Astronomy Merit Badge At Clark Planetarium

Are you looking for a well-prepared, fun, hands-on merit badge?  The Clark Planetarium now offers  the Scouts an opportunity to earn the Astronomy Merit Badge.  The boys spend the first hour in the exhibit area completing requirements and then the next two hours in the dome theatre watching a sky simulation with full description and detail explanation.

The cost is $8 per scout and $4 per adult leader.  Tickets can be purchased by visiting Clark Planetarium

Winter 2014 classes are scheduled for January 11, February 8, March 8, April 12, and May 10.  Classes begin at 9:15 am and will concluded at approximately 12:15 pm.  You will not want to miss this one.

Dates Announced for Spring BYU Merit Badge PowWow

BYU has announced the 2014 Spring PowWow will be held on March 15 & 29, 2014.  Stay tuned for registration information and a list of available Merit Badges.

Genealogy Merit Badge Free at Riverton Family Search Library

The 2nd Saturday of every month, the Riverton Family Search Library offers a free Genealogy Merit Badge class from 10:00 to 11:30 am.  The library is located at 3740 Market Center Drive; Riverton, Utah 84065.  To register, visit www.familysearch.org/fhc/riverton and select "Classes and Class Schedules" from the menu.  Then scroll down to  "Boy Scout Workshop/Genealogy Merit Badge".  It is recommended the boys complete the following items before coming to the class,

• Contact a family member by telephone, e-mail or letter, and interview them about their life. Ask about events that have occurred and where they happened. Record the information you learn and bring this information to the workshop.
• Complete a pedigree chart. Click here for a .pdf fill-in pedigree chart.  The information can also be handwritten. List yourself and at least two additional generations. Bring this information to the workshop.
• Complete two family group sheets, one listing your parents and all of the children in your family, and another listing one of your parents and their siblings in a family group with your grandparents. Click here for a .pdf fill-in family group sheet. The information can also be handwritten. Bring this information to the workshop.
• Please also bring the name of an ancestor or relative who was alive in 1940.
• List 8 to ten important events in your life (time line) and bring the list to the workshop.

Utah Recycles Day Exhibition

November 15, 2013 is America Recycles Day.  In celebration, The Recycle Coalition of Utah is hosting an exhibit at the South Towne Expo Center.  Attendees will have the opportunity to meet vendors that play a major role in Utah's recycling, see a pyramid built entirely out of recycled bales, and learn how to better our environment.  Scouts are invited to attend between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm to earn their Pulp and Paper Merit Badge.  Cub Scouts are also invited to attend and will have the opportunity to pass "Your Living World".  Bring an aluminum can donation for an opportunity to win a big screen TV.

Teachers Are Great Merit Badge Counselors

I recently discovered that schools are a great resource for Free Merit Badges.  I was asked to write an introduction paper for one of my sons as part of his back to school assignments.  As part of the letter, I stated my son loves scouting and has a desire to earn all 132 Merit Badges.  Later that day, his teacher emailed me and said she was a Merit Badge counselor for 8 badges and she is happy to help us with any of these.  This sparked a discussion with all my son's teachers and we found out that just with the teachers at his school he can get 22 Merit Badges and most of them are things he is already doing as part of his homework.  Here is a list of some of the ones available to us: Reading and or Language Arts (Reading), Gym (Athletics, Personal Fitness and Sports), History (Any of the Citizenship Merit Badges), Health (First Aid and Public Health), CTE (Cooking, Computers, and Programming), Science (Chemistry and Plant Science), and  Band (Music).

Let your boys get credit for things they are already doing.  Talk to the teachers at your school.  Find out if they are Merit Badge Counselors.  This is a great way to open the lines of communication and get to know the teachers at your school.

American Fork Rec Opens New 2013-2014 Merit Badge Schedule

American Fork Rec Center located at 454 N Center Street; American Fork, Utah just released it class schedule for the 2013-2014 year.  It has plans to offer classes for 114 different merit badges during the next year.  For More Information click here

BYU Announces Classes for Fall Merit Badge Pow Wow

BYU Fall Merit Badge Pow Wow will be held on Saturday, October 18 and Saturday, November 2 on the BYU Provo Campus.  This year they will offer 31 different classes including: Animal Science,  Archaeology, Art, Astronomy, Chemistry, Chess, Citizenship In the Community, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Computers, Crime Prevention, Disabilities Awareness, Energy & Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Science, First Aid, Geocaching, Geology, Landscape Architecture, Mammal Study, Music, Nature, Oceanography, Public Health, Pulp and Paper, Railroading, Scouting Heritage, Space Exploration, Sports, Stamp Collecting, and Weather.  Registration will open on Wednesday, September 11 at 9:00 am for all Scouts in the National Parks Council and on Thursday, September 12 at 9:00 am for all other Scouts.  The cost is $21.00 per Scout (some classes may require an additional fee).  Register online by visiting powwow.byu.edu and clicking on Registration.

Fall Citizenship Merit Badges Announced at Salt Lake County Government Building

Salt Lake County Auditor, Gregory P. Hawkins, has announced the dates for the fall of 2013 Citizenship classes.  The classes will be held on September 25, October 23, and November 20, 2013 at the Salt Lake County Government Building, 2001 S. State St North Bldg; Salt Lake City, Utah.  Check in begins at 6:00 pm and the classes start at 6:30 pm.  Scouts may attend one of each of the three Citizenship Merit Badge classes, Community, Nation or World.  They must attend with an adult, or two if attending as a troop.  To register for the class, please email barogers@slco.org at least 24 hours in advance.  For more information click here.

South Jordan Rec Center Now Offers Merit Badge Classes

The South Jordan Rec Center is now offering 3 Merit Badge classes each month.  The classes are on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.  The first full week of the month the Swimming Merit Badge will be taught.  The second full week of the month is the Life Saving Merit Badge and the third week will be the First Aid Merit Bagde.  The cost is $20.00 per merit badge.  Scouts must pre-register in person, by phone or online at www.activityreg.com. 

Beck Leather offers 4 Merit Badge Classes

I just made a quick trip to Beck Leather to get some last minute items for our Pinewood Derby cars and I found out that Beck Leather now offers 4 fun merit badges, Basketry, Indian Lore, Wood Carving, and Leatherwork.  You can call them and schedule a time that works for you and your troop.  You must have at least three scouts to register and the cost is anywhere from $9.95 to $23.95 per scout depending upon the class and projects you select.  Again depending upon what you select, it may be completed in 2-3 sessions.  These look like some really fun stuff.  Belts, Wallets, neckerchief slides, medicine bags, and even a camp stool.  To sign up call Beck Leather at 801-567-1115.  I am defiantly going to be doing this during the summer months when my kids are bored!

Hogle Zoo Now Offers 7 Merit Badges

Hogle Zoo now offers 7 Merit Badges classes, Mammal Study, Nature, Environmental Science, Bird Study, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Insect Study, and Fish and Wild Life Management.  The cost is $15.00 each and are offered on various dates this spring and summer.  If you have a group of 10 or more you can call and arrange your own class.  To register visit Utah Hogle Zoo. 

Citzenship Merit Badges

Salt Lake County Auditor, Gregory P. Hawkins, presents Citizenship Merit Badges Classes the 4th Wednesday of every month at the Salt Lake County Government Center, 2001 S. State North Bldg; Salt Lake City, Utah.  Scouts may attend two of each of the Merit Badge classes, Community, Nation, or World. They must be attend with an adult or two if attending as a troop. This class is free and is offered as a community service by the Salt Lake County Auditor's Office. To register please email barogers@slco.org at least 24 hours in advance. To view the complete schedule click here.

Swimming Requirments

Did you know that Murray City Rec offers a Swim Check?  The cost is $7.00 and is one night.  The class completes all of the swimming requirements for 1st and 2nd Class Rank Advancements.  It also will provide you with a certified swim check that all scouts need prior to attending their summer camps.  And if you have a Webelo Scouts, they can earn their Aquanaut Activity Pin.  To register visit Murry City Rec.

Life Saving Merit Badge

Did you know that Murray City Rec offers a Life Saving Merit Badge Class?  The cost is $15.00 and is two weeks long.  When you scout leaves, they have a blue card in hand!  My oldest scout completed this class and it was amazing.  The counselor was awesome and he had alot of fun.  I recommend this class to anyone looking to get an easy required merit badge.  To register visit Murray City Rec.

Swimming Merit Badge

Did you know that Murray City Rec offers a Swimming Merit Badge Class?  The cost is $15.00 and is two weeks long.  When you scout leaves, they have a blue card in hand!  My oldest scout completed this class and it was amazing.  The counselor was awesome and he had alot of fun.  I recommend this class to anyone looking to get an easy required merit badge.  To register visit Murray City Rec.

Frustrated Mom!!!

Today I start this blog to it will hopefully be a great resource to Moms and Scout Leaders in the Great Salt Lake Council.  I am trying to help my boys have a successful journey in Scouting and too often I hear I wish the scouts had better communication.  I wish I knew about more things going on.  So I am doing my best to gather as much information as I can and I will post it all here.  Hopefully this site will help your boy on the road to an Eagle.