#delco #mediapa #boyscouts
Williamson
Trade School, Boy Scouts Team Up for Career and Skill Opportunities
Media, Pa. – The Cradle of Liberty
Council of the Boy Scouts of America held their inaugural Merit Badge College
at Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades in Media, this past Saturday.
The day-long event offered 280 Scouts the opportunity to begin work on four
merit badges. Many will complete their badges on the second day of the event on
March 15. The Scouts chose from 42 merit badges, many related to STEM topics,
including computers, robotics, engineering, and chess. The Scouts came from
Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties.
The badges were taught by Scouting
volunteers, each of whom had a background in their topic. One of these counselors was John Rex (7W5),
of Drexel Hill, who studied Power Plant Technology at Williamson, instructed
the Energy Merit Badge for the Scouts.
“Williamson is a great organization, and I think it’s only right for me
to pass on the knowledge to these Scouts that I learned here,” Rex said.
(picture)
Steve Kelly, Williamson Trustee and
Cradle of Liberty Council Board Vice President, brought the event to
Williamson. He said the plans had been underway for a while, and when it came
time to select a location Williamson was a good choice and a natural fit, he
said.
Williamson President Michael Rounds was on hand to tell the Scouts about
Williamson’s mission and to interact with participants. Also on hand were Matt
Sharkus 1W5 and Phil Vecchiolli 1W6, both Eagle Scouts, who escorted Scouts to
their classrooms and helped out wherever needed. (picture)
About Williamson:
The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades is one of the last of its kind
in the nation, a private, post secondary, residential institution of higher
education that charges no tuition, room or board. It offers specialized
technology degree programs with emphasis on carpentry, masonry, horticulture,
landscaping and turf management, machine tool, paint and coatings, and power
plant. There are two diploma programs in carpentry and masonry, as well. The
school has a national reputation for producing sought-after craftsmen. For more
information on the school, visit www.williamson.edu
About COLBSA:
The Cradle of Liberty Council Boy Scouts of America (COLBSA) serves
Philadelphia, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties, providing programs for nearly
17,000 youth in over 500 units. In the City of Philadelphia, the Council serves
nearly 5,000 youth through its traditional and outreach programs. Additionally,
through the Exploring program, young men and women are provided with
internships and exposed to work based opportunities to help them better prepare
for college and become a successful member of the work force. For more
information visit: www.colbsa.org or
to join scouting programs in your area visit www.beascout.org.
About the Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Program:
The Boy Scouts of America offer more than 130 different merit badges for Scouts
to complete, including 35 on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
related topics. There is more to merit
badges than an introduction to lifetime
hobbies, or the inspiration to pursue a career—though these invaluable results
occur regularly. The process provides several learning experiences. It gives a
Scout the confidence achieved through overcoming obstacles. Social skills
improve. Self-reliance develops. Examples are set and followed. And fields of
study and interest are explored beyond the limits of the school classroom.
Photo Captions:
MB College 1: Pictured in front of the Main
Building are (from left to right): President Michael Rounds, Eagle Scouts and
Williamson students Phil Vecchiolli and Matt Sharkus, Steve Kelly, and Steve
Perrone, event chairman.
MB College 2: Pictured outside the Strine
Learning Center, Scouts working on Space Exploration Merit Badge work on models
used to complete badge requirements
MB College 3: Williamson Alum and Merit
Badge Counselor John Rex passes on his knowledge to Scouts in the Energy Merit
Badge class.
