COSMIC Counselors and Mentors

COSMIC Counselors lead First Steps and topic patch awards. COSMIC Mentors guide candidates through the advanced COSMIC Pin. Choose the role that matches the award being completed.

Any interested adult leader age 21 or older may deliver First Steps and patch-award material. Counselors must be registered in an appropriate Scouting America position and current in required position-specific training, including Safeguarding Youth Training. No separate COSMIC registration is required for counseling patch awards.

Preparation. Complete online merit badge counselor training at my.scouting.org (recommended) and attend an in-person council COSMIC training class (required).

Counselor Responsibilities

• Follow the published requirements and safety directions as written.
• Use age-appropriate instruction and supervision.
• Work with your own child only in a group setting.
• Track each participant’s progress with the COSMIC Award Tracking Spreadsheet or a similar checklist because COSMIC is not currently tracked in Scoutbook.
• Submit the COSMIC Patch Reporting Form when First Steps or a topic award is complete.
• Contact the CAC STEM Committee when requirements or delivery expectations are unclear.

Download the tracking spreadsheet — Coming Soon.

COSMIC Mentors support youth completing the advanced Pin. A Mentor must be a subject-matter expert through education, career experience, or a serious hobby; be a fully registered Scouting America adult age 21 or older; maintain current Safeguarding Youth Training; complete online merit badge counselor training; attend the council COSMIC training class; and receive CAC STEM Committee approval through the COSMIC Mentor Application.

Mentor Responsibilities

• Follow the published Pin and Mentor requirements.
• Guide the candidate’s long-term investigation without doing the work for the participant.
• Mentors may not work with their own child; contact the CAC STEM Committee for a list of available mentors.
• Maintain progress records and review supporting materials.
• Submit the COSMIC Pin Application and all supporting materials when all requirements are complete.
• Prepare the candidate for the CAC STEM Committee review and interview.

Open COSMIC Pin requirements — Coming Soon.

COSMIC Mentor Application — Coming Soon.

Contact the CAC STEM Committee

Back to COSMIC STEM Awards