Boy Scouts to Invade Baylor for Merit Badge College Starting Saturday

More than 800 Boy Scouts, scoutmasters and merit badge counselors from across Central Texas will be on the Baylor University campus Saturday morning to participate in the Heart O' Texas Merit Badge College. Registration will begin at 7 a.m., and classes will run between 8 a.m. and noon at various locations across campus.

"The Merit Badge College will allow scouts to earn badges that they would not otherwise get a chance to earn," said Dr. Greg Benesh, chair and professor of physics at Baylor, who is coordinating the event. "The scouts benefit greatly from having experts teach them in an academic setting. We also get to show off our beautiful campus and all the great things the university has to offer."

The Merit Badge College is a two-Saturday event that continues on Nov. 17. The college allows Boy Scouts ages 11 - 17 to work on the necessary badges to advance towards the rank of Eagle Scout. Scouts will choose from more than 40 merit badge classes on topics ranging from crime prevention and fingerprinting to graphic arts, journalism and space exploration. More than 20 Baylor faculty will serve as instructors, teaching various topics like chemistry, rock climbing and weather among many others. The scouts also will receive tickets to the Baylor-Oklahoma State football game on Nov. 17.

For more information, contact Dr. Benesh (254) 715-7525 or (254) 715-4157.