The Merit Badge Process and Rank Advancement During COVID-19

In this article you will find information about rank advancement and earning awards/MBs during COVID-19. The processes may vary by troop.

 

What is the process for earning a Merit Badge during the pandemic?

  1. Email the Scoutmaster, Advancement Coordinator, and your parent about the merit badge you would like to earn.
  2. The Scoutmaster either approves you taking the merit badge or discusses the decision with you.  After approval, the Scoutmaster will approve the merit badge for you in scoutbook.com
  3. Find a counselor. The Advancement Coordinator can help you identify Merit Badge Counselors, you can ask other Scouts or adult leaders in the Troop, or you can use Scoutbook (if you have access).
  4. Contact the Merit Badge Counselor to request if they will work on the Merit Badge with you.  Include his parents or another adult in communications with the Merit Badge Counselor.
  5. After you have a Merit Badge Counselor who has agreed to work with you, let the Advancement Coordinator know so he/she can connect them in scoutbook.com.
  6. Either purchase the merit badge pamphlet from the Scout Shop, the Scout Shop online, a digital copy, or borrow a copy from the troop library. To borrow a merit badge pamphlet from the Troop library, contact the librarian in order to coordinate pick up of the pamphlet.
  7. Work with Merit Badge Counselor to complete merit badge requirements (please make sure that this is done safely, such as through a Zoom session, with the Scout’s parent or another adult present during the session).
  8. Requirements and the merit badge can be signed off in scoutbook.com or a Blue Card (the official paper record of the merit badge completion) can be provided, if requested.  Let the Scoutmaster and Advancement Coordinator know if a Blue Card is needed.
  9. When completed, the Merit Badge Counselor will sign the Blue Card or sign off on it in scoutbook.com.
  10. Let the Advancement Coordinator know about the completion and completed Blue Card goes to the Advancement Coordinator.

How can I become a Merit Badge Counselor?

  1. For an adult to become a Merit Badge Counselor, they need to turn in a completed BSA Adult application (use position code: 42, position name: merit badge counselor, no Troop signatures needed), completed BSA criminal background check disclosure form, YPT certificate, and completed Merit Badge Counselor Information Form.  The Troop Merit Badge Counselor Coordinator records it and turns that into the Old Dominion District (ODD) Merit Badge Dean and District Executive.  If you are interested in becoming a Merit Badge Counselor, contact your Troop Merit Badge Counselor Coordinator.

How can I complete rank requirements?

  1. Read your Scout Handbook to determine the requirements for the rank you want to earn.
  2. Learn the skills needed for each requirement by reading your Handbook and practicing the skills (knot tying, lashings, fire building, etc.)
  3. Work with other Scouts who can help you with the requirement (a Scout who is Star rank or above). Since we need to maintain our social distance, there are several ways that you can accomplish this, such as by; setting up a Zoom meeting, using FaceTime, or creating and sharing a video of yourself demonstrating the skill or talking about the requirement.
  4. Once the Star Scout (or above) feels that you have earned the requirement, he will contact you and your patrol’s Assistant Scoutmaster to state that you have completed the requirement.
  5. The ASM will update your record in ScoutBook.

 

Note: Parents may mark a requirement as complete in Scoutbook, but the Scoutmaster, an Assistant Scoutmaster, or the Advancement Coordinator must verify that the work has been done properly and mark it as approved in Scoutbook.

How do I complete my Scout Spirit requirement, Scoutmaster Conference, and Board of Review?

  1. Once you have completed all of the rank requirements (except for the Scout Spirit requirement, Scoutmaster Conference, and Board of Review) and those requirements have been signed off in Scoutbook.com, you can schedule a Scoutmaster Conference.
  2. The Scoutmaster will schedule a Zoom meeting with you and your patrol’s Assistant Scoutmaster to meet for the Scout Spirit and Scoutmaster Conference requirements.
  3. After completing the Scout Spirit requirement and Scoutmaster Conference, the Scoutmaster will inform the Advancement Coordinator and Committee Chair that you are ready to have your Board of Review scheduled.  They will work with you to schedule either a Zoom or safe in-person Board of Review. Please follow up with them if you have not received a response within a week after your Scoutmaster Conference about scheduling your Board of Review. You earn the rank as soon as you complete your Board of Review!

Where can I find more info?

  1. Please see the following link for additional information on advancement (and other topics) related to COVID-19:  https://www.scouting.org/coronavirus/covid-19-faq/.