Occoneechee Council of BSA Introduces Historic Merit Badge Program

April 19, 2010 - PRLog -- (Raleigh, NC) - The Occoneechee Council has announced that the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is now offering four historic merit badges in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the founding of BSA.  Scouts will have the opportunity to earn merit badges in Signaling, Tracking, Pathfinding, and Carpentry.  The merit badges became available April 1.  Scouts must complete the badge requirements by December 31, 2010.

“It is so great to give Scouts the opportunity to earn such unique and historic badges,” said John Akerman, Scout Executive of the Occoneechee Council.  “Since these merit badges are no longer offered on a regular basis, Scouts will be able to go back to their roots and understand what early Boy Scouts had to go through to earn their badges.  I think it will be a challenging yet rewarding experience.  It will really help Scouts appreciate modern technology that earlier Boy Scouts had to do without.”

Each of the badges features a special gold border in honor of the Centennial year and will count toward a Scout’s rank advancement.  Sample requirements to earn the badges include demonstrating the use of tools and building a simple piece of home furniture.  The BSA has provided additional guides to explain each badge and requirements for more information.    

“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Scouts,” says Akerman.  “Three of these badges were discontinued in the 1950’s. Scouts should take pride in earning these historic badges, since this chance will be gone in December.”
 
The Signaling badge was first offered in 1910 and discontinued in 1992.  The BSA began offering Tracking, Pathfinding and Carpentry in 1911, but they were all discontinued in 1952.  

About The Occoneechee Council, Boy Scouts of America
The Occoneechee Council of the Boy Scouts of America is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina and serves the following North Carolina counties: Chatham, Cumberland, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Lee, Moore, Orange, Vance, Wake, and Warren.  The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. The Boy Scouts of America is the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. For more information on the Occoneechee Council, visit www.ocscouts.org or call 800-662-7102.