Advancement

District Specific Advancement Resources

District Advancement

District Advancement Committee

Each District has their own District Advancement Committee, which is one of the subcommittees of the District Operating Commitee. Our District Advancement Committee includes:

• Andy Chen, District Advancement Committee Chair

• Kent Fitzgerald, District Advancement Chair Member

• Josh Phillips, Eagle Coordinator.

ScoutBook Plus issues?

You're not alone.

There's a transition going on: Scoutbook is slowly moving to Scoutbook Plus. If you're encountering a bug or can't get something to work, it is likely you're not the only one.

Check out the Scoutbook Forums for more information on bugs!

You can also read this exhaustive list of changes to Scoutbook.

Merit Badge Day on the USS Hornet - Seeking volunteers

Saturday, May 16th 2026

Planning has started for Merit Badge Day on the USS Hornet. This year, it will be on Saturday, May 16th from approximately 8am-4pm. There will hopefully also be the opportunity for units to spend the night on the Hornet on May 15th.

Alameda District is just starting the recruiting for merit badge counselors, so they don't know which badges will be offered (yet). They will send additional details as they become available.

As in the past, they intend to offer a morning class of 2.5-3 hours and an afternoon one of the same length. Lunch can be brought on board or purchased while there. 

If you or any MBCs in your troop would like to teach a class or otherwise be involved with planning, please reach out to Henry Ramos (henry.herrera.ramos@gmail.com).

Citizenship in Society Merit Badge Discontinuance

• The Citizenship in Society Merit Badge is discontinued effective Friday, February 27, 2026. Click here for the announcement.

New for 2026:

• Revised merit badge requirements are effective January 1, 2026. A summary can be found here. (For more detail, you can refer to this highly detailed list).

Eagle and Quartermaster Advancement

Eagle Boards of Review

An Eagle Scout board of review is a scout's final step to achieving the highest rank in Scouts BSA. In fact, Eagle is a rank that only 5% of scouts ever achieve! It’s a rank that heralds respect and admiration from anyone who knows what Scouting is. And, it’s the rank that scouts work for countless years to earn!

Eagle Boards of Review are made up of community members, past leaders and involved parents (though not the Eagle candidate's own parents or leaders from that scout's Troop). Questions for the Eagle Board of Review members to ask the Eagle candidate are provided by the Eagle Board of Review coordinator. The Eagle Board of Review is a chance for the Eagle candidate to talk about how much they've learned along their path to Eagle as well as the details of their Eagle project.

Interested in volunteering to participate in an Eagle Board of Review? Contact: Andy Chen.

Quartermaster and Eagle Projects

Every unit should have a coordinator for Quartermaster or Eagle advancement. Once identified, the unit coordinator for Eagle/Quartermaster can contact Andy Chen for more information. Get ideas for projects from:

• Scouting Magazine 'Before and After' Eagle Scout photo series

Council Eagle Resources

See the Golden Gate Area Council's Eagle page for additional resources.

Special Recognition

Eagles and Quartermasters can:

• Request a Recognition Letter from the Friends of Treasure Island, including a vial of earth from the original Ceremonial Grounds / birthplace of the Order of the Arrow

• Join the GGAC Eagles Nest

Merit Badge Counselors

The merit badge counselor (MBC) are key players in the Scouts BSA advancement program. Whatever your area of expertise or interest—whether it is a special craft or hobby (basketry, leatherwork, 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 Scout’s curiosity about that 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.

Some merit badges require special certification: Swimming, Climbing, Snow Sports, Canoeing, Kayaking, Lifesaving, Motor Boating, Rowing, Scuba Diving, Small Boat Sailing, Water Sports, Whitewater, Archery, Rifle Shooting, and Shotgun Shooting. Read about those here.

If you're ready to apply

Start your journey here. If you need a step by step guide on the process, we've created an MBC tutorial. Have Golden Gate District-specific questions? Contact: Andy Chen.

Are you looking for a Guide for Merit Badge Counseling? Here's the official Scouts BSA guide.

Are you from a different District?

STEM Nova Counselors and Super Nova Mentors

As a STEM Nova counselor, you can teach skills and introduce concepts that may change the course of a boy or girl’s life. Many scouts have been guided to their chosen careers or discovered lifelong hobbies through the BSA Stem Nova program. This opportunity would not exist without adult volunteers giving of their knowledge and time selflessly to help shape the leaders of tomorrow

If you're ready to apply

Start your journey here. If you need a step by step guide on the process, we've created a STEM Nova tutorial. Have Golden Gate District-specific questions? Contact: Andy Chen.

Merit Badge Opportunities

This list will be updated periodically. If there is an upcoming event, please contact Andy Chen to get it posted.

Hiller Aviation Museum Aviation and Weather Merit Badge workshops (recurring)