Kennebec Valley District volunteer Scout leaders hold merit badge college

Scouts participate in a Genealogy Merit Badge class with Emily Schroeder, an archivist with the Kennebec Historic Society. Shroeder explained to the Scouts the various resources available at the society’s collections to help them find their ancestors. From left are Anthony Fortin of Augusta Troop 603, Ricky Phillips of Winthrop Troop 604, Manny Stevenson of Augusta Troop 603, Devyn Deleomardis of Anson Troop 481, Nicholas Gower of Anson Troop 481, and Schroeder. Submitted photo

AUGUSTA — Taking place at the Augusta First Church of the Nazarene, a merit badge college for the Boy Scouts was held by volunteer Scouting leaders of the Kennebec Valley District of Scouting.

The event was held on two days, spanning across two months. The first half of the Merit Badge College was held Feb. 25, and the second on March 25, according to a news release from Scouts Anthony Fortin of Augusta Troop 603 and Stasha Wells of Winslow Troop 433G.

Julie McKenney, left, of Belgrade and Theresa Poirier of Augusta organized the program with their team of Scouting volunteers. It took several months to plan and recruit the Merit Badge counselors. Submitted photo

Adult Scout leaders volunteered their time into teaching classes and regulating behavior. Julie McKenney of Belgrade, Kennebec Valley District of Scouting Program director, took the lead to get the event running with Theresa Poirier of Augusta.

McKenney gave out multiple ideas for merit badges; the ones that gained the most interest were Art, Aviation, Cooking, Journalism, Personal Fitness, Reading, Weather, Basketry, Law, Genealogy, American Heritage and Scholarship, along with some additional training being offered for adults.

There are 138 Merit Badges available to Scouts. Nearly 50 scouts attended the various classes, with some coming from as far away as Falmouth, Anson and Gorham.

Adult Cub leaders were given the opportunity to take Cub Leader training, led by District Training Chair Walter Fails of Farmington.

This release was one of the requirements for the Scouts’ Journalism Merit Badge that they took during the Merit Badge College, according to Chuck Mahaleris, district chairman for the Kennebec Valley District of Scouting.