The recommended process for earning merit badges in Troop 1

We have a lot of new scouts in our troop and we cannot cover everything in our initial troop meetings. Today I saw a similar post on Facebook posted by The Trails District.  I edited their comments and customized them to inform parents and scouts how the merit badge process works within our troop.

The recommended process for earning merit badges in Troop 1.

1. The Scout develops an interest in a merit badge and discusses his interest in the merit badge with his unit leader.

2. The Scoutmaster signs a blue card and provides the Scout with at least one counselor contact.

3. The Scout contacts the counselor.

4. The Scout and the counselor meet in a public place to discuss requirements, or bring a buddy or parent if you meet at a home. Depending on the merit badge, scout and counselor may meet several times to complete it. The scout should do the work.

5. The Scout finishes the requirements.

6. The counselor approves completion.

7. The Scout returns the signed blue card to his unit leader, who signs the applicant record section of the blue card.

8. The unit leader gives the Scout the applicant record.

9. The unit reports the merit badge to the council.

10. The Scout receives his merit badge, generally at a Court of Honor.

There are times that a scout may have to complete a merit badge with a different counselor due to many reasons.  That is acceptable.  There are other times that you may start a merit badge at summer camp or at merit badge tech day and then you finish it with a local counselor.  That is also acceptable.  Additionally, if there are only 1-2 requirements left to be signed off and there is no available counselor, the Scoutmaster has the discretion to sign off remaining requirements.