Advancement

1-8-12

To: All Merit Badge Counselors and Unit Leaders

Re: Qualifications for certain Merit Badge Counselors

Some merit badges now have certain requirements, from national, for those that wish to be counselors for these badges. In addition there seems to be some misinformation out there as far as requirements to be a counselor for the Shooting Sports Merit Badges that I want to clear up. Below are the merit badges and the qualifications required to be a merit badge counselor for them in our council.

Rifle & Shotgun Shooting: All instruction involving the handling of firearms or live ammunition must be supervised by a certified BSA National Camping School shooting sports director or NRA shooting instructor or coach. (NRA certification in type of firearm in use, ie – rifle, shotgun or muzzleloader). The balance of instruction does not require any type of certification beyond the counselor being approved by the council advancement committee. Note that the instruction involving the handling of firearms and live ammunition can be done by an uncertified MBC as long as the MBC is supervised by a certified person. Also if the certified person is not an approved MBC the MBC must be present to sign off the requirements.

Canoeing: Canoeing MBC must have either BSA Aquatics Instructor or Canoeing Instructor certification from the American Canoe Association or American Red Cross.

Climbing: All climbing, belaying and rappelling exercises and activities must be supervised by a qualified rock climbing instructor, at least 21 yrs old and who is trained in BSA Climb on Safely. Training as a BSA climbing director or instructor is preferred. Someone certified in First Aid/CPR/AED from the American Red Cross (or equivalent) must be present at these activities. The MBC does not have to hold these certifications but must ensure someone with the proper certifications is present with the exception of class room instruction.

Lifesaving: Demonstrations or activities in or on the water must be supervised by an adult at least 21 yrs old with certification in Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED or equivalent, and also as a BSA Lifeguard or Aquatics Instructor or equivalent

Rowing: Rowing MBC must have either BSA Aquatics Instructor or equivalent.

Scuba: All phases of Scuba instruction are limited to instructors trained and sanctioned by one of the following: PADI, NAUI, SSI, IDEA, PDIC, SDI or be a member of the World Recreational Scuba Council.

Swimming: Demonstrations or activities in or on the water must be conducted according to BSA Safe Swim Defense and BSA Safety Afloat.

Snow Sports: Activities in the field must be supervised by a mature and conscientious adult 21 years old or older who is committed to compliance with BSA Winter Sports Safety as defined in the Guide To Safe Scouting.

Whitewater: MBC must be certified as whitewater canoeing or kayaking instructors by the American Canoe Association.

As always all merit badge counselors must take youth protection training, complete an adult application as a MBC, complete a merit badge counselor application and be approved by the council advancement committee prior to working with our youth.

This process takes approximately 6 – 8 weeks from the time the proper paper work is turned into one of the service centers.

Counselors will be notified once they have been approved either by email or regular mail (if you do not furnish an email address). The District Advancement Committees will be contacting those MBC that we need proof of certification on over the next few months so we can get your certification on record.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me (email preferred) at efoster5@windstream.net

or call (hm) 706-654-5321 and thank you for the work you do for our youth.

Ed Foster

Chairman, Council Advancement Committee

efoster5@windstream.net

2011 Guide to Advancement and Eagle Workbook

Guide to Advancement, No. 33088
Eagle Scout Rank Application, No. 512-728
Eagle Palm Application, No. 58-709

Attention Scouts, Leaders, and Parents or Guardians
Eagle Scout rank requirement 5 has been reworded. To support that change, a new Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook has been created. Through Dec. 31, 2011, Scouts have a choice to use either the new workbook or the one it is replacing. Scouts whose Eagle Scout service project has already been approved by the council or district under the former wording of requirement 5—and using the former workbook—should continue with the same workbook. If their project has not yet been approved by the council or district, they may elect to use the revised requirement 5 and the new workbook. Starting Jan. 1, 2012, Eagle Scout candidates—unless they have already submitted a plan for approval by the council or district under the former requirement—will be expected to fulfill the revised service project requirement 5 using the new workbook.

Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, No. 512-927 (New)
Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, No. 512-927 (Old)

We will be conducting classes on these items at the University of Scouting on December 3, be sure and sign up for the in depth review of these items.

New Eagle Rank Application - 10-27-11

The new Eagle Rank Application has been released, the link to it is :www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-728_web.pdf

We will continue to accept the current Eagle Application through Dec 31, 2011. As of January 1, 2012 all Eagle candidates must use the new application.

Ed Foster
Chairman, Council Advancement Committee
efoster5@windstream.net

1-8-12

To: All Merit Badge Counselors and Unit Leaders

Re: Qualifications for certain Merit Badge Counselors

Canoeing: Canoeing MBC must have either BSA Aquatics Instructor or Canoeing Instructor certification from the American Canoe Association or American Red Cross.

Rowing: Rowing MBC must have either BSA Aquatics Instructor or equivalent.

Swimming: Demonstrations or activities in or on the water must be conducted according to BSA Safe Swim Defense and BSA Safety Afloat.

Whitewater: MBC must be certified as whitewater canoeing or kayaking instructors by the American Canoe Association.

This process takes approximately 6 – 8 weeks from the time the proper paper work is turned into one of the service centers.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me (email preferred) at efoster5@windstream.net

or call (hm) 706-654-5321 and thank you for the work you do for our youth.

Ed Foster

Chairman, Council Advancement Committee

efoster5@windstream.net

The Boy Scouts of America have four steps to ADVANCEMENT:

The Scout LEARNS
The Scout is TESTED
The Scout is REVIEWED
The Scout is RECOGNIZED

The Northeast Georgia Council's Advancement Committee, made up of volunteers from Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting and Venturing, have put together some guidelines to assist units and districts. These guidelines fully adhere to BSA policy.

Additional forms are available on the national forms page and our council forms page.

Cub Scout Forms: Individual Cub Scout Record


Boy Scout Forms: Individual Boy Scout Record; Boy Scout First Class Tracking Sheet; Unit Advancement Report; Worksheet for building a merit badge counselor list; NEGA Merit Badge Counselor Application (3/2011)
: Eagle Scout specific; Eagle Reference guidelines Council; Sample letter of reference for Eagle Scout Council; Sample Religious letter of reference for Eagle Scout Council; Eagle Scout Application Checklist Council; Guide to Advancement, No. 33088 (10-27-11)
Eagle Scout Rank Application, No. 512-728 (10-27-11)
Eagle Palm Application, No. 58-709 (10-27-11)
Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, No. 512-927 (New) (10-27-11)
Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, No. 512-927 (Old) (10-27-11)


Other Youth Award Forms: Application for BSA Lifeguard; Historic Trails Program/50-Miler Award; 50 Miler Award Application
Outdoor Achievers



Adult Recognition and Award Forms: Progress Record for the Tiger Cub Den Leader Award (2010); Progress Record for the Cub Scout Den Leader Award (2010); Progress Record for the Webelos Den Leader Award (2010); Progress Record for the Cubmaster Award (2008); Progress Record for the Cub Scouter Award (2010)
Progress Record for Pack Trainer (2008); Progress Record for the Boy Scout Leader's Training Award (2006); Progress Record for the Scoutmaster's Key (2006); Progress Record for Venturing Leader (2006)
Progress Record for District Committee Key (2006)
Varsity Scout Leader Progress for the Coach's Key and Varsity Scout Leader Training Award (2006); Varsity Scout Leader Letter Scorecard (2006); Roundtable/Huddle Staff Progress Record for the Scouter's Training Award (2006); Roundtable/Huddle Commissioner Progress Record for Arrowhead Honor/Commissioner Key (2006); District and Assistant District Commissioner Progress Record for the Commissioner Key/Arrowhead Honor Award (2006); Unit Commissioner Progress Record for the Commissioner Key/Arrowhead Honor Award (2006)

For questions or concerns related to the advancement program, contact your district advancement chairman or Council Advancement Chairman, Ed Foster.