Volunteer

Adult volunteers are critical to the Scouts' success in leading the Troop and completing their trail to Eagle.

Scouting is a youth-led, youth-run program, but the youth must be trained to be leaders. Adult role models in Scouting provide an ideal learning experience for all youth. Every adult volunteer has something valuable to offer. On a typical weekend campout, Scouts might work with an adult volunteer who teaches the Fishing merit badge and with a Scout mom to learn orienteering, go on a 5-mile hike with another adult leader, and end the day learning how to clean and cook fresh fish from someone else.

One of the eight Methods of Scouting is Association with Adults: "Scouts learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders can be positive role models for the members of their troops. In many cases a Scoutmaster who is willing to listen to the Scouts, encourage them, and take a sincere interest in them can make a profound difference in their lives."

The advantages of Scouting are not limited to youth. Adults also develop leadership and physical skills with every training experience.

How You Can Help

There are a number of ways to volunteer, including, but not limited to:

Assisting directly with Scouts on an ongoing basis: Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster.
Helping directly with Scouts on specific events or activities: Merit Badge Counselor, Board of Review committee member, event/activity coordinator, service project coordinator, etc.
Supporting indirectly with Troop administrative duties: Chartered Organization Representative, Committee Chair, or Committee Member, e.g. Treasurer, Chaplains Aide, Popcorn Kernel, Advancement Chair, Youth Protection Champion, Training Coordinator, Webmaster, etc.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Nathan Ericson, Committee Chair (committeechair@troop247.us).

Troop Volunteer Requirements

The following are requirements for all Troop 247 adult volunteers and leaders:

Minimum age 21, except Assistant Scoutmasters and Merit Badge Counselors who may be 18.
Must complete Youth Protection Training yearly.
Must be trained in their position, i.e. complete the appropriate position-specific training. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters must complete in-person enhanced position training, e.g. Green Bar, Okama, or Blackfoot.

A Guide for Merit Badge Counseling

To qualify as a merit badge counselor, you must:

Be at least 18 years old and of good character.
Be registered with the Boy Scouts of America (position code 42).
Complete Youth Protection training.
Be recognized as having the skills and education in the merit badge subjects covered and hold any required qualifications and training as outlined in the Guide to Safe Scouting or the Guide to Advancement - or use others so qualified.
Be able to work with Scout-age youth.

In addition, the following are requirements for all Troop 247 Merit Badge Counselors:

Be trained, e.g. Merit Badge Counselor position-specific training, available online for free (approximately 34 minutes).
Family may not work with their Scout exclusively. A Merit Badge Counselor must be open to counseling any Scout in the Troop. A Merit Badge Counselor must offer the opportunity to every Scout in the Troop before working with their Scout.

Please refer to the Guide for Merit Badge Counseling for more details.

If you are interested in becoming a Merit Badge Counselor or need to update your Merit Badge Counselor registration, please contact Nathan Ericson, Committee Chair (committeechair@troop247.us).

Join Troop 247

Interested in joining Troop 247? Request more information or apply online!