Scouting Around on Merit Badge Day

Matthew Lew (left) works with tools during the electronics workshop at Merit Badge Day, an annual event sponsored by the College of Engineering.

Robert Williams (left) learns the fine art of surveying from Cal Poly Pomona associate professor Francelina Neto on Saturday, Feb. 2.

When it comes to Boy Scouts earning merit badges, most people think of traditional outdoor-related activities such as camping or hiking and more practical activities such as training in first aid and knot tying. On Saturday, Feb. 2, more than 300 Boy Scouts gathered at the College of Engineering's 12th annual Merit Badge Day, determined to achieve badge-worthiness in fields such as atomic energy, oceanography, soil and water conservation, electricity and, of course, engineering.

"Merit Badge Day is one of the best community outreach activities we do in the College of Engineering. The scouts and their parents enjoy the day and appreciate what we have to offer here, and the faculty, staff and students who help find the experience to be very invigorating," said Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering professor Phil Rosenkrantz, who is also a scout leader. "I know of four young men from my troop alone who are currently engineering students at Cal Poly Pomona. Merit Badge Day is partly responsible for kindling their interest in both engineering and the university."

For the visiting scouts, the day offered an opportunity to experience campus life, including personal instruction by professors and hands-on work in university laboratories and classrooms. The program is so popular that troops must reserve space months in advance, and the final selection is done by lottery.

While the computer, drafting, electricity and electronics workshops did not require pre-event preparation by participants, others did. For example, in order to participate in the oceanography seminar, Scouts were required to fulfill one requirement for both sections of the course. Participants might bring in a plankton net, labeled sketches, and a report detailing a visit to an oceanographic research ship. For the reptile study class, Scouts were asked to bring detailed photos or sketches, a species list, and a pre-written 3-minute talk on reptiles using photos or sketches as illustrations.

"These are technical merit badges that Scouts otherwise couldn't get on their own," said troop leader Greg Rosalia, who also commented on the unique opportunities offered to Scouts by Cal Poly Pomona.