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MANCHESTER — The 2018 Merit Badge College is a place where Scouts can earn badges for no cost. Scouts paid only for lunch and the patch, if they wanted it.
It is held in two sessions, March 17 and April 21, at Hope Baptist Church. More than two dozen volunteers helped run the program this year.
Julie McKenney, of Belgrade, helped with patch sales, registration and support efforts of the Merit Badge College. She had also run this year’s district-wide Pine Wood Derby race and will be the program director this summer at Camp Bomazeen, the Scout camp in Belgrade.
“I was volunteered to help out,” McKenney said with a grin. She has been volunteering in Scouting since her son first joined.
“I enjoy it, but this will be my last Merit Badge College,” she said, explaining that her sons are now out of Scouting.
Joe Poulin, of Oakland, is the Kennebec Valley District Training chairman. “My favorite part is getting Scouts to learn new programs,” he said.
Karla Talpey had one of the longest trips to the Merit Badge College. She brought Scouts from Jackman to take part.
“I like teaching a class,” she said. She taught Family Life and Disability Awareness Merit Badges and was one of the chief organizers of the annual event. She reports directly to Randy Hooper of Winthrop, who has chaired the program for several years. “I enjoy seeing the knowledge the boys gain in Scouting,” she said.
Most of the 20 badges offered at the Merit Badge College are required for Eagle Scout rank — the highest award a Scout can earn.
Eugene Lindsey of Winthrop was at the college selling pizza to help raise money for his Eagle Scout project. Once he has raised enough money, he will buy the materials he needs to complete his Eagle Scout service project to benefit the community.
Nash Corson of Albion Troop 446 was interviewed by his friend Logan Spratt. Corson hopes to become an Eagle Scout someday, and the college will help him move closer to that goal.
“It’s good motivation to not be a couch potato and be more active,” he said.
This article was written by Boy Scouts in the Journalism Merit Badge class, including Nathaniel Batson and Luke Douglas of Fairfield Troop 460; Nash Corson, Brad Lennon and Matix Ward of Albion Troop 446; Alex Hart of West Gardiner Troop 613; Kodi Quimby of Anson Troop 481; Chris Somerset and Tommy Sylvester of Jackman Troop 497; and Logan Spratt of Orland Troop 102. Writing the article is one requirement to earn the merit badge.
TOP PHOTO: Scouts Brad Lennon and Matix Ward interview Julie McKenney, one of more than two dozen volunteers who gave up two Saturdays to help 90 Scouts from all over Maine earn merit badges at the Merit Badge College. (Submitted photo)
