For Eagle Scout Max Plessinger, learning skilled trades within Scouting opened doors to a fulfilling, profitable career. His merit badge sash displays the Automotive Maintenance, Farm Mechanics, Plumbing and Welding badges.
The 21-year-old now works as a diesel mechanic, doesn’t have any school debt and is saving to buy a house next year.
It’s a path many Scouts can explore at the Dever Family Foundation Skilled Trades Education Center that the Dan Beard Council is building at Camp Friedlander in Loveland, Ohio. The 10,000-square-foot facility will have six bays, each devoted to teaching a different trade, including carpentry, welding, robotics and home repairs. It’ll also have an automotive bay complete with a car lift.
If a place like this had been readily available when Plessinger was a Scout, he believes more young people his age might’ve chosen a career like he did.
“I think a lot more kids might be into the trades,” Plessinger told WCPO, an ABC affiliate television station in Cincinnati.
Building for the future
The skilled trades sector in the U.S. is facing a shortage soon as more workers plan to retire, with a lack of qualified workers poised to replace them. Scouting America, through its merit badges and career-based programs like Exploring, prepares young people for their next step in life.
Providing state-of-the-art facilities gives a place for Scouts to learn.
“We are thrilled to break ground on a facility that will empower young people with practical skills and real-world experience,” said Andy Zahn, Scout executive and CEO of the Dan Beard Council.
Construction on the skilled trades education center is slated to be complete this November, with programs being offered soon after. And Scouts won’t just be using it during summer camp. The council plans to keep the center open year-round, hosting skilled trades days and merit badge days. It’ll also be available for the community to use.
Skilled trades resources
For more resources on teaching your Scouts skilled trades, check out Scouting America’s merit badge hub, which offers free PDFs of all the merit badge pamphlets as well as links to related products available at the Scout Shop.
You can also peruse Exploring’s skilled trades page that features suggested activities related to skilled trades.
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