Serving as a Merit Badge Counselor is a great way for parents and adults to volunteer modest amounts of time to the troop, while helping our scouts achieve their goals.

Why is this Important?

Earning merit badges is an important component of the scouting experience.  It gives scouts a chance to learn about interesting topics while developing life-long skills.  It provides the opportunity for the scout to become self-directed, goal-oriented, and to develop verbal and communication skills with adults.   Our goal is to give our scouts the opportunity to learn from the full breadth of the Paoli 1 adult community.

Am I Qualified?

The short answer is “yes you are”.  For the vast majority of badges “expert” knowledge is not necessary.  All that is required is a modest knowledge of the topic and a willingness to share your wisdom with a scout.  For many badges, your simple standing as an adult qualifies you as an expert, including many Eagle required badges.

How Can I Become a Counselor?

If this is a role that may be of interest to you, below is what is needed to become officially certified as a Merit Badge Counselor in Chester County Council.  It looks like a lot, but most of this does not take much time. YPT training will be about 90 minutes but can be done in segments.

1. Review the full list of current merit badges that are offered to scouts.
2. Complete the Chester County Council Merit Badge Counselor Information form.  (All instructions are on this form, but also noted in the following steps.)
3. Complete the BSA Adult Leader application form, even if you have previously done so for another role.  Indicate position code 42.
4. Complete PA Act 15 (formerly Act 153) requirements (refer to P1 Youth Protection page).  If you have already done this for a school or youth sports program in the past 5 years, then you just need to send your existing certificate.
5. Complete BSA YPT Online Training (refer to P1 Youth Protection page).
6. Submit paperwork from steps 2 through 5 above to the Chester County Council advancement office, cc’ing the P1 Advancement Chair, Chartered Org Rep, and Scoutmaster.
7. Council will collect a fee of $25 if you are not already registered with BSA as an adult leader with the troop.
8. You are encouraged to take Merit Badge Counselor Training, however, there is no requirement to do so.