see beyond the requirements and discover ways to continue learning about the subject. If he is satisfied that you have completed the requirements, he will sign your merit badge form. If not, he will explain what you still must do. Although the merit badge counsel has the final approval, additional requirements must not be added beyond those outlined in the merit badge book.
1. A Scout should never meet with a merit badge counselor one-on-one (alone). If a counsel suggests this report it to your Scoutmaster immediately.
2. A Scout should always contact the counselor himself, that is not your parent's job.
3. I is highly recommended that a Scout use the same counselor for no more than three badges.
4. Although earning merit badges in a group is permitted (with individual contact included), it is highly recommended that a scout earn merit badges individually.
5. Although it is acceptable for a parent to counsel their own scout, it is highly recommended that it be done only in a group setting. It is highly recommended that a parent not counsel their Scout on more than two of the Eagle reguired merit badges. (Preferably parents should not counsel any Eagle Required Merit badges)
6. Scout uniforms must be worn at all meeting with the merit badge counselor.