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BaySea District

Since 1938 serving Garden State Council with Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing and Exploring in Cape May & Cumberland Counties as well as Buena Vista Township and the Borough of Buena in Atlantic County; Newfield Borough in Gloucester County & Pittsgrove Township in Salem County

ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE

Co-Chairpersons (click name to send email)

Margaret Clark & Paul Beckwith

Appointments for Eagle project reviews or Eagle Board of Review must be made by the troop/Crew Advancement Chairperson.

These meetings take place in Cape May County at the

County Library/Lower Level Conference Room Mechanic Street Cape May Court House NJ

In Cumberland County at the

Loren S. Riggins, Jr. Scout Center Millville

MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS-BSA Youth Protection Training is now required by the BSA for every registered leader. Click here for more information

For 2013 Troop, Team, and Crew advancement chairs need to review their current roster of merit badge counselors. Contact each counselor to verify they plan to continue as a counselor.

The district renews its charter on January 31 of each year. To comply with BSA Youth Protection Training guidelines Merit Badge Counselors whose youth protection training in not within two years of January 31 will be expired. It is the responsibility of the counselor to complete their Youth Protection Update.

As you review your merit badge list remove any person who:

• Has not or refuses to complete the BSA Youth Protection Training

• Has not or refuses to complete a BSA Adult Leader Application with social security number

• Has not counseled a merit badge in the current calendar year

• Is no longer affiliated with your unit

• No longer wishes to serve as a merit badge counselor

• Is not known by the scoutmaster or troop committee

• Has moved from your area or is deceased

After each unit has completed their merit badge audit, your updated list must be submitted to the the district advancement chairperson.

For NEW merit badge counselors an adult leader application and the merit badge counselor information sheet needs to be completed. Be certain that Youth Protection Training has been completed.

When sending updated information for already approved counselors be certain to include:

* First and Last Name
* Current address including phone number and email
* List of merit badges this person will counsel
* BSA Membership Number

A Merit Badge Counselor list will be available in March; but instead of a paper roster the BaySea District Merit Badge List will be found on the Advancement page accessible only to Scoutmasters and Advancement Chairpersons.  To access the list you must contact the Advancement Co-Chairpersons with your Garden State Scouting website (snjc) log-in name.

To be a Merit Badge Counselor  a person must:

• Have completed a BSA ADULT LEADER APPLICATION.
• Complete a Merit Badge Information form with  your qualifications to serve as a counselor for the badge.
• Have been approved by the BaySea District and Garden State Council Advancement Committee.
• Completed BSA YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING available at the BSA E-Learning center
• Current Garden State Council Advancement Committee Guidelines allow a person to counsel no more than seven merit badges.
• The merit badge counselor does not need to pay the annual BSA registration fee. If you want SCOUTING magazine you need to pay the registration fee. To receive BOYS LIFE the subscription fee must be submitted
• Merit Badge Counselors are to read Guide for Merit Badge Counseling BSA #34532C and be familiar with its contents.
• Needs to be well versed in the requirements for the merit badge and should have a copy of the appropriate  MERIT BADGE HANDBOOK,

Merit Badge Counselors should visit the BSA National Council Web site for information about the BSA Merit Badge program and their responsibilities as a Merit Badge Counselor. Click the underlined words for more information.

GUIDE FOR MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS

RESOURCES FOR MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS

MERIT BADGE COUNSELOR FAQ

INTRODUCTION TO MERIT BADGES (Includes requirements for all current Merit Badges)

EAGLE SCOUT APPLICATION

You may get an Eagle application by downloading  the Adobe version from the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) by clicking the underlined words. When you use the download version you insert your information direct to the form and then print out a copy. 

EAGLE SCOUT LEADERSHIP SERVICE WORKBOOK

Scouts are required to use the recently revised copy of this workbook to plan their Eagle Leadership project. When you download the electronic version from the NESA site you are able to type in the required information and can add addendum pages as needed.  To download the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Workbook click the underlined words. For guidelines on choosing an EAGLE SCOUT SERVICE PROJECT click the underlined words.

EAGLE SCOUT SCHOLARSHIPS

Each year the NATIONAL EAGLE SCOUT ASSOCIATION offers Eagle Scouts several scholarship opportunities.  Applications are now available.  To download a copy of the NESA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION click the underlined words. In addition to the scholarships presented by NESA other organizations have opportunities to Scouts who have achieved the Eagle rank. Forr info about these click the title of this passage.

December 1, 2012 wjw