Boy Scouts from across Kansas had opportunities to earn 24 different merit badges, particularly ones related to science and technology, Saturday during a special event in Hutchinson.
Hutchinson Community College and the Cosmosphere presented the Quivira Boy Scouts Council Merit Badge College, and the event attracted about 420 scouts, said Tracey Tomme, vice president of education at the Cosmosphere.
She said it was the first time for the event to be in Hutchinson, after moving from Wichita Area Technical College. The Merit Badge College has been an annual event for about 14 years, scout leader Jan Quincy said.
Tricia Paramore, HCC science and math department chairwoman, said HCC faculty shared a lot of their expertise to help with the event. Twenty faculty members taught merit badge classes for the event.
“When I started going through the list (of merit badges Boy Scouts of America offers), ‘Oh, we could do that one and that one and that one,’ “Paramore recalled thinking.
The day began with an opening ceremony at 7 a.m. in the Hutchinson Sports Arena before splitting into classes. Scouts could take one merit badge class in the morning and one in the afternoon. Many of the badges had requirements that needed to be completed in advance, Tomme said.
Paramore said she would tlike to make the event even bigger in 2018, with classes in bigger rooms and expanded offerings.
Tomme added that sponsorship from Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System helped make the event possible.
For the full Hutchinson News article and pictures, go here.
