Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22, 2005

Merit Badge Counseling InstructionOctober 22, 2005

Merit Badge Counseling Instruction

Presenter:—Joe Larkin ([email protected])

Council Advancement Chair:—David Apfelbaum ([email protected])


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


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


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


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—A Scout CANNOT be penalized if outdated requirements and/or materials are used by you!!!


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


The Roles of a Counselor—A Coach

Advisor

—A Counselor Performance evaluator


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!!!


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


The Merit Badge Process


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


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


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


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


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


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.


Effective Counseling


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


Counseling Techniques—Set a relaxing and inviting atmosphere

Ask the Scout to do a simple skill related to the subject



‘Paperwork’ Section—This section deals more with

Advancement responsibilities—If your interest is in Merit Badge

Counseling only, you may leave at this time


‘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


‘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


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


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


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



used until December 31, 2005— Fish and Wildlife Management— Medicine— Metalwork— Nuclear Science (formerly Atomic Energy)— Plumbing— Railroading— Scholarship



used until December 31, 2005— Small Boat Sailing— Soil and Water Conservation— Space Exploration— Surveying— Theater


Helpful Websites


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


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


This presentation is available on the Web at:—http://usscouts.org/scoutmaster/index.asp

Documents

Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22, 2005