ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEES

COUNCIL
QUAKESEN DISTRICT 3
MAHALALA DISTRICT 4

MERIT BADGES

INTRODUCTION
MERIT BADGE LIST
ONLINE RESOURCES
COUNSELOR LIST (Scoutmasters/Advisors only)
BECOME A COUNSELOR

ONLINE YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

EAGLE SCOUT INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION
APPLICATION
NESA
SCHOLARSHIPS

Board of Review Guidelines

The purpose of a board of review is to review the progress of Scouts who are advancing as well as to determine what assistance may be needed by the Scouts who are not advancing. It is appropriate to discuss the Scout's experience in Scouting, his attitudes toward Scouting, his understanding and daily application of the Scout Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan, and his progress in developing the needed outdoor and leadership skills.

A board of review is not an examination or retest of the requirements which have been met to advance. Testing is done by the Scout's patrol leader, troop guide, Scoutmaster, or other adult or boy leader before the Scoutmaster conference and board of review take place. It is, however, appropriate to ask the Scout about the learning process he experienced in gaining his knowledge and how he will use it.

The board of review has three purposes:

1. To make sure the advancement requirements have been completed.
   
   
2. To check to see what kind of experience the boy is having in his patrol and troop.
   
   
3. To encourage the Scout to advance to the next rank.

Scout Spirit

A Scout should demonstrate Scout Spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law in his every-day life. The board should attempt to determine the Scout's attitude and acceptance of Scouting's ideals. It is, therefore, appropriate to discuss the Scout Oath and Law as part of the review.

Active in Your Troop and Patrol

No set attendance percentage at troop meetings or outings should be required for advancement. Participation expectations should be discussed and agreed upon with the Scout at his Scoutmaster conferences as part of goal setting for the next rank. Some Scouts have legitimate reasons for not participating in all activities and this should be taken into account.

Who May Serve on a Board of Review

Troop boards of review, excluding the Eagle Board, which is a district function, should be comprised of at least three, but not more than six adults who are members of the troop committee. The chartered organization representative may serve, but the Scoutmaster, assistant Scoutmasters who work directly with the Scouts, or family members of the Scout being reviewed may not serve on a board of review.

The district Eagle board of review is comprised of three to six members, 21 years of age or older. These members do not have to be registered in Scouting, but they must have an understanding of the importance and purpose of the Eagle board of review. At least one district advancement representative must be a member of the Eagle board of review.

Courtesy of: Pacific Skyline Council Advancement Committee

INTRODUCTION TO MERIT BADGES

You can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business and future careers as you earn these merit badges. There are more than 100 merit badges. Any Boy Scout may earn any merit badge at any time. You don’t need to have had rank advancement to be eligible.

Pick A Subject. Talk to your Scoutmaster about your interests. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you. Pick one to earn. Your Scoutmaster will give you the name of a person from a list of counselors. These counselors have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.

Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be another Scout, your parents or guardian, a brother or sister, a relative, or a friend.

Call The Counselor. Get a signed merit badge application from your Scoutmaster. Get in touch with the merit badge counselor and tell him or her that you want to earn the merit badge. The counselor may ask you to come and see him so he can explain what he expects and start helping you meet the requirements.

When you know what is expected, start to learn and do the things required. Ask your counselor to help you learn the things you need to know or do. You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject. Many troops and school or public libraries have them.

Show Your Stuff. When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment to meet the requirements. When you go take along the things you have made to meet the requirements. If they are too big to move, take pictures or have an adult tell in writing what you have done. The counselor will ask you to do each requirement to make sure that you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.

Get The Badge. When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, he or she will sign your application. Give the signed application to your Scoutmaster so that your merit badge emblem can be secured for you.

Requirements. You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated --- no more and no less. You are expected to do exactly what is stated in the requirements. If it says "show or demonstrate," that is what you must do. Just telling about it isn't enough. The same thing holds true for such words as "make," "list," "in the field," and "collect," "identify," and "label."

Credit for text to USSSP United State Scouting Service Project
(Source: BSA Publication 33215 - pages 22-23)

MERIT BADGE LIST

As of 08/24/2006

Note: Eagle Required badges are in bold type

MERIT BADGE COUNSELOR PORTAL

The Burlington County Council Merit Badge Counselor list is now available online to Scoutmasters and Venture Crew Advisors. The list requires password access. Scoutmasters and Venture Crew Advisors (only) will be emailed a username and password periodically.

Password changes will be sent periodically by email and they will be announced at Roundtables. The list will be continually updated and the Council Advancement Committee expects to publish updated listings monthly. The list will be available in PDF, Word, and Excel formats. Documents in Word and Excel may be sorted and/or searched. The lists are initially sorted by merit badge and town.

To subscribe to the password list, send an email requesting a password with your name, Troop or Crew number and phone number to M. Rozecki. You will receive a confirmation call from the Advancement Committee confirming your identity and you will be sent a return email with the following in the text portion of the email. Choose "REPLY" and return the email. By returning the email, you agree to abide by the terms below. Once you have returned the email with your agreement of the terms below, you will be sent a password and added to the list for future passwords.

NOTE: Your request for a password affirms your agreement that:

1. The list is the property of the Burlington County Council, BSA.
2. You will not distribute the list in any manner (hard copy or otherwise).
3. The list is to be used exclusively for Scouts seeking merit badge counselors.
4. You will destroy the list upon receipt of an updated list.

To access the list, please enter your username and password when prompted, click the link below:

*If you are having a problem accessing the list, send an email to M. Rozecki, the Council's Registrar.

*Password changes will be sent periodically by email and they will be announced at Roundtables.  If you cannot log-in please confirm that you have the current username and password.

BECOME A MERIT BADGE COUNSELOR

Merit Badges are one of the backbones of the advancement program in Boy Scouts. Currently, there are roughly 120 merit badges offered in fields ranging from Art to Woodworking. Many Scouts find a hobby or future vocation because of exposure to a merit badge topic. Steven Spielberg, an Eagle Scout, has credited his pursuit of the photography merit badge as the reason he became a film maker.

To become a merit badge counselor in the Burlington County Council, one need only meet the following requirements:

1. Be at least 18 years old;
2. Be proficient in the subject by vocation or avocation;
3. Be able to work with Scout-age boys (ages 11-18);
4. Register as a Merit Badge Counselor with the Boy Scouts of America;
5. Register as a Merit Badge Counselor with the Burlington County Council.

To become a counselor, click on the link below and complete both sides of the applications. Sign and date both sides of the form and email, fax (609-261-5682), or mail it to:

You will receive notification by email (or regular mail if you do not have an email address) that your application has been processed.

Merit Badge Counselor Application

In the interim, please click here to take the Youth Protection Course. If you’re already a registered Scouter and you know your ID#, enter it and your "Unit Type" and "Unit Number". Skip the "Organization" box. Upon completion of the course, you will receive confirmation on the screen which can be printed out. The results will be forwarded by the National Council, BSA to the Council Service Center.

You may find A Guide for Merit Badge Counseling helpful in understanding your responsibilities. This excellent guide is published by The U.S. Scouting Service Project. Additional information on Boy Scout Advancement and merit badge requirements and worksheets is also available at the USSSP web site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Eagle Scout Information

Eagle Scout Recommendation Guidelines

Burlington County Council, Boy Scouts of America, PO BOX 246, Rancocas, New Jersey  08073
PHONE: 609-261-5850 FAX: 609-261-5682
Contact: webmaster@bccbsa.org with any comments or questions.