Merit Badge Counselor

[@CreachterZ]

I earned my computing merit badge in about 1985. I was fortunate enough to have a scout leader who was an engineer at a local chemical plant. We worked on an Atari 400. This totally changed my life. He had us write an interactive scout quiz game that we showed off at our next council gathering. I don’t know what would have happened without this tutelage. Today I am a technologist at a very large corporation and absolutely love my job. I blame this on scouting and that darn merit badge. ;)

[@ScouterStan]

That's funny. I was just reading an article about how one of the new astronauts never got Aviation or Space Exploration Merit Badges, but always wanted to when they were a scout. It's amazing how Merit Badges can spark the interest of young people. All adults need to understand that without Merit Badge Counselors there would be no Eagle Scouts. I remember learning basic programming on a TRS 80 from RadioShack. So I can relate to how things have changed in computers. YIS ⚜

[@CreachterZ]

@@ScouterStan I got a Tandy CoCo 2 shortly after. This opportunity changed my life.

[@megantitherington7681]

Thank you so much I’m trying to get my dad to be a merit bagde consular I’m trying to show him this

[@DavidTheAppleTechGuy]

how do I sign up for merit badge counselor

[@ScouterStan]

Contact your council service center about becoming a merit badge counselor. There is online training and forms to be filled out. Thank you so much for volunteering for this critical role. YIS⚜

[@DavidTheAppleTechGuy]

@@ScouterStan thank you 😊

[@cordeiro.justin]

Could you do a video about Merit badges?one about eagle required and one about additional?

[@ScouterStan]

Thank you for the suggestion. I thought a video on the “90-day required” Merit Badges would help Scout Leaders prepare Scouts in regards to timing. Many 17-year-old Life Scouts mess this up and never achieve Eagle Scout. “Eagle Scout Slayer Merit Badges” I put this on the whiteboard for Season 8. Thanks YIS⚜

[@cookingwithjohnmadden9574]

Hello I got two more months to go then I will find out my surgery date and I only need two more Eagle scout were choir meant before I go into a border review and a scoutmaster conference to become stars right

[@ScouterStan]

You keep working on things and dreams do come true. YIS ⚜

[@cordeiro.justin]

Hey scouter Stan do you know when is a good to contact a merit badge councilor?

[@ScouterStan]

The first step in any merit badge is a discussion with your Scoutmaster. Your Scoutmaster can help you get in contact with the merit badge counselor. Remember that the merit badge counselor must follow youth protection protocols with two deep leadership. Communications like phone calls are difficult. It's best to use email and texting as long as there are other adult leaders and parents included. I hope this answers your question but remember the blue card merit badge process starts with your Scoutmaster. YIS⚜

[@alowatsakima8950]

The new, current requirements for Aquatic counselors will hamper scouts from getting these merit badges. In my experience these merit badges obtained at summer camps are not always taught by qualified persons. The national aquatics team has established requirements that are beyond reason. They should be disbanded.

[@ScouterStan]

Thank you so much for expressing your opinion. It sounds like the established requirements for the national Aquatics team are beyond The scope of what is needed. I believe that you should write up a letter of your grievances/concerns and send it to the National office in Texas. YIS⚜

[@alowatsakima8950]

Thanks. I didn't say much in my comment. Recently I applied to teach canoe merit badge, but was rejected. I am an Eagle Scout, with canoeing, rowing, swimming, merit badges, scout life guard. I took three Red Cross Water Safety courses within 4 months from 3 different instructors. Later became an Advanced WhitewaterKayak Instructor and then went to BS National Camp School 3 times for certification( each certification is good for five years so a total of 15 years) as a BSA Aquatics Instructor, but not currently certified, and not qualified to teach canoeing merit .@@ScouterStan

[@ScouterStan]

The Council's Advancement Department at your local scout office should be contacted directly. There may be an insurance age requirement that we are not aware of, and every area is different. From your description, you're very qualified in my opinion. Some large Councils also put a limit on how many Merit Badge Counselors for aquatic skills are facilitated only at their summer camp. I hope you get things worked out as we need good Merit Badge Counselors. YIS⚜