counselors for many badges

[BrentAllen]

shortridge,

Yes, all Counselors must be 18. As the ACP&P states, "Camp staff members who are qualified in the subject and are younger than 18 may assist the merit badge counselor with instruction. The merit badge counselor or instructor in a particular subject should be available to both individuals and groups." I believe they are referred to as instructors rather than assistants, but probably also go by counselor. As I said earlier, the term "counselor" gets tossed around pretty loosely - hence the CIT. "Counselor" could be a camp staff term totally unrelated to the BSA MB definition.

 

I have no doubt that every MB counselor at Woodruff is at least 18. Our Troop Guide (camp staff, MB Counselor) was a college student, and he taught Cit. in Nation as well as Camping and Wilderness Survival, depending on where he was needed each week. The Basketry Counselor had recently turned 18 - he was from a unit in our District. There were some under-18 staff on water front, but also many who are college students. Now that I think back on it, the only other place I can remember seeing staff under 18 was in the Mountain Man program, which is the first-year camper T-FC program (they had a lot of staff in this area). No MBs there, no requirement to be 18+ to sign off on advancement requirements.

[Buffalo Skipper]

And as BrentAllen stated, regrardless of the age of the counselor, it is the Program Director's name which went on the forms returned to the troops. I did speak to the PD, and he explained that records are kept maintained at the Council office for many years.

 

Likewise, I found an error on one of the forms. One scout was not even on the role for Basketry. I had watched him complete his projects before every other scout in his class, and every one was clearly the best done. I brought this to the attention of the Handicraft director (also over 18) and she corrected and signed the form.

 

My point being (and Brent's, I presume) are that there is s system of checks and balances, which in the case of the camp we attended, appear to have worked very well. I can also attest to the fact that the counselors (and I use the term generally, regardless of age) were the best I have ever seen at any camp. Each facility/camp/council is responsible for their own program; it appears that the one we attended did an outstanding job of maintaining the policies and standards of the BSA. I have not seen this level of conistency at other camps I have attended.