Merit Badge Counseling Instruction

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• Merit Badge Counseling Instruction
• Presenter
• Joe Larkin (jlarkin_at_cfl.rr.com)
• Council Advancement Chair
• David Apfelbaum (baum_at_osceola.org)

Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22,
2005
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• Becoming a Merit Badge Counselor (continued)
• Familiarize yourself with Scouting regulations
• How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse A
  Parents 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• A Scout CANNOT be penalized if outdated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
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• 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
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• The Roles of a Counselor
• A Coach
• Advisor
• A Counselor
• Performance evaluator

Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22,
2005
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• 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
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• 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
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• The Merit Badge Process

Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22,
2005
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• 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
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• The Initial Meeting
• Counselor should evaluate the Scouts
• Preparedness
• Knowledge
• Interest
• Agreement reached on
• Scouts 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• Effective Counseling

Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22,
2005
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• 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
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• 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
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Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22,
2005
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• 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
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• 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 Scouts 18th birthday

Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22,
2005
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• Helpful Websites

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

Merit Badge Counseling Instruction October 22,
2005