Merit Badge Information

Merit Badge Counselors are at the heart of the Scouts BSA advancement program. Whether your expertise is a craft, hobby, profession, or life skill, serving as a counselor gives you the chance to spark a Scout's curiosity and open doors to topics they may never have explored on their own.

Becoming a counselor is straightforward. You'll register with the BSA through the Garden State Council office using the Adult Application. All applicants are screened. Counselors are also required to complete Safeguarding Youth Training, available free online at my.scouting.org.

• Become a Merit Badge Counselor
• Download the Adult Application
• Complete Youth Protection Training at my.scouting.org

For more information on the counseling process, consult the following resources:

• Guide for Merit Badge Counseling
• Merit Badge Counselor Information
• Guide to Advancement, Section 7

All Council-approved merit badge counselors are listed in Scoutbook+. Unit leaders can access the full list directly from their unit page.

Browse every current merit badge, its requirements, and version history on the BSA's website.

A great counselor creates an environment where Scouts feel encouraged, challenged, and supported. Keep these principles in mind:

• Make the Scout feel welcome and at ease from the start.
• Spark their interest by sharing something related to the subject without overwhelming them—most Scouts are beginners.
• Start with foundational skills and questions and encourage practice along the way.
• Hold Scouts to the exact requirements. Many involve hands-on activities where Scouts must show, demonstrate, make, list, discuss, or collect, and they must do just that.
• Don't make requirements harder or easier than stated. Scouts may go above and beyond on their own initiative, but they cannot be pushed to do so.
• If a Scout struggles in a particular area, provide support and allow time for retesting to confirm the requirement has been met.
• Encourage self-reflection and create an atmosphere where asking for help feels natural.
• Take a genuine interest in each Scout's progress and encourage them to see it through to completion.

These tips and more are covered in the Merit Badge Counselor training modules, available at my.scouting.org.

Access Training at my.scouting.org