All About Merit Badges

Below is a letter from our Merit Badge Coordinator, John H., explaining how to get involved with earning Merit Badges and how to become a Merit Badge Counselor.

I'd like to welcome all the new scouts and their parents to Troop 321. My name is John H. (Matthew's dad) and I assist the troop as the Merit Badge Coordinator. My role involves providing scouts with the names and contact information for local Merit Badge counselors in their areas of interest and distributing the Merit Badge Application blue cards. Below is some information for Scouts interested in earning Merit Badges and Parents who are interested in becoming a Merit Badge Counselor.

If you are interested in earning a Merit Badge:

• Contact John H. (home 650-596-8414, cell 650-291-9716, or email him here for the name of a Merit Badge Counselor in your area and to receive a Merit Badge Application blue card.
  

• Complete the requirements for the Merit Badge. The website “Introduction to Merit Badges” at http://www.usscouts.org/mb/intro.asp describes the process for earning a Merit Badge with links to each of the Merit Badge requirements and worksheets. The website http://meritbadge.org/ also contains resources including workbooks for merit badges. Our troop librarian, Josh Y., has several booklets for some of the more popular merit badges or you can purchase them at the Foster City Scout shop at 1150 Chess Drive.
  
  
• Your Merit Badge Counselor must sign off on the specific Merit Badge requirements using the blue card.
  
  
• Turn in the signed Merit Badge Application blue card to John F. (home 650-591-6222, cell 650-804-4994, or email him here) who will then enter the completed application in the TroopMaster records.
  
  
• You will receive your Merit Badge at the next Boy Scout Court of Honor
  

If you are interested in becoming a Merit Badge Counselor:

• To qualify as a merit badge counselor, you must
  - Be at least 18 years old.
  - Be proficient in the merit badge subject by vocation, avocation, or special training.
  - Be able to work with Scout-age boys.
  - Be registered with the Boy Scouts of America.

• Complete a BSA Adult Registration Application with authorization for a background check. The form is located at http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/28-501F.pdf.

• Complete the Merit Badge Counselor Information form and submit to the Pacific Skyline council (Pam Fosnes email or Jan Partin email). The form is located at http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34405.pdf.

• Complete BSA Youth Protection online training at http://olc.scouting.org/

• Once the council processes your application you will be added to the Merit Badge Counselor List which is updated quarterly

• The Guide for Merit Badge Counselors at http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/GuideforMeritBadgeCounselors.aspx summarizes the role of a counselor. The site “A Guide for Merit Badge Counseling” is another good resource

• The troop also recommends that you take the Merit Badge Counselors training at the next opportunity. Information about Merit Badge Counselor training is available at http://pacsky.org/openrosters/ViewOrgPageLink.asp?LinkKey=9144&orgkey=192

Thanks,
John H.