Nuclear Science Merit Badge - registration opens 2/7/25 at 6pm
Announcing new dates for the Nuclear Science Workshop on 4/15, 6/12, and 7/24.
Please feel free to forward this email to other scouts/units. This year these opportunities are open to both Scouts BSA and the Girl Scouts.
As you may be already aware, slots are in very high demand and units have previously traveled from as far south as Bakersfield, and north from Mt Shasta, just for this one day event. To be fair to all scouts wishing to participate, the slots for the workshops will be released on Friday 2/7/25 at 6pm Pacific Time. If you signed up for the 2025 waitlist previously advertised, the purpose of that waitlist was to gather email addresses for this announcement. You will need to signup again.
Why is this workshop so in demand? It's commonly called a "unicorn" Merit Badge, since one of the optional requirements includes visiting a nuclear reactor. Unfortunately there aren't many left in operational state in California. To date we have had 300+ scouts attend this workshop. The future looks very bright, with scouts very interested in possible STEM careers and solving the hard problems of energy security and independence.
Why is this workshop so in demand? It's commonly called a "unicorn" Merit Badge, since one of the optional requirements includes visiting a nuclear reactor. Unfortunately there aren't many left in operational state in California. To date we have had 300+ scouts attend this workshop. The future looks very bright, with scouts very interested in possible STEM careers and solving the hard problems of energy security and independence.
This workshop is for scouts age 11+, because the content is geared towards a 6th-9th grade curriculum. Younger scouts please don't worry, because future dates will be announced next year. Topics covered in this workshop are atomic theory and structure, periodic table of elements, types of radiation, radiation hazards, radiation applications, and nuclear power. Scouts will need to pass a 6 question verbal test after the workshop (individually) in order to finish the Merit Badge. It has become somewhat common for some of the younger scouts to do the verbal test a few times in order to review their notes before passing.
Scouts 11-12 will require 1:1 adult supervision for the workshop because there are some hazards during the tour in the afternoon, which include steep ledges and drop-offs with chain hand rails. Scouts 13+ are ok to attend with 2-deep YPT/AB506 unit leadership present, but we ask if you have more than 5 scouts in your unit attending to include extra parents to help.
PLEASE - only signup for 1 day please - all requirements will be covered in each session.
PLEASE - do not reserve slots for your entire unit or friends. This is a first-come-first-served signup (A Scout is Courteous & Honest!)
After completing the workshop don't forget to contact your MB counselor for the verbal test (which can be done via phone, zoom, or in-person)! If you are in need of finding a MB counselor please reach out and I can point you to a possible counselor.
After completing the workshop don't forget to contact your MB counselor for the verbal test (which can be done via phone, zoom, or in-person)! If you are in need of finding a MB counselor please reach out and I can point you to a possible counselor.
/r
Mike Thorpe
Assistant Scoutmaster for Troops 29 & 219 (Rocklin, CA)
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