MANCHESTER — More than 70 Boy Scouts from Kennebec, Somerset and Franklin Counties took part in a two-day Merit Badge College that wrapped up on Nov. 5 in Manchester. Volunteer leaders served as instructors for the 23 Merit Badges that were offered during the program.

“Merit Badge Colleges are designed for the Scout who wants to be involved with their community, learn a new skill and prepare for their future,” said Randy Hooper of Winthrop, who organized the event.

Karla Talpey of Jackman got up at three in the morning to be a part of the program. “The Scouts give me a lot of energy,” she said. “But I am going to be tired tonight.”

Thor and Nicole Swenson of Vassalboro both taught badges during the event. Nicole taught bird study and Thor instructed wilderness survival.

“The scouts loved the chicken I brought in,” Nicole said. “It’s hands-on learning and Molly enjoyed the attention.”

Thor praised the scouts who took part in his course. “Three scouts stayed overnight in shelters they had built from tree branches and other natural materials,” he said. “The temperature dropped under 30 degrees last night but the boys were prepared for the weather and had a great time.”

“There were 22 counselors scheduled throughout the day and about 76 Scouts who worked on some of these badges,” Hooper said.

Jordan Smith from Phillips is 12 years old and Joshua Mcbean from Strong is 15. They are both members of Troop 500 in Strong and both earned disabilities awareness merit badges.

“I learned some sign language,” Smith said. “I can ask for a soda pop so someone who is deaf would know what I was saying. It’s important to be able to understand people who have disabilities and what they have to deal with in life.”

Mcbean said, “I liked how we learned that people who have disabilities still do everything we do but just in different ways.”

The badges included bird study, citizenship in the world, communications, environmental science, family life, nature, pets, radio, reading and soil and water conservation. Another college will be offered next fall.

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