Boy Scouts can earn historical merit badges

Local Boy Scouts will have an opportunity to experience a piece of scouting’s past at the Greater Western Reserve Council’s Historical Merit Badge Saturday Nov. 6 at Camp Stambaugh, 3712 Leffingwell Road in Canfield.

At the event, Scouts can complete work on four historical merit badges that were reintroduced in celebration of the Boy Scouts of America’s centennial year before the Dec. 31 deadline.

The merit badges available include Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signaling and Tracking, which were all released between 1910 and 1911. Carpentry, Pathfinding and Tracking were discontinued in 1952 and Signaling in 1992.

In addition to completing the same requirements as Scouts did a century ago, today’s Scouts will learn what their counterpart in 1910 might have experienced. They will learn why Morse code might have been important during a period when most homes had no TV, radio, computer, telephone or electricity.

Pathfinding and Tracking will be held from 8 a.m. to noon and Signaling and Carpentry will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“All Boy Scouts have been invited to join us at the Historical Merit Badge Saturday,” said Gary Erlinger, Scout executive of the Greater Western Reserve Council. “This is a fun way for our youth members to experience firsthand the great heritage of the Boy Scouts of America.”

For information, visit www.scouting.org/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges.aspx.