West Valley City Spring 2015 Merit Badge Classes

The West Valley City Fire Department is once again hosting Free Merit Badge classes at Station 74, 5545 West 3100 South. Classes will be taught by West Valley City Firefighters.  Seating is limited so register early emailing chad.burnside@wvc-ut.gov.  Classes are from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

February 10, 1015 will be First Aid

March 5 and 24, 2015 will be Emergency Prep.  This is a 2 part class.

April 22, 2015 will be Safety.

May 28, 2015 will be Fire Safety.

Tooele County Merit Badge Pow Wow

The Tooele County Merit Badge Pow Wow is coming up on December 20, 2014.  The cost is $15 per scout and this includes lunch.  The pow wow is from 7:30 am to 5:20 pm at the Tooele Valley View Stake Center located at 332 E 1000 N; Tooele, Utah.  The scouts can earn up to 6 merit badges.  Registration closes on December 12, 2014. 

Pulp and Paper Merit Badge

Recycling Coalition of Utah is once again offering a free merit badge workshop for Pulp and Paper at their annual Utah Recycle's Day Event at South Towne Expo Center on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm.  The boys will have the opportunity to make their own sheet of paper and learn about recycling in Utah.  If you have a cub scout, this is also a great place to pass off the Living in Your World requirements.

IEEE High Tech Merit Badge Pow Wow

The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Utah Section is hosting a High Tech Merit Badge Pow Wow at Salt Lake Community College Saturday, November 1 and 8th, 2014 from 8:00 am to 1:00.  Available Merit Badges include Geocaching, Electricity, Electronics, Engineering, Programming, and Robotics.  Scouts may register for up to 3 merit badges.  The cost is $3 per class, except Robotics which is $5.  The cost includes drinks, snacks, and the kit for the class.  To register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ieee-utah-high-tech-merit-badge-bsa-program-nov-1st-and-8th-tickets-13665912111

More Free Merit Badges from West Valley City

The West Valley City Fire Department is excited to announce Free Merit Badge classes at Station 74, 5545 West 3100 South. Classes will be taught by West Valley City Firefighters.  Seating is limited so register early emailing chad.burnside@wvc-ut.gov.  Classes are from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Fire Safety will be taught on October 30.

First Aid will be taught on November 18.

Safety will be taught on November 12.

2014 Fall BYU Merit Badge Pow Wow

Wednesday, September 10 at 9:00 am Scouts registered in the National Parks Council will be able to register for the BYU Spring PowWow.  Registration for all other Scouts opens on Thursday, September 11 at 8:00 am.  

The Pow Wow will be held on October 25 and November 8, 2014.  Scouts must attend both days.

To register, please visit BYU PowWow Registration.

The following Merit Badges will be available: Animal Science, Archaeology, Architecture, Art, Astronomy, Chemistry, Chess, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Crime Prevention, Digital Technology, Disabilities Awareness, Emergency Preparedness, Energy & Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Science, First Aid, Geocaching, Geology, Landscape Architecture, Law, Mammal Study, Mining in Society, Movie-Making, Music, Nature, Oceanography, Scouting Heritage, Sports, Stamp Collecting, Traffic Safety, and Weather.


From this list, the only one we have personally attended at BYU is Geocahing.  The boys really like it and even went in search of a few caches on the campus.  I highly recommend this course.  

Merit Badge Blast

Great Salt Lake Council and Camp Tracey are excited to be hosting a Merit Badge Blast weekend.  The dates are August 15 & 16, 2014 or August 29 & 30, 2014.  The boys will have the opportunity to attend 3 merit badge classes.  The cost is $30 per scout and $10 per leader and it includes 2 meals on Saturday.  If you need some Eagle required badges this would be a good time to do them.

The following classes will be offered on August 15 &16, 2014: Swimming, Citizenship In the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, First Aid, Environmental Science, Emergency Preparedness, Canoeing, Rifle, Archery, and Metal Work.

August 29 & 30, 2014 the following classes will be offered: Life Saving, Citizenship In the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, First Aid, Environmental Science, Emergency Preparedness, Rowing, Rifle, Archery, and Space Exploration.

For registration, please visit http://www.gslc-bsa.org/OpenRosters/ViewActivitySpaceAvailable.aspx?classificationID=31781&orgkey=157

Aviation Merit Badge at CAF in Heber City

The Utah Commemorative Air Force Museum offers a Boy Scouts Merit Badge class on aviation. These classes are taught by aviators in the museum which gives the boys a more hands-on presentation of the Boy Scout material. The charge is only $20 per boy which will include a handout of the material. Some troops have camped out next to the hanger on the airport grounds and we allow them access to the museum for the bathrooms at night. The program is approved by the Boy Scouts.  For more information or to register, please visit http://www.cafutahwing.org/boy-scouts.html

Salt Lake County Auditor Cancels Remaining Citizenship Classes

Salt Lake County Auditor, Gregory P. Hawkins, has announced all remaining Citizenship classes have been canceled.  Mr. Hawkins recently lost his bid at reelection at the GOP convention.  This is unfortunate news to the scouting community.  I want to personally thank Greg Hawkins and his team for providing this service to our scouts and for helping 2 of my sons earn all 3 Citizenship Merit Badges.

Free Coin Collecting Merit Badge

Rust Coin has put together a program to help Scouts earn the Coin Collecting Merit Badge.  First, they will send you a packet in the mail.  Then, as a troop, you will review the resources in preparation for your visit to our shop.  Once there, you will complete the hands-on portion of the merit badge.  You will complete the remaining requirements, look at some examples of early pioneer money issued in Salt Lake City in the 1800’s, learn what clues to look for to tell if a coin is genuine or counterfeit and finish by looking through some old coins to help fill their coin folders.  There is no cost to your troop to participate in this activity.  They will supply coin folders and a handful of coins to get them started.  Rust Coin Scout Nights are held on the first and third Wednesday evenings of the month and are by appointment only.  Your troop should arrive promptly at 5:15pm and the activity will last about an hour depending on the number of boys in your troop. Call Rust Coin at 801-363-4014 to set up your appointment!  NOTE: Appointments are by troop only. 

 

More Freebies Brought to You By Microsoft at City Creek

I wanted to test out this Free Merit Badge Class before I sent it out to my faithful readers.  And I am so glad I did!  This is a perfect setting for some of the new technology merit badges.  The Microsoft store at City Creek now offers FREE merit badge classes.  The current list of free classes includes Computers, Digital Technology, Movie Making, and Photography.  They do a great job of engaging the boys and giving them the opportunity for some hands on experience. 

If you would like to schedule any of these classes, please call the store directly at 801-869-9770.  I would recommend a group of 6-10 boys.  We had 14 and it was a large group for the setting but still manageable.

Here are a couple of things to remember, the Computer Merit Badge is being replaced and will no longer be available after 2014.  Also, ask about some of the other technology based badges.  When I spoke with them they were developing classes for Animation, Multi-Media, and Advanced Computing.  All of which are new Merit Badges being released sometime this year.

Also, leave yourself some time to let the boys wander the store after the class.  Each of the boys got an opportunity to play on the new Xbox One while we were there, try out some of the new laptops, and they even got a demo of a 3D printer.  It was all very neat.  I would recommend these classes to anyone.

West Valley Fire Department to Offer Free First Aid and Fire Safety Merit Badge Classes

 

 

Who doesn't love FREE Merit Badge Classes?  The West Valley City Fire Department is excited to announce Free Merit Badge classes at Station 74, 5545 West 3100 South. Classes will be taught by West Valley City Firefighters.  Seating is limited so register early by calling 801-963-3336, option 3 or in person by visiting the Fire Prevention Office in room 60 at West Valley City Hall.  Classes are from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

 

Fire Safety will be taught on February 26, March 11, April 15, and May 2, 2014.

 

First Aid will be taught on February 20, March 4, April 9, and May 21, 2014.

 

 

Space Camp Merit Badges

The Space EdVenture Camps of Utah is now offering evening classes at the Renaissance Academy in Lehi.  These 4 week classes cover a lot of fun information including but not limited to 4 different merit badges.  The Aviation Merit Badge will begin on February 19, 2014 and the Space Exploration Merit Badge Class will begin on April 17, 2014.  Look for future classes for the Astronomy and Nuclear Science Merit Badges.  To register click here and click on Print Class Registration.

Salt Lake County Auditor Announces Citizenship Classes for 2014

Salt Lake County Auditor, Gregory P. Hawkins, has announced the dates for the Spring of 2014 Citizenship classes.  The classes will be held on January 29, February 26, March 26, April 30, and May 28, 2014 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.

2014 Merit Badge Classes at Hogle Zoo

Hogle Zoo has released it's 2014 schedule of Merit Badge Classes.  As a reminder classes are $15.00 per scout and leaders are free.  Private classes can also be scheduled when you have a group of 10 or more scouts.  For a complete list of classes, schedules, and registration visit Hogle Zoo.

BYU 2014 Spring Pow Wow Registration Opens this Week

This Wednesday, January 22 at 9:00 am Scouts registered in the National Parks Council will be able to register for the BYU Spring PowWow.  Registration for all other Scouts opens on Thursday, January 23 at 8:00 am. 

To register, please visit BYU PowWow Registration.

The following Merit Badges will be available: American Heritage, American Labor, Animal Science, Astronomy, Chess, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Coin Collecting, Communications, Crime Prevention, Disabilities Awareness, Energy & Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Science, First Aid, Geocaching, Geology, Journalism, Mammal Study, Movie-Making, Music, Nature, Oceanography, Photography, Pulp & Paper, Radio, Space Exploration, Traffic Safety, and Weather.

In the fall, my boys did Space Exploration and Pulp & Paper.  If your boys need either of these merit badges, I highly recommend both of them.  They are fabulous and the boys especially enjoyed making and shooting the rockets.