Earning Merit Badges
The first thing a scout should do is find a "Buddy" who
wants to earn the same merit badge, and approach the Scoutmaster for a
"Blue Merit Badge Card". If the scouts don't already know who the
merit badge Counselor is for that particular merit badge, the scoutmaster needs
to help the boys find a registered counselor.
** The "buddy system"
is always used in scouting, as per the requirements found in the Guide to Safe
Scouting.**
The Scoutmaster
then fills out the section of the blue card with "Application For Merit
Badge" on the front (the 3rd third on the front). The Scoutmaster puts the
date of the request of the blue card at the bottom of the form. The Scoutmaster
may also fill out the 1st third of the reverse side of the blue card with the
name, address, and phone number of the counselor only.
The scouts then contact the merit badge counselor, and arranges
a time for meeting with him/her.
At the first meeting, the scout turns over the blue card to the
counselor to keep track of until the merit badge is completed.
** Again, 3 people must be
present at all meetings with the merit badge counselor, as per the directives
in the Guide to Safe Scouting.**
When the final
requirement of the merit badge is completed, the merit badge counselor then
fills in all the rest of the blanks on the blue card. The date of completion is
the date it is earned!!! It will be the date recorded on all records of the
scouts, and the date that will appear on the advancement order form and the
final Merit Badge Card!
The merit badge counselor will then keep the last third of the
blue card..."Counselor's Record", and give back the other 2 thirds to
the Scouts who will then turn it into the Scoutmaster.
The Scoutmaster will then record it in the Scout's Handbook,
then hand the scout the middle portion of the blue card for the scout's records.
The scout must keep this blue card safe, and will be replaced in his records
when his formal Merit Badge card is awarded at the Court of Honor. The last
part of the blue card is handed to the Advancement Chairman, who will record it
in their records, order the merit badge and Merit Badge Card, and keep the blue
card for the troop's records.
This is very important... each
person holding on to a portion of the blue card... the Merit Badge Counselor,
the Troop Advancement Chairman, and the Scout must hold on to these cards for 7
years, or until the Scout makes Eagle. If anything should ever happen to the
official records of the scout, the blue cards will serve as proof of earning
the merit badge towards the Eagle rank. Instruct the scouts, and/or his parents,
to keep the blue cards separate from the Merit Badge cards. That way if one is
lost, the other can replace it!