Registered Merit Badge Counselors

[Mrw]

Hmmm, over here, an MBC fills out ANOTHER Leader App, besides the Counselor form. Hmmm, reminds me I have to do this before next Saturday, yikes.

Here too.

I actually rather like that our boys mostly go to counselors that are not also registered with our troop. They are far less likely to pick badges that they think will be "easy" because of who the counselor is; and go more for things they are interested in.

[Mad Dog]

Our council requires a seperate adult leader application. There is no fee required to register as an MBC. Also, each MBC is limited to 10 merit badges. I normally request that the boys come to me. I meet with them in the back of the room during my troops regular weekly meeting. That way there is never any problem with YP. Our troop has also traveled as a group to meet with other MBC in neighboring towns.

[PaulSWolf]

Our council requires a seperate adult leader application. There is no fee required to register as an MBC. Also, each MBC is limited to 10 merit badges. I normally request that the boys come to me. I meet with them in the back of the room during my troops regular weekly meeting. That way there is never any problem with YP. Our troop has also traveled as a group to meet with other MBC in neighboring towns.

Most of that is fine, except that BSA Rules (from Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures) expressly state that

There is no restriction or limit on the number of merit badges an individual may be approved to counsel for, but they must be approved by the committee for each specific merit badge.

There is no limit on the number of merit badges a youth may earn from one counselor.

An approved merit badge counselor may counsel any youth member, including his or her own son, ward, or relative.

So there can not be a "ten merit badge limit" imposed as a blanket rule by your Troop, District, or Council.

If the counselor is qualified to teach more than ten merit badges, he should be allowed to do so.

[Lynda J]

I do 20 badges. All the "creature"badges, Plus others. (Love the bugs and such). There is no limit.

Mrw. As far as Blue Cards at BOR. Our DAC requires that the appliciant present a fill with all his blue cards in it. We have our boys put theirs in baseball card holders. All Eagle at t he first then other badges. I always look at the blue cards when I sit on an Eagle BOR. I also question the boy on some on the badges about what he learned form them and what he liked and didn't like about some. They aren't sent in with the application to COuncil but we do look at them.

[Mrw]

I see the blue cards when they come in completed since I am Advancement Chair for our troop. I do give the applicant's portion back when I buy the badge. We do tell the boys to hang on to them in a safe place in case there are questions later.

I have sat on several Eagle BORs and I have never had a boy told he should bring them along nor has anyone asked to see them. Someone at the Council Service center has checked that the badges were earned and recorded on the dates the boy claimed on his Eagle application before the application materials are sent out to the District Advancement person who will schedule and sit on the BOR. The Scoutmaster is also supposed to have checked this before the application goes in.

Yes we will ask about them and what they learned , but we don't expect them to be part of the Eagle application file.

[Holaka]

Our council requires that the green sheets (yes, we use green sheets not blue cards) be turned in with the advancement report. The troop ususally gets them back the next year.
We are also limited to counseling only 8 Merit Badges. I just finally filled out a separate application to be a merit badge counselor, and I am waiting to hear from council if I was accepted.

Cheryl O