Guide to Safe Scouting
BSA National has published updates to the Guide to Safe Scouting that are only available on line.
The most recent updates were published in August 2024. The latest updates are to:
Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse
Prohibited activities
The chart on “Age appropriate guidelines for Scouting Activities”
The most current information for the Guide to Safe Scouting can be obtained by going to this link.
Merit Badge College 2025.
The Merit Badge College (MBC) in 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, February 15, 2025. The event at Pennsylvania College of Technology offers an opportunity to earn up to three merit badge offerings. The list of merit badge offerings has been finalized, with 20 merit badge offerings. Most of the merit badge offerings are related to a STEM area of interest.
The registration for the event opens the morning of Monday, November 25, 2024.
Cub Scout Program – new program information.
Attention Cub Scout leaders and parents.
The new Cub Scout program is up and running!
Please remember to check all adventure requirements at each den level, as many requirements have changed with the new program. For example, each den now earns the Bobcat adventure every year, and the requirements vary depending on den level. Once your Cub Scouts have earned adventures, take the time to enter their hard work into Scout Book (even partial adventures).
Remember that adventures should be awarded frequently to keep Cub Scouts motivated to continue to work toward additional adventures.
The most current information on the program can be obtained by going to the Cub Scout page on this site {link}.
This is the BSA’s official website with the archive information on the program updates {link}.
Requirements prior to meeting with a merit badge counselor.
Attention Scouts and unit leaders.
In order to address concerns expressed by a number of unit leaders, the Council Advancement Committee has developed and approved a policy that requires Scouts to meet with a unit leader before contacting a MB counselor to begin the completion of requirements or registering for an on-line MB opportunity. The policy formalizes a longstanding expectation in the Guide to Advancement that each Scout first meet with the unit leader before pursuing completion of a merit badge. The purpose for establishment of the requirement is twofold:
- To verify for each MB if the counselor is registered in Scouts BSA and is approved as a counselor for that MB (by any council).
- Provide an opportunity for the unit leader to review with the Scout whether the offering provides an acceptable opportunity to learn and complete the requirements as written for the MB, if the Scout is considering an on-line offering.
The complete version of the policy, including procedures to follow and some additional guidance, can be obtained by going to the “Advancement Resources” page on the council’s website {link}. The policy is in Section 3.4.
Required training for merit badge counselors.
Attention merit badge counselors.
The council has changed the required training policy to require all individuals to complete the position specific training for merit badge counselors prescribed by National BSA to serve as a merit badge counselor in the council, with a phased implementation plan.
The policy: All individuals are required to complete the position-specific training for merit badge counselors prescribed by National BSA to serve as a merit badge counselor in the council. The training is available on-line or scheduled classroom training.
The implementation plan for this change in the required training policy for Merit Badge Counselor training is as follows:
Effective November 1, 2023, all individuals applying for the first time to serve as a merit badge counselor must meet the training requirement as a prerequisite for approval as a counselor.
Effective June 1, 2024, all individuals currently approved to serve as a merit badge counselor must meet the training requirement as a prerequisite for renewal as a counselor. Thus, currently approved counselors that have not completed the training should do so before the end of May 2024.
Registration fee for merit badge counselors.
Attention merit badge counselors.
BSA National has implemented an annual registration fee of $25 for merit badge counselors. However, the payment of this fee is only applicable for adults registered with BSA only as a MB counselor; it is not applicable if the adult is also registered for another adult leader position. The implementation of the fee is as follows:
Effective now, first time applicants to serve as a merit badge counselor must pay the fee to be registered as a MB counselor.
Effective June 1, 2024, any adult currently approved to serve as a merit badge counselor and is not also registered for another adult leader position must pay the fee to re-register.
Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook.
Attention Scouts and unit leaders.
BSA National has published a new version of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, dated February 2023. Eagle Scout candidates must use the most current version of the workbook published by BSA National at the time they begin development of their proposal. Thus, all Scouts must use this version of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, dated February 2023, if they are starting to prepare the project proposal after February 2023.
