Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22, 2005

1. Merit Badge Counseling Instruction • Presenter: • Joe Larkin (jlarkin@cfl.rr.com) • Council Advancement Chair: • David Apfelbaum (baum@osceola.org) Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22, 2005

2. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

3. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

4. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

5. 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is your responsibility to remain abreast of requirements changes of your Merit Badge • A Scout CANNOT be penalized if outdated requirements and/or materials are used by you!!!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 Instruction October 22, 2005

6. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

7. The Roles of a Counselor • A Coach • Advisor • A Counselor • Performance evaluator Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22, 2005

8. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

9. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

10. The Merit Badge Process Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22, 2005

11. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

12. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

13. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

14. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

15. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

16. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

17. Effective Counseling Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22, 2005

18. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

19. Counseling Techniques • Set a relaxing and inviting atmosphere • Ask the Scout to do a simple skill related to the subject Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22, 2005

20. Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22, 2005

21. ‘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 Instruction October 22, 2005

22. ‘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 Instruction October 22, 2005

23. ‘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 Instruction October 22, 2005

24. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

25. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

26. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

27. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

28. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

29. Helpful Websites Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22, 2005

30. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

31. 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 Instruction October 22, 2005

32. This presentation is available on the Web at: • http://usscouts.org/scoutmaster/index.asp Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22, 2005