Five ways to get involved in National Welding Month

Unless one of their relatives won last week’s Mega Millions jackpot, your Scouts will need a job some day.

Sorry. Just one of life’s little realities.

But here’s the good news: Part of helping Scouts become ”Prepared. For Life.” includes giving young people hands-on experience that could lead to a career.

Each merit badge boys earn gives them a glimpse at what life might be like as a doctor, architect, police officer, etc.

And now, thanks to the Welding merit badge, which debuted in February, Scouts can try this increasingly high-tech skill.

The timing couldn’t be better. As I told you in January, our country could have a critical need for 200,000 new welders by the end of the decade. Plus, April is National Welding Month, making it the perfect time to put Welding merit badge on your troop’s radar.

With that in mind here are…

Five ways to get involved in National Welding Month

  1. Offer Welding merit badge. Find a qualified merit badge counselor, and bring the BSA’s newest merit badge to your troop. Click here for a video about the making of the Welding merit badge, and then click here for the official requirements. To find a qualified instructor, click here to search for a welding school near you.
  2. Enter and win. Encourage Scouts to enter to win a free membership in the American Welding SocietyThe AWS is donating 50 student AWS memberships to Boy Scouts who earn their Welding badge in April. Here’s how to enter:
    1. Print off and complete this application.
    2. Eligible applicants must submit a completed AWS application along with their Welding merit badge blue card signed and dated within April 1-30, 2012.
    3. Send it to merit.badge@scouting.org or fax it to 972-580-2174.
    4. AWS student membership recipients will be randomly selected May 1, 2012.
    5. Student memberships have a $15 value and include these benefits.
  3. Get inspired. Read about Kansas City Scouts who earned the merit badge — click here for that story.
  4. Learn about careers in welding. The median annual salary in the U.S. for a construction welder is $47,000. Lots more information here.
  5. Have fun! Here are 12 fun facts about welding, including my favorite: “The earliest recorded welds occurred in 3,500 B.C., the Bronze-Age. Pictures of welders and their ancient tools have been discovered in long-sealed Egyptian tombs.”

What do you think?

What’s the best way to get Scouts excited about welding and Welding merit badge? Leave your thought below.


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.