September 2025 – Merit Badge Day

Written by Jordan Ruggles (Star Scout; Webmaster)

Starting at 9:30 AM, March 30, 2025, Scouts met at the Cabane de Bucherons, an outdoor open-air stone and wood cabin located in the woods of Versoix, for a merit badge day. The purpose of such a day is to give Scouts the opportunity to learn the skills and knowledge required to earn merit badges. These badges represent skill sets Scouts may need for advancement or want to learn out of personal interest. This merit badge day, Scouts were given the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities, such as bug finding and wood carving, led by experienced and knowledgeable Scout Leaders.

Scouts Learning First Aid

The day was divided into three rotations, allowing Scouts to work on three of the nine available merit badges. The first rotation, from 9:30 to 11:00, offered the Insect Study, First Aid, or the tail end of the Automotive Maintenance merit badge. Scouts in Insect Study learned insect anatomy and participated in hands-on excursions into the woods to locate, capture, diagram, then release specimens. On the other hand, first aid MB participants learned how to diagnose, treat, and prevent injuries and ailments while building kits containing the medical equipment required for their immediate treatment. Scouts finishing their automotive maintenance merit badge learned the remaining techniques for the care and repair of automotive vehicles.

Scouts Operating a Car Jack

Scouts Examining Insect Specimens

But it wasn’t all just work; after the first rotation Scouts had thirty minutes to play games with another, both as a brain break and as a way to stave off the cold.

Scouts Hanging Out During Break

The second rotation (11:30 to 01:00), following the 30-minute game break, had Scouts doing the personal fitness, pet care or the signs, signals, and codes merit badges. Scouts doing the personal fitness merit badge learned about levels of exercise, body care, and created a fitness plan. The pet care merit badge had scouts learning about the different types and classifications of pets, and the techniques needed to maintain their health and happiness. Finally, scouts doing the signs, signals, and codes merit badge learned of the different types of communication through various mediums, including flags, morse code, and encrypted cyphers.

Scouts Learning Hand Signals

The last rotation, lasing from 1330 to 1500 included environmental science, disability awareness, and wood carving. The environmental science taught scouts about the how technology and modern society affect the environment, and how it’s application can contribute to sustainability. Scouts doing the disability awareness learned about the proper etiquette and techniques for working with and assisting disabled individuals. Finally, scouts doing the wood carving merit badge learned how to care for and use tools to carve wood.

Scouts Learning How to Use Wood Carving Tools