Hundreds of Boy Scouts attend Merit Badge University

IOWA CITY - Class was in session Saturday on the University of Iowa campus for hundreds of Boy Scouts from troops across the eastern part of the state.

More than 450, in fact, attended Merit Badge University, a one-day program that allows scouts to earn multiple merit badges. The Omicron chapter of the national service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega at UI hosted the event. The chapter has hosted Merit Badge University for 34 years, said Trent Hancock, scouting adviser for Alpha Phi Omega.

As a Boy Scout works toward Eagle Scout status - the highest rank achievable in the Boy Scouting program - participants must earn 21 merit badges, 13 of which are mandated by the organization. On Saturday, scouts had the opportunity to complete classes focused on the required badges, like those for emergency preparedness or environmental science. Classes also were offered on a variety of other topics, like art and aviation.

'There are some required, and there are some they can chose that are interesting to them,” explained Janet Hosking, 46, of Solon. Hosking's 11-year-old son Jack is a member of Troop 8 in Cedar Rapids. He chose to take a music class to compliment his role as a saxophone player in his school's band.

'The merit badge program gives the boys a big variety of things to learn about, see and do,” said Kevin Kurka, of North Liberty, Scout Master for Troop 216. 'It exposes them to a lot of different subjects.”

Kurka said the classes offer the Boy Scouts insight to a possible career path, as well as valuable life skills.

'One of the merit badges that's offered here is personal management, which has a lot to do with time and money management,” Kurka said. 'The boys learn how to take care of their finances, and learn what it takes to stay on their schedules, keep their time organized and their money organized. I think it's an important skill for these guys to learn at a young age, because a lot of people, even as adults, haven't mastered that.”

While about half the classes were taught by Alpha Phi Omega volunteers, some were hosted by professionals from around the community.

Two officers from the Iowa City Police Department taught two, half-day classes on fingerprinting, where participants were offered a look at the process of investigating crimes and were given a tour of Iowa City's crime scene van at the conclusion of the class.

Iowa City Police Officer Jeremy Bossard, a former Boy Scout who taught the fingerprinting class, said he hoped to spark an interest in law enforcement for the participants.

'Having been in scouting, it was easy for me to look back and remember this police officer that gave the tour of my hometown police department,” Bossard said. 'I'll never forget that. If it's a path they choose, they won't probably forget this.”

LiLi Knudsen, vice president of scouting and youth services for Alpha Phi Omega and a University of Iowa student, said Merit Badge University takes about a semester to plan. The event takes place the first Saturday of March every year. The Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Omega also hosts a similar event called Girl Scouts University in the fall.

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