Baylor Hosts Boy Scout "Merit Badge College" Sept. 11 and 18
Baylor University will host more than 600 Boy Scouts, scoutmasters and merit badge counselors on Saturday, Sept. 11, and again on Saturday, Sept. 18, during the Heart O' Texas Council Merit Badge College.
Scouts ages 11 to 17 will choose from merit badge classes on such topics as geology, weather, space exploration, electricity, atomic energy, computers, emergency preparedness, Indian lore, medicine, veterinary medicine, climbing and chemistry. Baylor faculty and registered Scout leaders will serve as instructors.
"Usually a Scout works on his merit badges through individual appointments with a merit badge counselor, so depending on the initiative of the Scout and the number of qualified counselors, that may take awhile. This gives Scouts a boost towards advancement through the ranks to Eagle Scout," said Dr. Greg Benesh, professor of physics at Baylor and scoutmaster for Boy Scout troop 308. "Also, as a scientist, anything we can do to encourage youth in science is worthwhile."
A general session for leaders will be held at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, in Roxy Grove Hall on the Baylor campus, followed by classes at various sites until 3 p.m. After classes end, Scouts are encouraged to take advantage of "Celebrate Waco! Day" by visiting local museums, many of which are open free of charge, until the Scouts meet at 6 p.m. at Floyd Casey Stadium for the Baylor-UNLV football game. Scouts will return to campus Sept. 18 to complete their merit badge classes.
For more information, contact Benesh at 710-6720.