Register with the BSA
Go to https://my.scouting.org/ and create an account. (You’ve probably already done this if your kid has been in scouts for a while.)
Complete your Training
Make sure you have taken Youth Protection Training within the last 24 months.
The training is available on your my.scouting.org account
Note that this training is required if you ever serve as a leader on any troop activities: it’s a great thing to do!
Print out your certificate with proof of training. If you forget to do this when you complete the training, you should be able to print your certificate on by going to my.scouting.com and selecting “My Training” in the upper right menu (the person icon).
Read the 6-page Guide for Merit Badge Counseling.
Register with Chief Seattle Council
Complete a Merit Badge Counselor Information Form
Email Merit Badge Counselor Information form and your proof of Youth Protection Training to Kelly Trace (lostwithouta@hotmail.com) and Barrett Taylor (btaylor@seattlebsa.org) and cc Cheryl Geels.
Mail a $25 check or call Barrett Taylor (206-902-2389) with a credit card number: this fee pays for your background check. (If you are a registered adult with our troop, this fee is waived.)
Additional Resources:
Here is a quick summary of how to be a merit badge counselor.
There are two additional optional training sources.
Read pp. 40-51 in the BSA Guide to Advancement.
Complete the online merit badge counselor training on my.scouting.org.
Here is the list of the current requirements for all merit badges: scroll down and find your topic.
You will probably want to have your scout use a workbook to record your work: we generally require the kids to print them out when they start a new badge. Workbooks for all merit badges are available here.
If you’d like a Merit Badge Guide Book for a topic at any point, you can check with me: I have a small library of guides. Also, many troops (for example, this one) have scanned merit badge guides available on their troop websites, and you should be able to find your topic with a quick google search.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask any of the adult leaders!