Troop Merit Badge Counselors
and Requirements

Merit Badges fall into two categories: those that are required for the rank of Eagle Scout and those that are not. Scouts can earn merit badges at any time. Over 100 Merit Badges are available with topics ranging from American Business to Woodworking.

Some merit badges are fairly easy to obtain, and some are extremely difficult. All Merit Badges are educational and will teach skills that can be used later in the Scout's life.

The requirements for the Eagle-required merit badges are listed in the Boy Scout Handbook.

A list of all the available Merit Badges and their requirements is available in each of the Merit Badge pamphlets.

The troop maintains a library of Merit Badge Pamphlets for most of the popular Merit Badges.

Merit Badge Pamphlets may be purchaseed from the council scout store. Also see the " Scouting Links" section of the Troop 40 web page for on-line versions.

Occasionally, a merit badge may be worked on in small or large groups as a Troop activity, but a majority of the responsibility of choosing and completing the requirements for a Merit Badge is up to the individual Scout.

Some Merit Badges may be completed at Summer Camp. Scouts will generally need to choose and sign up in advance for merit badges when registering for Summer Camp. Some Merit Badges may require "homework" before or after Summer Camp.

If a Scout does not fully complete a Merit Badge while at camp, the Advancemnet Committee Chair can record and track the completed and required requirements so that the Scout can complete the badge at a later date.

In order to earn a merit badge, the Scout will need to:

• Choose a Merit Badge to work on. Before you start, you may want to look at the requirements to see how difficult and time-consuming the Merit Badge may be (see www.meritbadge.org ).
• Obtain a merit badge card (blue card) from an adult leader (See the Scoutmaster or the Advancement Committee Chair). These cards have three sections - one for the Merit Badge Counselor's records, one for the Scout's records, and one for the Council's records. See our Forms and Permission Slips page for the Blank Merit Badge Application and the Example Completed Merit Badge Application
• Meet with the Scoutmaster and tell him which merit badge you are going to work on. He will ensure that you are working on a Merit Badge that is appropriate for your needs/abilities, and he will ensure that you have a Merit Badge Counselor. The Scoutmaster will sign the front of the blue card. This MUST be done BEFORE starting to work on the merit badge!
• Get a current copy of the merit badge pamphlet. We have the more popular Merit Badge Pamphlets on file - see the Troop Librarian or your Merit Badge Counselor.
• You can optionally print a Merit Badge Worksheet (available from www.meritbadge.org) to help you document your work.
• Contact and arrange meetings with a Merit Badge Counselor. The Merit Badge Counselor is a person with in-depth knowledge of the subject. The Counselor will help teach the subject and ensure that the Scout has completed the requirements for the badge.

  As per BSA Youth Protection rules, any Scout meeting with a merit badge counselor must not do so alone - at least one other Scout, a parent, or another adult leader must be present at all times.

• The counselor will write the requirement numbers in the appropriate boxes on the merit badge card. As each requirement is completed, the counselor will initial the appropriate box on the merit badge card. When all requirements are completed, the Merit Badge Counselor must sign the back of the card. One third of the card is kept by the Councelor for his/her records.
• Turn in the completed and signed card to the Advancement Committee Chair.
• The Advancement Chair will give the Scout his third of the card for his records. It is a good idea to keep this card as proof of completion of the Merit Badge in case any record-keeping errors are made.
• The Advancement Chair will enter the data into the advancement tracking software and he will register the completion with the Council and arrange for the badge to be presented to the Scout at the next Court of Honor.

Most Merit Badge Counselors will be Adult Leaders in our Troop, or Counselors at Summer Camp. Contact the Scoutmaster if you want to work on a merit badge with no local counselor - there may be counselors available in the council/district that will be available to work with you.