Merit Badge Counselors

[AnnieB]

Is it true that a parent has to be a MBC in order to help their son with a merit badge? What about others in the troop who help them earn a merit badge but aren't listed on the council's site as a councelor? How are they able to do this?

 

Example: We have a nurse in our troop helping the boys earn a merit badge pertaining to health. However, she isn't a MBC. How is she able to do this?

 

Thanks.

[evmori]

A merit badge counselor must sign the card but anyone can help with the badge.

[Bob White]

Call the council office before you determine whether someone is a registered counselor based on the published "council" list.

 

The meirt badge counselor application form has the option for the counselor to NOT be listed with the entire council but only within the troop.

 

While anyone can instruct the scout, only a registered counselor may test and pass the scout on the requirements.

 

For more information check out this link.

http://www.scouting.org/BoyScouts/GuideforMeritBadgeCounselors.aspx

 

[Gold Winger]

One does not have to be a merit badge counselor to help a boy earn a merit badge. One must be a registered MBC to sign off that a boy has earned the merit badge.

 

Too many today think that a merit badge counselor is supposed to spoon feed you the information for the merit badge. Not in this guy's mind. The counselor is there as exactly that, a counselor, a guide or mentor. The boy is supposed to go off and explore and learn on his own and then come back and show what he's learned.

 

I used to counsel the sports merit badge. Everyone thought that I should offer a "class" where the boys would sit down and I'd tell them how to fill out the packet for the sports merit badge. At first that seemed like a good idea so I put out a sign up sheet and about 20 boys signed up.

 

I later thought better so I grabbed the interested boys at a troop meeting and gave each the packet from meritbadge.com and said, "I know that all of you play soccer or football or baseball or swim so what I want you guys to do is to complete this package, bring it to me and we'll discuss your work. If you have any questions, call me."

 

Now, the sports merit badge is pretty easy. You have to play two organized sports, one must be a team sport. You need to explain in simple terms the basic rules of the game. Draw a picture of the playing field. Along with a standard first aid explanation. Pretty simple.

 

I know that the troop had three or four Sports merit badge pamphlets but no one checked one out.

 

How many finished the merit badge out of 20? Two (2).

 

Since it wasn't being spoon fed to them, they weren't interested.

 

End of rant.

[exnavy_76]

I have been out of scouting for many years, I made my Eagle Rank in 1959 and my Bronze Palm in 1960, my last active year was 1961. I now have the time to become active again and would like to be a MBC.

 

I have expertise in two areas: Drafting, I drew plans for new homes, additions, and remodeling for more than 30 years. Who would I see to be a MBC for the drafting merit badge?

 

My second area of expertise is in the old west and the westward migration. I have been told that I am an expert in this area. But I don't see any merit badges where I can apply my knowledge.

 

Can anyone help me?

[Bob White]

Contact your local scout office. You will find them in the white pages under Boy Scouts. Thank you for being willing to share your expertise.

BW(This message has been edited by Bob White)

[packsaddle]

Welcome to the forums exnavy_76. Class of '59, wow, that puts you ahead of me by a few years. But welcome back to scouting.

[Eagledad]

>>My second area of expertise is in the old west and the westward migration. I have been told that I am an expert in this area. But I don't see any merit badges where I can apply my knowledge.

[Lisabob]

Well it is a bit of a stretch but perhaps the American Heritage MB? It isn't written specifically to focus on the old west but I can easily imagine how your knowledge might come into the discussion of various parts of requirements 2, 4, and 5 for that badge.

 

Thank you for looking for ways to share your interests with scouts.

[Eagle69]

The statement: " One must be a registered MBC to sign off that a boy has earned the merit badge. " is interesting. In our council the Blue Card never goes outside the Troop and if we are finishing up a Merit Badge that was started at camp there is no Blue Card. I was SM for 27 years and never saw any kind of list of Registered Merit Badge Counselors and since I was on the District Advancement Committee I sure would have known if it existed. I guess other councils are more stringent than ours.

[John-in-KC]

Eagle69,

 

Maybe you need to give your District and Council Advancement Chairs a copy of Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures, BSA #33088.

 

Annie,

 

You can help your son, but unless you are a Counselor, you may not approve his MB. Speaking as a Dad, I had other Counselors do EagleSon's MBs even when I was a qualified Counselor. Yes, I know the procedure, but we were trying to set the example for some parents who would have given their kids all 100+ MBs... given half a chance.

[scottteng]

Sports MB should also be banned from being offered by summer camps. They sucker young scouts into signing up thinking it is something like PE class in school then when they get to camp let them know about the two seasons played requirement. Rant off.

A draftsman could definitely handle drafting but how about architecture, model building and designing, engineering, even home repairs, maybe even graphic arts. The wild west Indian lore, pioneering(an Eagle of your era would know the knots). Plus I am sure that you have had hobbies over the years that would fit in to other MB's. True expertise is not really needed more important is an enthusiasm for the discipline being introduced to the scout.

[AnnieB]

Let's say my son is wanting to work on his Personal Management merit badge. There is no MBC for that in our troop but there is one for photography, can that MBC sign off on things completed or only a MBC for Personal Maganement?

 

I hope that made sense!

[Bob White]

A counselor must be approved by the council advancement committee for each specific merit badge they wish to counsel. They may only approve advancement on those specific badges for which they have been approved.

 

 

[exnavy_76]

I have a question that is a little bit off subject. I wonder how a new merit badge is created? I can think of two new merit badges:

 

1) Americana History: That is the study of American History from the start of WWII to present day. This is more of the products and life styles rather than the study of events and dates. An example of this would be the study of the hamburger or soft drinks, drive in theaters, life without electronics and etc.

 

2) Old West: This would the study of the westward migration, manifest destiny, The California Gold Rush, Wagon Trains, pioneers, life on the trail, the forts along the way, the hardships faced on the trail, the reasons for going west, Native Americans, homesteading, ghost towns, and of course, the law men and the gun fighters.

 

There really could be a merit badge on or about Native Americans and their true history.

 

What is the procedure for creating new merit badges?

 

Thanks for the help.