Scouts can earn more than 130 merit badges. There is more to merit badges than simply providing opportunities to learn skills. There is more to them than an introduction to lifetime hobbies, or the inspiration to pursue a career—though these invaluable results occur regularly. The uncomplicated process—beginning in a discussion with the unit leader or a designated assistant, continuing through meetings with a counselor, and culminating in advancement and recognition—provides several learning experiences. It gives a Scout the confidence achieved through overcoming obstacles. Social skills improve. Self-reliance develops. Examples are set and followed. And fields of study and interest are explored beyond the limits of the school classroom.

Merit badge counselors can be located using the Merit Badge Counselor List button in Scoutbook.  This link can be found in the lower portion of the page that loads following the selection of your unit in the dashboard page. 

Merit Badge Counselors

The merit badge counselor is a key player in the Boy Scout advancement program. Whatever your area of expertise or interest—whether it is a special craft or hobby (basketry, leatherwork, coin collecting), a profession (veterinary medicine, aviation, engineering), or perhaps a life skill (cooking, personal management, communications)—as a merit badge counselor, you can play a vital role in stirring a young man's curiosity about that particular topic. By serving as a merit badge counselor, you offer your time, knowledge, and other resources so that Scouts can explore a topic of interest.

For more information, consult the Guide for Merit Badge Counseling, No. 512-065 or Merit Badge Counselor Information, No. 34405. To learn more about the merit badge program, see section 7 of the Guide to Advancement, “The Merit Badge Program.”

BSA publishes a newsletter for merit badge counselors. Subscribe to the Counselor's Compass by sending a message to merit.badge@scouting.org, with “Subscribe” in the subject line. Indicate your name, email address, and council in the message text.

Training

In order to register, merit badge counselors are expected to complete two trainings:

1. BSA Youth Protection online at my.scouting.org. Create an account and then click on the YPT logo.
The Boy Scouts of America seeks to create a safe environment for young people and adult leaders to enjoy the program and related activities. BSA Youth Protection training helps preserve that environment. (~1 hour)

Go to my.scouting.org.
Click on YPT logo.

 

2. Scouts BSA Merit Badge Counselor Training online at my.scouting.org. Use the same login as for YPT, then click on BSA Learn Center, click on the toolbar: course catalog, then Scouts BSA, then Merit Badge Counselor Training. Complete Merit Badge Counselors - Step 1 Before the First Meeting and Step 2 Position Training. (~1 hour)

Go to my.scouting.org.
Click on BSA Learn Center.

Click on Toolbar: Course Catalog

Click on Scouts BSA

Click on Merit Badge Counselor Trng

Take both courses

Paperwork

Thank you for wanting to help and serve our youth by becoming a merit badge counselor. In order to become a merit badge counselor, Boy Scouts of America and Sam Houston Area Council require certain paper requirements for all leaders, as well as, the knowledge of the merit badge that you are overseeing. All of the required forms can be found in our Arrowmoon District Merit Badge Counselor Kit.

Arrowmoon District Merit Badge Counselor Kit

Guide to Safe Scouting

Policies and procedures outlined in the Guide to Safe Scouting apply to all BSA activities, including those related to advancement and Eagle Scout service projects.