Merit badges are badges that each relate to one specific field or topic.
A merit badge is earned by working with an adult "merit badge counselor."
You can find current requirements for all the merit badges in the Boy Scout
Requirements book which can be purchased at the council office. 2002
requirements can be found online at
http://www.meritbadge.com/bsa/mb/index.htm, but requirements for quite a few
merit badges have changed since then. There are also many other merit
resources at http://www.meritbadge.com.
We encourage parents of our Troop 180 Scouts to register as merit badge
counselors for fields in which you have knowledge and ability. There is no
fee to register as a merit badge counselor. To register as a merit badge
counselor, you must complete two forms, the standard Boy Scout adult leader
application form (You need to complete this form even if you have already
completed one to register in a pack or troop adult leadership position) and the
merit badge counselor application form in which you list the merit badges you
are willing to counsel (up to six) and your qualifications to serve as counselor
for each of those badges.
You can obtain those forms from our troop committee member in charge of merit badge counselor recruiting. When your forms are completed and returned, they will be submitted to the Chief Okemos Council office. The Chief Okemos Council advancement committee checks the qualifications and references on individuals who have applied to be merit badge counselors and then makes their decision about approving the applications at their meetings the first Tuesday of each month.
A merit badge can be introduced by a counselor at a troop meeting, advancement workshop, summer camp, or national jamboree, or a Scout can decide to work on a merit badge and contact the counselor directly. When a group of Scouts work together on a merit badge, each Scout must still show individually that he satisfies each requirement. While Scouts are working on merit badges, we must make sure that BSA youth protection guidelines are followed at all times and that a single Scout is never alone with an unrelated adult. If a Scout is the only one working on a merit badge, a parent should go with him to the counselor and stay with him during the time he is with the counselor.
To begin working on a merit badge, a Scout must get a blue merit badge card from the Scoutmaster, fill it out, and have the Scoutmaster sign the section that states that he is approved to work on that badge. He will then meet with the counselor in a group at a troop meeting, advancement workshop, or summer camp, or individually with his parent or with a buddy or two after contacting the counselor directly. During that first meeting, the counselor will go over the requirements with the Scout(s) and explain how he/she expects the Scout(s) to complete the requirements. It will usually be the Scout's responsibility to make arrangements to meet with the counselor one or more times to go over what he has done and finally have the completed merit badge signed by the counselor on the blue card. Part of the experience for a Scout of working on a merit badge is contacting the counselor and making arrangements for these meetings. I urge parents not to shortchange your sons by doing this for them.
The blue merit badge cards have three parts. When a Scout completes a merit badge, the counselor will tear off and keep the section that is the "Counselor's Record" and will sign the other two parts. When a Scout turns the other two sections of a completed blue card in to the Scoutmaster, the Scoutmaster will sign the "Applicant's Record" section, tear it off, and return it to him. This is his record that he turned a completed merit badge application in to the Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster will then give the other section of the blue card to the Advancement Chair to be turned in to the Chief Okemos Council office with the advancement report that lists the Scouts and the merit badges they have earned.