The merit badge counselor is a key player in the Scouts, BSA advancement program. Whatever your area of expertise or interest-whether it is a special craft or hobby,(basketry, leather work, coin collecting) a profession (veterinary medicine, aviation, engineering), or perhaps a life skill (cooking, personal management, communications)-as a merit badge counselor, you can play a vital role in stirring a young person's curiosity about a particular topic. By serving as a merit badge counselor, you offer your time, knowledge, and other resources so that Scouts can explore a topic of interest.