A Guide for

Merit Badge
Counseling

Enhancing our youths’ competitive edge through merit badges

 o
Welcome t
r it B a d g e Counseling
Me
teacher and
co un se lo r se rves as both a
A merit badge badge. In one
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as Sc ou ts w ork on a merit co un selor uses
mentor a larg er sense, the
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rienc es for adults in Scou
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ur ge d to ch eck with their
rs are strongly unselor Orient
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New counselo in g M erit Badge Co ed
and should pl
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s vo lu nt ee rs to get their qu e
ty allow ailabl
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sentia ls of s/advancemen
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cils list coun se lo esting help is
Most local coun Th e nu m be r of youths requ
an appointmen
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pointments at
scheduling ap
A Guide for Merit BSA membership ID number, and complete the
training. The local council service center can provide a
Badge Counseling membership ID number for volunteers who don’t
have access to their membership card.

Advancement and the Merit Badge Plan New Merit Badge Counselors
As part of the advancement program of the Boy Scouts
of America, the merit badge plan is one of the most Registering as a merit badge counselor for the first
unique educational tools ever devised. Advancement is time requires certification in BSA Youth Protection
the process by which a Scout progresses from rank to training prior to registration. Similar to the above
rank in Scouting. Everything done to advance and earn procedure, new volunteers must go to my.scouting.org
higher ranks in Scouts BSA, including earning merit and create a user account, which allows them to take
badges, is designed to help youth have an exciting and the training. For those who prefer or are required
meaningful experience. to attend in-person, instructor-led Youth Protection
The advancement method encourages Scouts to training, please contact your local council for training
accomplish a progression of fun and motivational dates and locations.
tasks. Earning these recognitions allows Scouts to After completion, print a copy of the Youth
explore many fields, helps them round out their Protection training certificate and attach it to the
skills, and perhaps introduces them to subjects that Adult Application, No. 524-501. Submit these to
will become lifelong interests or rewarding careers. the local council along with Merit Badge Counselor
Information, No. 34405, found at www.scouting.org/
What Is a Merit Badge? programs/boy-scouts/mb-counselor-guide.
The merit badge itself is a simple embroidered patch. Other qualifications for serving in this role are:
The intangible end result of earning it, though, is that • Must be an individual of good character
youth have fun while they gain self-confidence and • Must be age 18 or older
achieve a goal, sometimes overcoming obstacles and • Must have the skills and education in the subjects
solving problems. they want to teach
There are more than 135 merit badges a Scout • Must have good rapport with Scout-age youth and
can earn. Subjects range from careers and life skills to their unit leaders
hobbies, sports, and citizenship. You may ask yourself, • Must be approved by the local council
“That’s all great, but what do I do, and how do I do it?” Special qualifications and certifications may be
required by the local council prior to teaching certain
What Is My Responsibility? merit badges.
The counselor’s responsibility is to: These qualifications provide counselors with
credibility because Scouts perceive them as role
1. Assist Scouts as they plan the assigned projects
models. A well-qualified merit badge counselor can
and activities to meet all the requirements.
enhance a youth’s attention span through effective
2. Coach them through interviews and
communication, which leads to better understanding
demonstrations on how to complete the
of the subject, productive discussions, and true
various requirements.
interest. A bond of mutual respect often develops
3. Sign off with your approval once you are
when a Scout feels confident to offer thoughts
satisfied the work has been completed.
and opinions through meaningful conversations
with a merit badge counselor. Thus, a Scout grows in
What Do I Agree to Do?
social skills and self-reliance as a result of interacting
Before work with youth can begin, individuals with an adult who is a qualified counselor.
currently serving as a merit badge counselor or The merit badge counselor agrees to follow the
those seeking to serve in this role must take BSA requirements of the recognition, making no deletions
Youth Protection training and be registered as a or additions, ensuring the advancement standards are
merit badge counselor with the Boy Scouts of fair and uniform for all Scouts.
America. Two possible scenarios for the required Counselors are encouraged to become familiar
Youth Protection training are discussed here. with all of the topics in “The Merit Badge Program,”
section 7 of the Guide to Advancement. Information
Current Merit Badge Counselors from this resource can be found online at
In order to reregister as a merit badge counselor, www.scouting.org/resources/guide-to-advancement.
an adult volunteer’s Youth Protection training Books are also available for purchase at your Scout
must be current within the past 24 months. If this shop or online at www.scoutshop.org.
training is not current, the volunteer must go to
my.scouting.org, create a user account using the The counselor must be sure the Scout has either
another registered adult or the Scout’s parent or
legal guardian present at all instructional sessions.
All merit badge counselors must register
annually with their local council to continue
counseling Scouts.
 Step by Step
Through your association with youth members, of passing the Scout on the requirements, but
keep in mind you are assisting unit leaders in the also to help the Scout understand the subject.
advancement program. Leaders coach Scouts on 5 The Scout, along with a registered adult or the
the recognitions they will earn for a particular rank
Scout’s parent or legal guardian, should make
and provide them with the name and phone num-
another appointment with you when ready to
ber of a counselor to contact.
prove an ability to complete the requirements.
Whether a Scout earns the award or not, a volunteer
6 This review session might be approached by
is always interested in the youth’s progress. The
the Scout with some apprehension. The Scout is
merit badge counselor should feel free to discuss
familiar with final exams in school and may see
the Scout’s work with the unit leader at any time.
this meeting with you as another such
Let’s now review the process of how a volunteer experience. You can help by putting the youth at
helps Scouts earn merit badges, beginning with the ease. Talking rather than grilling or examining—
initial contact. there is a big difference—you can still find out
1 The Scout contacts you, probably by phone. You what the Scout knows. Express honest
may explain what is expected over the phone, enthusiasm for the things the Scout has done,
or you may want to make an appointment with ­particularly if projects are involved. Your approval
the Scout and another registered adult or the will give the Scout confidence.
Scout’s parent or legal guardian to discuss 7 When meeting with you, the Scout should bring
expectations in person. Personal contact will the projects required for completion. If these
make earning the badge a better experience for cannot be transported, the Scout should present
all concerned. satisfactory evidence, such as a photograph of
2 When you work with a Scout, there must the project or adult verification. The unit leader
always be another adult with the Scout. might, for example, verify that a satisfactory
This person can be a registered adult or bridge or tower has been built for Pioneering,
the Scout’s parent or legal guardian. or that the required meals were prepared for
the Cooking merit badge. Your responsibility,
3 On the first visit, the Scout should bring a in addition to coaching, is to satisfy yourself
merit badge application, known as the “blue that the requirements have been met. Question
card,” No. 34124, signed by the unit leader. This the Scout and, if you have any doubts, contact
lets you know the Scout and the unit leader the adult who signed the statement.
have discussed earning this badge and that
the leader authorizes the meeting with you.
8 When you are satisfied the Scout has met
the requirements, you list and initial each
4 In your discussion of what is expected, you completed requirement. The blue card is not
may want to start by finding out what the Scout signed until all requirements are met.
already knows. The Scout may already have
worked on some of the requirements before You may work with many Scouts each year as
meeting with you, but before signing off, it is they earn merit badges. However, you might only
up to you whether each requirement has been work with a few. Your contact with these Scouts
completed as written. Spend some time helping is tremendously important. Your influence is
the Scout learn the remaining requirements, or measured not by the number of Scouts with whom
give guidance in c­ ompleting projects. You can set you work, but by the effect upon the lives of those
up additional meetings—not only for the purpose with whom you have an opportunity to work.

The Scout does not have to show knowledge of those things beyond the scope of the requirements. The
requirements for each award appear in the current BSA merit badge pamphlet series and in the current-year
Scouts BSA Requirements book, which is available at Scout shops and local council service centers. Requirements
also are posted online at www.scouting.org/programs/boy-scouts/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges.

Requirements—No More, No Less On the other hand, you cannot require more of
a Scout than stated. You must not, for example, say,
The Scout is expected to meet the requirements as
‘‘I want to be sure you really know your stuff, so
stated—no more and no less. Furthermore, the Scout
instead of the 20 items in your collection, you must
is to do exactly what is stated. If it says ‘‘show or
collect 50 to get my signature.’’ You can suggest,
demonstrate,’’ that is what must be done. Just telling
encourage, and help the Scout to get 50 things, but
about it isn’t enough. The same thing holds true
you must not require it.
for such words as ‘‘make,’’ ‘‘list,’’ ‘‘in the field,’’ and
‘‘collect, identify, and label.’’
 n You Sell Your Subject?
Ca ram materials prog
constantly seek
You might wonder, “If the requirements Scouting units to promote your
you would like
as stated are the limits, what else is there for for meetings. If ants, contact
d to at tra ct more particip
me to do other than help the Scout with the subjec t an attend a unit
specifics of these requirements?” Actually, ad ers in yo ur area and offer to
unit le l youth will
you can go far beyond the requirements in g to ‘‘s ell yo ur subject.’’ Not al
meetin exciting
your discussions with him. A Scout probably st ed in th e su bject, so plan an
be inte re ned to tickle
will welcome your willingness to share your 15 -m in ut e pr esentation desig
10- or offer to meet
knowledge and experience. audience. Then,
the fancy of your ho are really
An activity also can expose a Scout to g with those w
after the meetin t-together.
the educational requirements of a subject area. for your next ge
You can provide valuable information on interested to plan
career possibilities and show the Scout what is
most interesting to you and what is difficult.
The final choice—the selection of what the
youth will do in life—is up to them. However, be done on an individual basis. A youth may not
the Scout will appreciate your help in relating merit qualify just by being a member of a group that is
badge work with daily life as they attend school, go instructed in skills.
into business, or pursue a military career. Scouts must qualify by personally satisfying
their merit badge counselor that they can meet all
From the Guide to Advancement the requirements. This may be hard to do in a group.
When one Scout answers a question, that can’t
The Guide to Advancement specifies: Worksheets possibly prove that all the others know the answer.
and other materials that may be of assistance Then, too, each youth learns at their own pace. No
in earning merit badges are available from a Scout should be held back or pushed ahead by their
variety of places including unofficial sources on association with a group.
the internet and even troop libraries. Use of these So remember—you can coach more than
aids is permissible as long as the materials can one at a time, but participants must demonstrate
be correlated with the current requirements that individually that they have met the requirements.
Scouts must fulfill. Completing “worksheets” may
suffice where a requirement calls for something in Some of the merit badge pamphlets are available
writing, but this would not work for a requirement in both print and digital editions, available from
where the Scout must discuss, tell, show, or www.scoutshop.org. The digital versions include
demonstrate, etc. Note that Scouts shall not be special features such as videos, extra photos, and
required to use these learning aids in order to other supplemental information.
complete a merit badge.

Do You Need a Merit Badge Pamphlet?

Where Do You Meet?
The information in the pamphlet may be familiar to
If the merit badge subject relates to your position or you, but it will help you to know what the youth has
profession, then your place of work might be the best read. The pamphlets are written for Scout-age youth
place to meet with Scouts. Hobby-related subjects with suggestions for projects that interest them.
usually are handled in your home. Here you will It’s a good idea to obtain the latest printing
have the proper materials for use in coaching Scouts. of the pamphlet on your subject. It will contain the
For a few subjects, coaching will happen in the field latest requirements and information. The printing
or where s­ pecial equipment is at hand. Rowing, date can be found on page 2 of each pamphlet.
Rifle Shooting, Swimming, and Astronomy are A complete list of merit badge pamphlets is
good examples. Remember, when meeting with the printed on the inside back cover of each one with
Scout, always have another registered adult or the the latest revision date. By checking this list in any
Scout’s parent or legal guardian. current year’s printing, you can find out whether
your pamphlet has been updated.
How Many at a Time? If you have suggestions for improvements of the
Frequently the skills of a subject can be taught to requirements or pamphlet content, please email your
several Scouts at one time, a real advantage for you. comments to [email protected].
However, completing the requirements must always

Why Volunteer
The BSA recognizes that the merit badge counselor is the cornerstone to the merit badge program. By offering
their time, experience, and knowledge to guide youth in one or more subjects, these volunteers help shape the
future of our communities. The Boy Scouts of America is proud of its tradition of volunteer service. It does not
endorse merit badge opportunities where fees are paid directly to individuals or groups of individuals.
Merit Badges

American Business Exploration Plumbing

American Cultures Family Life Pottery
American Heritage Farm Mechanics Programming
American Labor Fingerprinting Public Health
Animal Science Fire Safety Public Speaking
Animation First Aid Pulp and Paper
Archaeology Fish and Wildlife Radio
Archery Management Railroading
Architecture Fishing Reading
Art Fly-Fishing Reptile and
Astronomy Forestry Amphibian Study
Athletics Game Design Rifle Shooting
Automotive Gardening Robotics
Maintenance Genealogy Rowing
Aviation Geocaching Safety
Backpacking Geology Salesmanship
Basketry Golf Scholarship
Bird Study Graphic Arts Scouting Heritage
Bugling Hiking Scuba Diving
Camping Home Repairs Sculpture
Canoeing Horsemanship Search and Rescue
Chemistry Indian Lore Shotgun Shooting
Chess Insect Study Signs, Signals,
Citizenship in the Inventing and Codes
Community Journalism Skating
Citizenship in Kayaking Small-Boat Sailing
the Nation Landscape Architecture Snow Sports
Citizenship in Law Soil and Water
the World Leatherwork Conservation
Climbing Lifesaving Space Exploration
Coin Collecting Mammal Study Sports
Collections Medicine Stamp Collecting
Communication Metalwork Surveying
Composite Materials Mining in Society Sustainability
Cooking Model Design Swimming
Crime Prevention and Building Textile
Cycling Motorboating Theater
Dentistry Moviemaking Traffic Safety
Digital Technology Music Truck Transportation
Disabilities Awareness Nature Veterinary Medicine
Dog Care Nuclear Science Water Sports
Drafting Oceanography Weather
Electricity Orienteering Welding
Electronics Painting Whitewater
Emergency Personal Fitness Wilderness Survival
Preparedness Personal Management Wood Carving
Energy Pets Woodwork
Engineering Photography
Entrepreneurship Pioneering
Environmental Plant Science
Science

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©2018 Boy Scouts of America 2018 Printing