Florida Tech’s Merit Badge University Seeks Volunteers to Help Scouts Earn Merit Badges

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Every year, Florida Institute of Technology’s Alpha Phi Omega (APO), with Boy Scouts of America and Florida Tech faculty and students, organizes the Merit Badge University (MBU) event, which gives scouts the opportunity to learn about and earn merit badges in a university setting. This year, APO is looking for volunteers to help teach merit badge courses in various academic-based topics. The event is on Feb. 12.

Just like college, MBU offers courses, such as computers, engineering, first aid, photography and weather. All materials necessary will be provided to the scouts and volunteer counselors. Class registration is on a first come, first served basis and class size is at the counselor’s discretion.

Last year, approximately 600 scouts obtained a merit badge through MBU in a single day, combining the resources made available through Florida Tech and generous volunteers. Participants must be registered Boy Scouts to attend. Boy Scouts may work on merit badges from the time they join a troop until they turn 18 years of age; there is no time limit for completion of merit badges.

The full-day event will be held on campus. Check-in is from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. in the Olin Engineering Building, but the event’s headquarters will be in the Skurla Aeronautics Building lobby throughout the day.

Because space is limited, participants should register early; walk-ins are also welcome, space permitting.

To register for the event and sign-up for classes, visit http://activities.fit.edu/apo/MBU/reg.php. Anyone interested in becoming a counselor for a specific merit badge course may contact Chris Arnold, MBU 2011 chair, at carnold2008@my.fit.edu. For more information, visit http://activities.fit.edu/apo/MBU/volunteer.php.