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Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
Merit Badge Counseling Instruction
Presenter:—Joe Larkin ([email protected])
Council Advancement Chair:—David Apfelbaum ([email protected])
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
Objectives—Know your role as a Merit Badge
counselor—Know the importance of the ‘buddy
system’—Know the purpose of the Merit Badge
program—Know the Merit Badge process—Learn some of the more effective
methods of coaching and counseling
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
Course References—Boy Scout Requirements 2004 BSA
Publication No. 33215—Advancement Policies and Procedures
Committee Guide (33088C). —Pamphlet, Merit Badge Counseling—Application for Merit Badge (‘Blue Card’)—Boy Scout Handbook, Eleventh Edition
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
Becoming a Merit Badge Counselor—Interest in Scouting—Subject matter proficient—Adult application for Scouting
Background check done by District Advancement Chairman (DAC)
No dues required Automatic renewal yearly
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
Becoming a Merit Badge Counselor (continued)—Familiarize yourself with Scouting regulations:
‘How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide - Boy Scout Handbook
Guide to Safe Scouting
—Familiarize yourself intimately with the requirements of the Merit Badge
—It is your responsibility to remain abreast of requirements changes of your Merit Badge
—A Scout CANNOT be penalized if outdated requirements and/or materials are used by you!!!
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
Becoming a Merit Badge Counselor (continued)—A counselor is a Central Florida Council
resource You may get calls from a Scout anywhere in
Central Florida Council Know alternative counselors that may be more
geographically advantageous for the Scout
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
The Roles of a Counselor—A Coach
Advisor
—A Counselor Performance evaluator
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
The Buddy System—Must be strictly adhered to!!!—Buddy can be:
Fellow Scout Parent or Guardian Brother or Sister Relative or Friend
—THIS PROTECTS YOU AND THE SCOUT!!!
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
Why The Merit Badge System?—Encourages self-confidence—Demonstrates to the Scout options as to
career paths—Develops self-discipline and adherence to
schedules and requirements—Develops physical and mental skills—Develops hobbies which may be carried
on through to adulthood
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
The Merit Badge Process
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
How The Process Begins—Scout obtains a signed Application for
Merit Badge (blue card) from his Scoutmaster
—Scout obtains name of appropriate Merit Badge counselor (available from District and Council Advancement Committee)
—Scout calls counselor to set up initial meeting
—Scout (AND BUDDY) meet counselor who coaches Scout as to requirements
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
The Initial Meeting—Counselor should evaluate the Scout’s:
Preparedness Knowledge Interest
—Agreement reached on: Scout’s understanding of requirements Projects required Short term and long term goals with completion
dates discussed (realistic goals must be discussed)
Dates and times for future sessions
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
The Continuing Merit Badge Process—In line with the schedule:
Meetings as required are convened with the Scout and his buddy
Skills transfer is continual Practice on skills
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
The Continuing Merit Badge Process—Skills testing:
Meetings as required are attended with the Scout and his buddy
The buddy must be present during any testing however the Scout is tested on INDIVIDUAL ability
Requirements must merely be met by the Scout, not exceeded
– Wording of requirements is precise– Scout may be encouraged to do more but they
are not required to exceed the requirements
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
The Continuing Merit Badge Process—Skills testing:
As the requirement is completed it is noted on the blue card
When all requirements are completed, the blue card is signed by the counselor
The counselor retains his portion of the blue card
Return the rest of the blue card to the Scout Advise the Scout as to the importance of the
blue card
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
The Continuing Merit Badge Process—The importance of the blue card:
It an official completion record recognized by BSA National and Council PRIOR to recording and presentation of the Merit badge card.
It is the FINAL arbiter of dispute if all other records are missing including loss of the merit badge card.
It should be retained by the scout along with presented merit badge card for history purposes.
Counselors should keep their copy in a safe place, should a a boy lose his blue card or merit badge card and need proof of completion.
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
Effective Counseling
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
Counseling Techniques—Set a relaxing and inviting atmosphere
Put the Scout at ease during the initial meeting– Remember that younger Scouts (especially) will
normally feel intimidated– You are more than likely a stranger to the Scout
Ask open ended questions– ‘How did you get interested in Coin Collecting?’– ‘What have you particularly enjoyed about
Scouting?’ Show the Scout something related to the
particular Merit Badge, I.e., a coin collection
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
Counseling Techniques—Set a relaxing and inviting atmosphere
Ask the Scout to do a simple skill related to the subject
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
‘Paperwork’ Section—This section deals more with
Advancement responsibilities—If your interest is in Merit Badge
Counseling only, you may leave at this time
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
‘Partial’ Merit Badge Completion—Only two documents can serve as proof of
partial completion: The blue card A partial completion sheet issued by a Boy Scout
summer camp (such as La-No-Che) signed by the MB summer camp counselor
—A Scout CANNOT be re-tested on items proven as complete in the approved documentation
—There is NO time limit for completion of a Merit Badge other than a Scout’s 18th birthday
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
‘Partial’ Merit Badge Completion—New requirements (if the particular MB
program has changed) must be met by the Scout
Deleted Merit Badges are no longer attainable as of the day the Merit Badge is retired
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
2005 Merit Badge Changes—Requirements changes for 27 Merit
Badges. —Some changes are corrections to typos.—Some had new pamphlets issued in mid-
2004. —Some had actually changed in mid-2003,
but the changed requirements had been omitted from the 2004 edition of Boy Scout Requirements
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
2005 Merit Badge Changes Old requirements may continue to be used
until December 31, 2005— Archery— Astronomy— Camping
— Canoeing— Chemistry— Citizenship in the Community— Citizenship in the Nation— Cooking
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
2005 Merit Badge Changes Old requirements may continue to be
used until December 31, 2005— Cycling— Electricity— Electronics— Emergency Preparedness— Family Life— Fire Safety— First Aid
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
2005 Merit Badge Changes Old requirements may continue to be
used until December 31, 2005— Fish and Wildlife Management— Medicine— Metalwork— Nuclear Science (formerly Atomic Energy)— Plumbing— Railroading— Scholarship
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
2005 Merit Badge Changes Old requirements may continue to be
used until December 31, 2005— Small Boat Sailing— Soil and Water Conservation— Space Exploration— Surveying— Theater
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
Helpful Websites
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
National Website:—http://www.bsa.scouting.org/
Scouting Forms—http://usscouts.org/
Plenty of helpful links here
—http://www.pacsky.org/scouting/forms/f.html
General site—http://inet1.com/bsa/index.htm
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
Central Florida Council Website:—http://www.cfcbsa.org/
Has links to District Websites
Guide to Safe Scouting—http://www.bsa.scouting.org/pubs/gss/
index.html
Merit Badge Requirements—http://www.meritbadge.com/home.htm
Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005
This presentation is available on the Web at:—http://usscouts.org/scoutmaster/index.asp