Merit Badge Counselor Orientation

Information for the Instructor

References

Merit Badge Counselor Orientation #34542 (34541?)
A guide for Recommending Merit Badge Counselors #34532
Boy Scout Requirements (current edition) #33217
Advancement Policies and Procedures Committee Guide #33088
Merit Badge Counseling #34520
Application for Merit Badge #34124
Boy Scout Handbook #33229
BSA Adult Application #28-501J
Delivering the Promise #18-917
MBC Instructor's Guide, SE WI Council, author Michael Holmes

Handouts

Merit Badge Counseling #34520
Application for Merit Badge #34124
Delivering the Promise #18-917
Merit Badge Counselor Application, local version of #34405 BSA Adult Application #28-501J

INTRODUCTION

Explain that as a result of this unit of training, the merit badge counselor (MBC) should be able to:

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• Use the buddy system for counseling.
• State the purpose of the merit badge program for Scouts.
• Explain the role of the merit badge counselor.
• List some methods of counseling and coaching.

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Merit Badge Counselor Orientation

• Introduction
• Scout Buddy System
• Purpose of the Merit Badge Program
• The Merit Badge Process and the Role of the Counselor
• Counseling Techniques
• Review

SCOUT BUDDY SYSTEM

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A Scout must have a buddy with him at each meeting with a MBC.

Buddies may be:

• Another scout working on the same merit badge.
• A parent, guardian, brother, sister, or relative.
• A friend.

Due to the way the merit badge process is normally described, we frequently get questions about Group Instruction of Merit Badges?
Here is the National Executive Board policy statement:

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"To the fullest extent possible, the merit badge counseling relationship is a counselor-Scout arrangement in which the boy is not only judged on his performance of the requirements, but receives maximum benefit from the knowledge, skill, character, and personal interest of this counselor. Group instruction and orientation are encouraged where special facilities and expert personnel make this most practical, or when Scouts are dependent on only a few counselors for assistance. However, this group experience should be followed by attention to each individual candidate's projects and his ability to fulfill all requirements."

Go over what this means, answering any questions. Stress that the real emphasis of merit badge work should be Scout-counselor, as much as possible. (Ref. Adv. Policies pg. 15.)

PURPOSE OF THE MERIT BADGE PROGRAM

• Basic character-developing tools.
• Scouts learn career skills.
• Scouts develop physical fitness and hobbies that give a lifetime of healthful recreation.
• Contact with adults with whom they might not be acquainted.

The merit badge program is one of Scouting's basic character-developing tools. Earning merit badges gives a boy the kind of self-confidence that comes only from Overcoming difficult obstacles to achieve a goal.

Through the merit badge program, a boy is introduced to skills which may help him choose his adult vocation. Use Spielberg or other example - Scouting introduced Spielberg to movie making, look where he took this.

Other merit badges help a boy develop physical fitness, or discover "outside" interests and hobbies, encourage citizenship and generally become a more well-rounded person.

Many youths are uncomfortable dealing with adults they are not familiar with. Working on a merit badge with an adult should provide a super environment to help youth overcome this discomfort. It can be a excellent opportunity to help the youth build confidence.

THE MERIT BADGE PROCESS AND THE ROLE OF THE COUNSELOR

I. The Procedures Scouts follow to earn merit badges.

A. Selecting Merit Badges and Counselors
1. The Scout selects merit badges from the Scout Handbook, requirements book, or from individual merit badge pamphlets available in his troop library or at a public library.

2. The Scout indicates his interest in a merit badge to his scoutmaster who gives him:

a. An interview to determine interest, enthusiasm, and preparedness.

b. A signed Application for Merit Badge.

c. The name and phone number of a council or district approved MBC.

d. Encouragement to wear the official uniform when he visits the counselor with a buddy.

B. The Scout gets the merit badge pamphlet on his subject from his unit library, public library, or purchases one from the Scout office.

C. The Scout calls the counselor and makes an appointment.

D. The counselor sets a date, time, and place for the meeting, making sure that the YPP guidelines are followed. He or she suggests that the scout bring the following:

1. Merit badge pamphlet.

2. SCM signed application for MB.

3. Any projects he may have started.

4. Any other indication of preparedness.
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E. At the first interview the counselor and Scout decide upon

1. Projects.

2. Short-term and long-term goals with dates of completion in mind.

3. Dates, times, and places for further interviews.

F. The scout learns and does the things that the pamphlet explains, going as far as he can to fulfill the requirements on his own. The number of sessions you have during this period depends on the difficulty of the subject and the preparation and ability of the Scout. YPP guidelines continued to be followed.

G. When the Scout has finished all required projects and learned all relevant material, he arranges with the counselor for examination. At the testing
1. Each Scout is tested individually.

2. Scouts are expected to meet the requirements as stated in the handbook -- no more and no less.

3. Individual requirements for a merit badge may be signed off and recorded on the Application for merit badge as they are completed. Re-testing of these completed requirements is not necessary. If a partial was done by another counselor, you may review these requirements to satisfy yourself that the Scout has indeed completed the project or learned the material.

4. The MBC assists the Scout to meet the requirements and certifies when he has completed them.

5. MBC keeps counselor's record of the Application for Merit Badge. Scout returns Unit copy to SCM and keeps Applicant's copy.

6. You continue to follow YPP (a buddy is present).

II. The Counselor's Role

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A. Duties as a Counselor
1. Interview the Scout with a buddy present to determine
a. His preparedness.

b. The amount of knowledge he already has in the subject.

c. His interest in the subject.

2. Short-term and long-term goals are set by the Scout with encouragement from the counselor.

3. Counselor follows up with the Scout on his goals-projects, collections, written work.

4. Counselor helps the Scout evaluate his progress.

5. Counselor encourages the Scout to ask for any help he needs to gain more knowledge or skill in the subject.

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B. Duties as a Coach
1. Teaches the Scout the skills required.

2. Gives the Scout an opportunity to practice the skills under his or her guidance.

3. Takes a genuine interest in the projects and encourages completion.

4. Always remember that your enthusiasm and interest not only make the merit badge experience more rewarding for the Scout, but may induce him to pursue the topic on his own in the future.

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C. Duties as an Examiner

1. Make sure you have the most current requirements for the merit badge and that you follow these requirements in a FAIR and UNIFORM manner.

The current Boy Scout Requirements lists all of the merit badges in the back and it shows the dates when the merit badge requirements were last updated. About 15-20 merit badges are updated each year.

2. Before you sign the Scout's Application for a Merit Badge, you must insist that the Scout do exactly what the requirements call for. If it says, "show or demonstrate," that is what he must do. Just telling is not enough. The same holds true for words such as "make," "list," "in the field", and "collect, identify, and label."

Disabled Scouts must also complete all the requirements as stated, within the bounds of common sense. A disabled youth who could not write, may use a voice recognition computer to dictate and send an E-mail letter to his congressman for Citizenship in the Nation. But he still has to fulfill the requirement in order to receive the merit badge.

3. On the other hand you may not require more of a Scout than stated. You must not, for example, say, "I want to be sure you really know this material, so instead of the 20 items in your collection, you must have 30 before I will sign your card."

No more, no less insures that every Scout plays on a "level field." No one is asked to do more; no one is allowed to do less.

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D. Duties to the District/Council

1. Renew your registration annually if you plan to continue as a MBC. Notify the district if you no longer want to be a MBC.

2. Get YPP training and follow YPP guidelines.

3. Follow BSA policies.

COUNSELING TECHNIQUES

A. Put the Scout at ease
1. For the Scout to get the most benefit from counseling sessions, he must feel welcome and relaxed. One way for the counselor to put a boy at ease is to ask a simple question such as "How long have you been in Scouting?" or "How did you get interested in this merit badge?"

2. Another way is to show him something related to the subject. A Coin Collecting MBC might show the Scout his own collection. But be careful not to overwhelm the Scout; remember he is only a beginner.

3. A third way is to ask the Scout to do a simple skill. For instance, a Woodwork MBC might say, "Would you sand this piece of wood while I get some tools ready?"


B. At the first meeting you should review each requirement to make sure that there is no confusion over what the Scout must do. This will avoid later misunderstandings and frustrations on both sides. Make sure you ask the boy if he has any questions and encourage him to contact you if he has future questions.

C. When reviewing completed requirements, you may find the boy needs help. You may give such aid provided that the boy himself ultimately does the work.

D. While you may test for neither more or less than the requirements, you may teach more than is required as a method of encouraging a Scout's further interest in the subject.

E. It is, of course, acceptable for a Scout on his own initiative to do more than the requirement calls for.

F. Remember that the most effective way of teaching these skills is to get the student to practice while learning.

G. KISMIF.

REVIEW

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FREQUENT QUESTIONS

Can a parent be a counselor for their son?

How many merit badges can one counselor sign for one scout?

These and other similar questions are discussed in the Advancement Policies and Procedures Committee Guide. In the 1995 printing, they were covered on page 9 under the heading of Recruiting and Training Merit Badge Counselors and Publishing Lists. WARNING: DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TEACH THIS COURSE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AND ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CURRENT ADVANCEMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE GUIDE. There is too much misinformation in this area already!

I usually add to the explanation in the Advancement Policies by pointing out that different areas have different needs. In certain rural areas I would not want to force the Scouts to travel for two to three hours just to meet with a Merit Badge Counselor because I have limited the number of badges that the few counselors in their area can teach. I would then turn around and state that if you submitted a list of 10 or more merit badges that you wanted to be a counselor for, I just may ask for evidence that you have the skills necessary to teach all these merit badges. While National states there is no limit, they also state it is the duty of the Council Advancement Committee to approval all counselors. If you submit a list of 20 badges, you may not be approved for all of them.

I usually end up by stating that National's policy is "NO LIMIT", however, I recommend that they teach no more than five or six merit badges. I then remind them of one of the purposes of this program is to have the Scouts make contact with adults with whom they might not be acquainted.

Is there a time limit, from start to finish, for completing a merit badge?

The only time limit is their 18th birthday, all merit badges must be completed before their 18th birthday. (Except for disable Scouts with prior approval, via the procedures outlined in the Advancement Policies Guide.) This usually brings up the question of partials done with another counselor. I tell them that as the person who finally signs of the merit badge, you need to satisfy yourself that they did the work or know the material. They should not have to do the requirements over if they can demonstrate this. Keep in mind the NO LESS discussion, as well as the NO MORE when working with scouts with partials.

Why do I have to fill out another adult application?

I like to agree with them that it would be nice, if they were already registered, that they would not have to fill out another adult application. But, unfortunately the system is not yet that sophisticated. Merit Badge Counselors, even those working only with their unit, are kept on the DISTRICT CHARTER (registration), not the unit charter. This means two separate organizations with the unit responsibility (read that liability if you like) in the hands of the chartered organization and the District in the hands of the Council.

We also have problems with the registrations going in at different times. How does the person putting this in the computer already know you are registered with the unit? How often does the Merit Badge Counselor registration go in at the same time the adult's initial registration with the unit goes in? If they do go in at the same time, let us know. We will copy the application making the copy with the code 42 for the Merit Badge Counselor registration. The second application also helps assure registration as a Merit Badge Counselor. During re-charter time, things get hectic and the registrars are very busy. I have know cases where the Merit Badge Counselors were entered in on the unit charter as committee members because they went in with the unit charters.

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