Backroads Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 I have heard rumour that a counselor is only allowed to teach so many merit badges to the same Scout--yet haven't found anything printed on the topic. It's a rumour I often hear, so I'm not sure just what the truth is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankpalazzi Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Welcome to the forums, Backroads! As far as I know, An MBC may counsel any merit badge (for which he is registered & qualified) to any registered scout. I'm not aware of any "limits" like the ones you list. It might be worth a phone call to your local council for clarification, as your council just might have such a policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eisely Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 This is one of those rumors that you wish was true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venividi Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 No rule against it, but any scoutmaster that has the best interest of the scouts in mind would send his scouts to a variety of counselors rather than to one counselor for many badges. Why look for a rule from National to back up a decision that a scoutmaster should be making? We're already awash with rules; dont need rules to make decisions at the unit level that further the aims of scouting.(This message has been edited by venividi) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccjj Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 My former council had a rule that you could only be a MBC for 8 Merit Badges. With all the changes in the state of Michigan, I am not sure how this will play out now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brewmeister Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Our council allows 6 but that is a council rule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basementdweller Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 There is no national rule regarding it as others stated..... But in the best interest of the boys....a fellow who is a ditch digger probably shouldn't be teaching nuclear science or Dentistry........ There are a lot of parents and leaders who become merit badge councilors just so their boys don't have to use the program as intended...... I only teach the merit badges I consider myself expert in the subject matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghermanno Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Backroads, Welcome. There are no limits BUT... The MBC MUST be registered and approved by Council for EACH Merit Badge that they are teaching. Someone registered to be a MBC for say "Archery" is not automatically approved for "Camping" because they are a registered MBC. They must be approved for each Merit Badge. My $0.02 Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crew21_Adv Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Backroads and Fellow Scouters, There was a recent Youtube video on the Scouting Channel from the National BSA Conference in May. The topic was advancement. Without replaying the entire video, they seemed to talk this very subject 20 minutes into the session, and seemed to relate that Scout leaders and merit badge counselors should be realistic in the depth of their knowledge and what they do know as a profession, avocation or hobby. Also that part of the MB program is for Scouts to meet and dialogue with a variety of people in various hobbies and professions, beyond returning over and over to just one person/counselor. But I recall the bottom line was no established limit of how many MBs a person may counsel is set by national; and also a Scout may return to the same counselor for multiple MBs. As I said in a recent post, check the Youtube Scouting Advancements conference session out for validity and I hope I'm correct in my recall. (haha) Scouting Forever and Venture On! Crew21 Adv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backroads Posted November 8, 2012 Author Share Posted November 8, 2012 Thanks for the clarification. Checked into it (easy enough as I work for a council) as far a council policy. We have no limit per Scout, but we have a council limit of 10 badges per counselor due to what was apparently a horrible trend back in the day of people single-handledly getting Junior his Eagle. Yes, I find it very wise such policies be made on a local level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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