ENID ARC Assists Scouts with Merit Badge

The Enid Amateur Radio Club made preparations to help the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) achieve one of the Merit Badges that are available to them. (New Photos 10/20) A class was held October 17th to provide assistance to scouts who were interested in gaining their Radio Merit Badge.

Acording to the Boy Scout Trail website, the "Boy Scout merit badges give scouts the opportunity to investigate around 120 different areas of knowledge and skills. The merit badge program plays a major role in the scouting advancement program and participation can begin as soon as a scout registers with a troop. Each scout can explore topics from American Business to Woodworking as he has interest. The only limitations are his ambition and availability of adult merit badge counselors to offer instruction". It was with the statement of "availability of adult merit badge counselors" that members of the EARC decided to investigate what they could do.

The ARRL website says the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has updated the requirements needed to earn the Radio merit badge. The new requirements became effective with the publication of Boy Scout Requirements 2009. While no new content has been added to the program, the new merit badge pamphlet features lots of new information -- including color pictures and updated charts and text -- that reflects the changes in the Amateur Radio Service since the last pamphlet update in 2002. Approximately 4000 Radio merit badges are earned each year.

Dave Locke/KC5SII led a group on this project including Bill Keck/K5ECI, David Von Dielingen/AD8B, Sam Cotter/KD5EUS, Tim McAnally/KD5KTB & Ron Clinton/WD5HUT, Bryan/KF5BYO, Christina/KF5CJZ & Emily Bishop and Parker Stambaugh/KE5RXR and his parents, John and Mary/KE5RXQ.
Thanks to Christina Bishop, Dave Locke, Bill Keck and Tim McAnally for providing these photos.