Merit Badge Procedures

Scouts earn merit badges in a variety of ways including summer camp, winter camp, District Merit Badge days, on their own, or through a Troop organized class.  Procedures for completing a merit badge vary depending on how and where the badge is completed.

An approved Merit Badge counselor with active Scouts BSA standing and YPT training is required to teach and sign-off a scout for a Merit Badge.

Selecting a Merit Badge

Prior to a scout starting a merit badge, they should must get the Scoutmaster’s approval.  

Official BSA policy states a scout may begin work on any merit badge at any time. However, Troop 280 does not recommend Scouts start a merit badge before discussing it with the Scoutmaster. Circumventing this process causes frustration for scouts and parents. Benefits of the process are: 

• The Scoutmaster determines if the scout is ready for the merit badge; scout age and merit badge requirements play a role in the determination.

• Some merit badges require extensive time and effort; the scout must be aware the scout, he AND his counselor must work together to complete the merit badge. Several scouts have had to redo three months of work because they completed work on their own but did not complete the work as requirements stated; meeting with the scoutmaster allows time to explain these issues.

Selecting a Merit Badge Counselor

The Scoutmaster is aware of merit badge counselor's in the Troop who are approved and available for each badge.  The Scoutmaster will provide a list of available counselors to the Scout so that they can select an available counselor.  The Scoutmaster may often recommend a counselor.  However it is up to the Scout to select their merit badge counselor before starting work on the badge.   

After the Scout selects a counselor, they should contact them and ask if they are available and willing to be their counselor.  * Remember to always have them copy a parent and/or another adult leader in the Troop.

There is nothing that requires you to work with a counselor from our Troop, you are welcome to reach out to other counselors.

If you do not find an available counselor, please discuss that with the Scoutmaster..

Once the scout has selected a counselor, they need to notify the Advancement Coordinator, who will then "link" that counselor to the scout for that specific merit badge.  

The merit badge counselor will then be responsible for updating Scoutbook to "mark the requirement complete".  The Advancement Coordinator will then "Approve" that completion.. 

Note: Merit Badge Counselors might take different approaches in how they work with scouts on completing badges.  It is important to note that the scout needs to comply with the requirements, as outlined by the Merit Badge Counselor.  If a Scout feels they need to switch counselors before completing a badge, please bring that to the attention of the Scoutmaster who will then help the Scout get assigned to a new counselor.

Merit Badge Resources

• Scouts BSA information on Merit Badges

• Troop Merit Badge Library

Where else can Merit Badges be Completed?

Area Merit Badge Opportunities

Throughout the year Councils will schedule merit badge weekends, generally with a specific focus on STEP or Conservation.  These are a great opportunity to complete one or many badges.  Stay tuned at Troop Meetings and through Scoutbook calendar and Slack notifications for when these are offered and how to register.  Please refer to the details on the website for each event which will state if there are pre-requisites required for a badge or if a badge can be completed in its entirety by attending that event. 

• Capitol Area Council STEM Events including Stem Adventure Weekend, Stemboree, and the Techlab Summer Day Camps.

• Capitol Area Council Conservation Events including Conservation Awards Weekend and Conservation Days.

Summer Camp

Summer camps certainly offer the biggest opportunity for a scout to complete many badges and some which require facilities or capabilities that can't be offered at other events or from the Troop's counselor's.

Early in the registration process for Summer Camp the scout would select the badges they want to take.  They often have to identify a primary and secondary choice in the event that there are not enough classes available.  The Troop's summer camp leader then registers all Scouts for their merit badges. 

At the end of camp the Troop receives a report showing all requirements completed at camp (including any rank requirements.) This report is given to the Advancement Coordinator who the records the information in Scoutbook.  

If the merit badge was started but not completed at camp, the Advancement Coordinator will record all the completed requirements in Scoutbook and helps the Scout choose a new counselor. The Scout meets with the counselor to complete the merit badge.  

If a Scout attends summer camp with another Troop, the Scout is responsible for making sure a copy of his completed requirements is submitted (via email) to the Advancement Coordinator.

Winter Camp, Other Council or District Events

Examples of these events include STEM Adventure Weekend, Conservation Awards Weekend, Stemboree, UT Merit Badge University.

Generally other camps and events are attended on an individual or small group basis; therefore, registration is handled by individual families. For these events the Scout is responsible for obtaining a blue card(s) or summary report(s) and submitting them via email to the Advancement Coordinator.

Troop-Led Classes

In the case of Troop-led or organized classes, the Advancement Coordinator works with the Merit Badge Counselor responsible for the class to ensure the scouts in attendance receive credit for the requirements they completed. 

Meeting with A Counselor – Youth Protection Considerations

All interactions with the counselor must have at least one other youth or adult present. This includes in person, voice, video, and all electronic communications.   

• Emails must copy another scout or leader or ideally the parent

• In person discussions as well as phone or video conversations must be with the parent included or in a group setting 

Communications between Scout and MB Counselor

Please refer to the visual below for guidelines to adhere to when communicating with a Merit Badge Counselor: