be a Merit Badge Counselor (MBC)

Merit Badge Counselor (MBC)

The Scouting program emphasizes helping Scouts develop character, citizenship, and mental and physical fitness. Among the handful of methods used to build on these aims of Scouting are adult association, leadership development, and advancement.

Besides parents and relatives, school teachers, religious leaders, and possibly coaches, most Scout-age youth don’t have much contact with many other adults or professionals. A Scout’s association with his merit badge counselors provides an excellent way for him to grow and gain confidence through exposure to quality adults who serve as positive role models and mentors. Meeting people from business and community leaders to trained specialists and enthusiastic hobbyists, a Scout can experience personal growth and a positive life-altering experience while in pursuit of a merit badge

The Merit Badge Counselor is a key player in the Boy Scout advancement program. Whatever the area of expertise or interest, parents can play a vital role in stirring a Scouts curiosity about a particular topic. He/She serves as both a teacher and mentor as Scouts work on a merit badge. 

In one way, he/she is an examiner. In a larger sense, the counselor uses this opportunity for coaching—helping Scouts overcome the hurdles of the different requirements and making Scouts aware of the deeper aspects of the subject from their knowledge and experience.

Because of these unique opportunities to serve Scouts, volunteering as a merit badge counselor is one of the most gratifying experiences for adults in Scouting today. See this list of Merit Badges to find Merit Badges that a Scout can earn.

By serving as a merit badge counselor, adults offers time, knowledge, and other resources so that Scouts can explore a topic of interest.

Here are steps to be a registered Merit Badge Counselor:

• Take the “Youth Protection Training” online course: register at: http://my.scouting.org, takes about 30 minutes, valid for 2 years. Print your completion certificate.

• Complete the “adult application form” (get fillable PDF here): indicate position code: “42”, and position: “Merit Badge Counselor”. Yearly registration is required by BSA!

• Complete a “Merit Badge Information Sheet” (get fillable PDF here), listing all MBs you may be interested in leading.

Have all completed forms (to the best of your ability) printed, sign wherever is neeeded, and hand them over to your unit leader (SM/ASMs) for council registration.