Bob White

As far as where to get MB counselors, one of our favorite places is at the Junior high and High Schools. A large percentage of teachers were Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Many of the merit badges are easily workeed into the lesson plans. we recently met with my sons teachers for High School next year and immediatly signed two of them up as MB counselors. This year 3 of his teachers are counselors in our District, plus his principal. k9gold-scout, I will have to double check, but the last time I looked into it, the scouts are covered by accident insurance while visiting a counselor but the counselor is not covered by the liability umbrella that our paid registered leaders enjoy. Bob White

LongHaul You asked two excellent questions. 1. Who does quality control? 2. How do you insure that each boy is asked to meet the same standard? First, who does it? Whoever you train to do it. How well will they do? I don't know. How well will you train them? Secondly, The scouting program is very specific, and although some adults do not follow this..there is NO STANDARD for completing an advancement requirewment other than the scout "does his best". No scout is expected to do things exactly the same as anyone else or as good as anyone else. They are expected to "do their best". This is not to say they do not have to complete the requirement. They certainly do, but be careful when you say "insure that Billy and Johnny both were asked to meet the same standard?" The only standard Billy has to meet it that he did Billy's best. In the case you sight of demonstrate it means just that. The scout shows by doing that he can whip the end of the rope. Billy might do it in ten minutes, Johnny in ten seconds. It doesn't matter as long as they both did the best they could. Remember these are just boys, and if they are taught not only how to do the skill but why they need the skill, and are given opportunities to use the skill then it is presumed they will continue to get better at it. They do not need proficiency to complete the requirement or the rank. This is the scouting method. Bob White

In our council we would ask that you complete a new MB counselor registration form.

jmcquillan, You are correct. All merit Badge Counselors must complete an adult leader application and be registered with the local council, whether they are counseling for the entire council, district or just within the troop. Merit Badge Couselors do not pay a membership fee and are not considered full members of the BSA. However they must follow the youth protection regulations, and Guide to Safe Scouting. They do not have scouting insurance coverage, or other leader benefits. In order to remain active as a counselor they must reapply annually. There is also a merit badge counselor application form that must be filed with council/district. It records which MB they will counsel and what qualifications they have to do so. It is preferred that they only counsel to badges within a single category. They also need to be trained on how to administer a Merit Badge. This is a step that is all too often ignored at the unit and district level and causes most of our merit badge problems.

Evmori, No need to be so hostile. I was just saying that the guidelines have changed and the Scoutleader is no longer required to handle the meds. No on said you can't. I included the explaination for the guideline because I thought readers may wonder why it was changed. Although I agree that in many cases scouts are capable of handling meds, there are other situations where they are not. I appreciate that the BSA no longer insists I take on a responsibility that could have grave consequences for my family but they give me the option on a case by case basis to decide on my own. Bob

Ed, Many scout leaders do not want the liability exposure of handling medications, and with all the different storage procedures involved and various dosages at various times it can become very easy during the day for errors to take place. Most leaders sore meds in a lock box in their car, tent or trailer. Did you know that many common medications loss their potency when stored above average room temperature while others become toxic. While I agree some leaders are willing to handle meds and others even feel it is their responsibility to do so, without proper training it is dangerous to the scout and the adult. The BSA does not offer pharaceutical training and so does not mandate that the leaders take responsibility for medications. in most cases the boy (even a 12 year old boy) knows far more about what he takes and how to take care of it than most leaders will. The BSA doesn't say a boy who can't self administer is on his own. They are saying to parents that if your son cannot self administrate,. the leader is not required to, YOU should go camping to help meet the medical needs of your child. This is not a punishment for the child or the parent. This is to insure proper medical care is available to the scout, without endangering the scout leader. In other words if a scout is accidentally incorrectly medicated the scout could be injured and the scoutleader could be in deep legal trouble trouble with the family. Bob

Sctmom, The rules on how meds are handled in scouting changed not to long ago. The old standard was that all meds were given to the adult leaders for storage and distribution. That standard no longer exists. The current BSA regulation on meds is that they are the responsibility of the individual taking them and of their parents. If the scout is not capable of self-administration then the parents need to there to administer the medication. HOWEVER, if the adult leader agrees to it he or she may accept the responsibility of supervising the medication. But, the leader is not required to take on that responsibility and the BSA does not recommend that they do. I understand that this will create problems for some scouts however, the the risk of improper storage and distribution and the expectation that a leader was an amateur pharmacist created to many opportunities for the scout to be improperply medicated and was a liability problem for the leaders. Bob

In my son's troop, Totin' Chip and Fire' n' Chit we have qualified scouts teach. When you are dealing with fuels however there are specific roles that adults must play according to the safety regulations and so adults and scouts co-teach it. Bob White

sctmom, Where was the Asst. Scoutmaster of the New Scout Patrol during this time? How close to the action was the Troop Guide. The way the New Scout Patrol method works both these people should be right there with the patrol. The troop guide and the New Scout Patrol Leader of the month need to be joined at the hip. The parents are understandably upset if a bunch of boys were expected to go from an adult lead den to a boy lead patrol on their first campout. It is a 12 month process, that is why they are assigned an adult and an experienced scout to get them through it. Ask that the ASM for the New Scouts stay within coaching distance of the Troop Guide, and the Troop Guide stay within counseling distance of the Patrol Leader. I still recommend that the parents always be encouraged and allowed to attend. My experience has been greatly different than evmori's. I find that the parents resopond very well to staying back and observing once you explain the way the game is played (BP described scouting as a game with a purpose). On rare instances a parent will try to get to close to the action, we always just send them to gather firewood. Parents who show they understand and appreciate the patrol method are selected to join the adult leadership, others are encouraged to come anytime and enjoy watching the scouts grow. Some adults take a little more coaching than others but thats just part of the game. Bob White

Scoutmom, We do encourage new parents and for that matter any parent to go camping with us. We find the best way to recruit them as leaders and committee members is to show them what we do and how we do it. We make it very clear to them that their role is to sit by the fire with a cup of coffee and a good book and relax. they see that the boy leaders are in charge and how the patrol method works. They also see how the adult leaders counsel and guide the junior leaders to run the patrols and troop. Scouting is a family activity so we encourage adults to be present but they understand that they are there to watch not work. Bob

OGE, I do not recognize the song title, perhaps I know it by a different name. could you hum a few bars for us (or at least post some of the lyrics). Thanks, bob

Hi Ed I guess it would have to be 50/50/50 since it is split three ways unit/council/supplier. Actually at 39% the unit gets the largest cut of the three parties. if you split 50/50 with the council, you would get a smaller share than you do now. Bob

I am very sorry to hear of your problem. I urge you to contact your local and state police. They will put you in touch with the proper authorities (likely a federal law enforcement agency). If they know her school and her friends this is quite possible someone from her school. Prank or not, please continue to treat this seriously. Our thoughts are with you, Bob White

I recommend you go to thew BSA's site at http://www.scouting.org/nav/scouts.html and follow the Programs link to Venturing. Bob White

Hi Scoutmom, It's not that what you sell has to have value, theBSA says it has to provide a product or service. 50/50, raffles etc. are games of chance and only offer a a possibility of recieving something in return. So they do not qualify. Other activities such as bike-a-thons, bowl-a thons etc. are also forbidden since they do not offer a direct product or service to the donator. As far as the Value of popcorn. I'm confident that every customer realizes that they are paying more then the cost of the popcorn and that the additional profit is there as a fundraiser for scouting. It's left to each potential customer to decide if they see value in supporting the BSA and get popcorn in return. Evidently millions of people see a definite value in the overall purchase. I know in our council more people purchase popcorn every year. We have had a steady increase every year since it's introduction.

Ed I don't disagree that the more you knowledge you have, the more you can share with the scout. my only point was that merit badge counselors are only required to be knowledgeable, not expert or professional. Yhat is why the MB is not expected to leave a scout with proficiency in the skill or activity area. It is meant to show that they have exposure and knowledge of the area. Bob

OGE, Being an Expert is not a requirement to be a merit badge counselor, only knowledgable. That can be through education, profession or hobbyist. I am certified in Red Cross Family and Community First Aid. I have the knowledge to be a First Aid Merit Badge Counselor, but I am in no way a medical expert. Bob White

In most cases Council and District lines are drawn by County and or school district boundaries. Overall size is determined by population density and financial strength. As an example, there is no point in drawing a council/district area over an expanse of land where there are few scouts (mountains) or enough income to finance camps and services. The who that makes the decision are committees made up of a variety of volunteers and professionals at local, regional and national levels. When it happens depends on many things, local school and government consolidations. Scout Councils going broke, Population shifts, can all cause scout boundaries to be re-evaluated. Hope this helps, Bob White

I think popcorn is useful on many levels. I like the fact that it benefits the boys individually as well as the Unit and the Council. I like that we have a nationally recognized fundraising activity. I think the boys develop a good work ethic and self confidence through selling door-to-door. My son is constantly amazed by the number of people who stop to tell him of their days in scouting and how much they enjoyed it. In the several years we have sold I have only had three people say they were disatisfied with the quality. I let them pick any type or size popcorn product they wanted as a replacement. Every one of them selected the same thing they had originally saying it was probably just a bad container. This is not a slight to any poster here just an observation from my own experiences, most the scouters I know who say negative things about Scout Popcorn, have never sold it. As a unit leader, most years we were able to finance our entire year's program from one popcorn fundraiser. Bob White

Bobwhite345 gave a very good explaination. i will make a minor edit to the first line however. "Wood Badge is the highest level of leadership training in Scouting. Although Wood Badge use to include some advanced outdoor skill training they have been moved and expanded on in the new Powder Horn Course. Bob White

All the items you mentioned may be worn on a Cub Scout's jacket or brag vest. The only thing that is not to be displayed are rank patches, and awards from other organizations such as military awards and service ribbons.

Everything you need for the Totin' Chip is explained and illustrated in The Boy Scout Handbook pages 77-85. Bob White

My understanding of the purpose of merit badges is similar to Yarrow's. It is not about becoming proficient in a skill. It is about being exposed to skills and activities that may lead the scout to a career choice or to a life time hobby. Also the scout gets to interact with an individual who is knowledgeable in that field.

Scoutmom, I'm not saying there aren't other ways to make money. I've been in units that did the flower sales and hanging baskets for Mother's Day, We've done Spaghetti Dinners, Car washes etc. but I'll be honest I never found anything that was as easy to do, or that made as much money as BSA popcorn. Our Pack always made a profit in excess of $4,000 annually. The troop does almost as well. No other fundraiser made as much. My son has pages and pages of customers who buy every year. They never complain about the price and they rave about the quality. I have no problems with other fundraisers as long as they stay within the uniform policies. Like you, I'm very proud of this organization, and so I'm very particular about how it is represented in public. Bob

I think the lesson in this is that, quality control needs to come first not last. Adults in positions of MB Counselors, Scoutmasters, Troop Advancement Chair, District and Council Advancement Committees and Camp Program Directors, need to know the advancement program's methods, requirements and rules. They also need to follow them so that the scouts don't lose out. If we do not insure that the MB instruction and testing is correct, once the blue card is signed it's too late. All we can do then is work to improve or remove the counselor. It's easier to do things right to begin with. Bob