Author Topic: Boy Scout Merit Badge for Honey Bees!!!! HELP!!! (Read 50975 times)

weBEE Jammin · « **on:** February 14, 2010, 01:20:19 pm »

We need the help from all bee keepers to get the Honey Bee Merit Badge reinstated, to keep our young interested and educated. Not only will they learn, but it may keep them away from crime and out of prisons. Please help by going to these sights and signing the petition and maybe writing your own letter to help them out. Thank you all you fellow beekers.

http://www.helpthehoneybees.com/#buzzlove

http://www.experienceproject.com/beepetition

iddee · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2010, 02:11:25 pm »

ziffabeek · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2010, 03:29:44 pm »

Me too!

Two Bees · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2010, 03:46:28 pm »

Will do!

I researched this a couple of years ago to find out why the beekeeping merit badge was no longer offered, thinking it was probably due to the legal aspects of a kid having a bad reaction to a bee sting. Much to my surprise, the reason it was dropped by the Scouts was due to lack of interest! In the last year of being offered, I believe the article said that only 60 badges were earned. The article also mentioned that the requirements were extremely difficult. So, it was dropped due to lack of interest?

David LaFerney · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2010, 03:56:22 pm »

If you sign this (I did) you should also be willing to act as a merit badge counselor as well if you are ever asked. Better yet, contact a scout master and volunteer.

HAB · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2010, 04:35:53 pm »

I signed.
Think its great idea. Don't understand how they ever dropped it in the first place. :bee: :bee: :bee:

weBEE Jammin · « **Reply #6 on:** February 14, 2010, 04:36:44 pm »

It is a great feeling to teach or mentor a young person, or even talk about the honey bees to a whole classroom!! This is a great time to bring back this merit badge, with all the talk of CCD and all the other problems our world is experiencing now. I have foung many young people very interested in raising honey bees recently. Thank everyone again for all the support you can give.

hardwood · « **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2010, 07:09:45 pm »

I love the Idea of a beekeeping badge, I wish it was available when my son was going through scouts. I signed the petition and will contact our local scout chapter to see if I can help.

Scott

homer · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2010, 07:35:26 pm »

I just told the "powers-that-be" in my area that I'd love to be the counselor if the badge makes a return!

Sure seems like a worthwhile cause to me!

Jim134 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2010, 08:00:51 pm »

Done

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

Two Bees · « **Reply #10 on:** February 15, 2010, 08:44:53 am »

I earned the Beekeeping badge as a Scout when I was twelve years old. That experience is what got me into beekeeping 43 years later!

weBEE Jammin · « **Reply #11 on:** February 15, 2010, 08:52:55 pm »

I was a boy scout in Africa 43 yrs ago also!!! It would be great to have people from all over the world sign the petition!

Sparky · « **Reply #12 on:** February 15, 2010, 09:57:55 pm »

Now that is one petition that you do not mind passing around. Like HAB mentioned ( Don't understand why they ever dropped it. ) The only reason I can think of is because of the liability issues from the way people are today.

Soilcon · « **Reply #13 on:** February 15, 2010, 10:09:26 pm »

Quote from: Sparky on February 15, 2010, 09:57:55 pm

Now that is one petition that you do not mind passing around. Like HAB mentioned ( Don't understand why they ever dropped it. ) The only reason I can think of is because of the liability issues from the way people are today.

I don't think it was the liability. Scouts do alot of things that could be considered more dangerous than beekeeping. As a Scout leader and relatively new beekeeper I asked about the discontinuation of the Beekeeping merit badge. As I remember it there were only a few boys asking to earn it and hard to find qualified merit badge counselors. I'd love to see the badge be reinstated and serve as a counselor for it.

kedgel · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2010, 11:27:28 pm »

I was a Beekeeping merit badge counselor. I was involved with the scouting program for YEARS. All 3 of my sons earned their Eagle Scout award and none of them were interested in beekeeping merit badge because it was WAY to hard and involved. I never had anyone express interest in it. You basically had to know it all and do it all. It was a monumental task to earn it--far exceeding the requirements for many eagle-required badges. No wonder it is being shelved. I wouldn't recommend they re-instate it without revamping the requirements. Heck, I wouldn't have wanted to try it when I was a scout. It was just way too much work. Re-instating the merit badge without overhauling the requirements is just straightening deck chairs on the Titanic. What's the point of having a merit badge that nobody wants to try to get? The purpose of merit badges is to give valuable life skills and knowledge and to inspire interest in fields that may grow into a vocation or a fulfilling avocation. I still use the many of the skills I learned as a scout. If, for example, the canoeing merit badge required I portage my canoe to 3 separate mountain lakes and camp for 3 weeks, I wouldn't have pursued it. Thankfully, it only took a week at camp and the skills I gained while earning it continue to bless my life. Earning beekeeping takes all summer. You have to do it all, up and including (if memory serves) extracting honey and marketing it. I'm sure that if the requirements were more reasonable, it could be made to inspire another generation of beeks.

Kelly

dennis a · « **Reply #15 on:** February 16, 2010, 09:47:53 am »

Two Bees · « **Reply #16 on:** February 16, 2010, 10:45:35 am »

The requirements when I earned the Badge was not like Kedgel described. I have read that the requirements were tremendous and that was why the badge was dropped due to low interest by scouts. The requirements in 1965 were similar to the Journeyman level of the Master Beekeeping certification if my memory serves me. We had a 2-3 discussions at our Scout meetings discussing the various aspects of bees and beekeeping with a commercial beek. Then, we spent a day at his beeyard putting together hive bodies, frames, foundation, etc. and manipulating a hive. Everybody got stung, of course! And then, a short oral exam. That pretty much covered the requirements then.

Two Bees · « **Reply #17 on:** February 16, 2010, 02:48:25 pm »

The Beekeeping Merit Badge should be made available to the GIRL Scouts as well. Probably, 50% of the attendees at my local county association are female. My wife was in the Girl Scouts and she has made the point that they didn't have the cool badges like the boy scouts!

rick42_98 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2010, 11:06:52 am »

Done and Done.

kedgel · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2010, 11:52:25 pm »

Quote from: Two Bees on February 16, 2010, 02:48:25 pm

The Beekeeping Merit Badge should be made available to the GIRL Scouts as well. Probably, 50% of the attendees at my local county association are female. My wife was in the Girl Scouts and she has made the point that they didn't have the cool badges like the boy scouts!

I agree. My 14 y/o daughter wants to learn to keep bees. She thinks its cool to show boys in her H.S. that scream like a little girl if a bee lands on them that bees are really gentle by taking the bee off them and letting it walk around on her hand before letting it fly away. :-D Boys are way more wussified than when I was in school!

weBEE Jammin · « **Reply #20 on:** February 18, 2010, 08:27:21 pm »

Jump onboard and help get it passed for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. All it would take is an email from thousands of people. This would be a great education for our young!!!!!!!!! Please help by putting your name on this petition and then send these links to everyone you know. Thank you everyone for your help and support.

weBEE Jammin · « **Reply #21 on:** February 21, 2010, 06:33:21 pm »

Our youth and the honey bees need your help now. Please sign the petition and pass it to everyone you know.

Titus · « **Reply #22 on:** February 22, 2010, 11:00:15 am »

I'm an Eagle Scout and received my first exposure to Beekeeping in Boy Scouts. I signed the petition and hope the merit badge comes back.

D Coates · « **Reply #23 on:** February 23, 2010, 12:22:59 pm »

Done. Current Weblos 1 Cub Scout Assistant Den Leader

thomashton · « **Reply #24 on:** February 23, 2010, 05:19:01 pm »

As a beekeeper and an Eagle Scout I fully agree. Signed both.

MustbeeNuts · « **Reply #25 on:** February 25, 2010, 09:30:13 am »

Got it done!!

Davepeg · « **Reply #26 on:** February 25, 2010, 10:07:51 am »

Done, happy to complete this request.

dpence · « **Reply #27 on:** February 25, 2010, 12:54:10 pm »

Absolutely. Done.

indypartridge · « **Reply #28 on:** February 26, 2010, 08:35:22 am »

Quote from: Two Bees on February 16, 2010, 10:45:35 am

The requirements when I earned the Badge was not like Kedgel described. I have read that the requirements were tremendous and that was why the badge was dropped due to low interest by scouts. The requirements in 1965 were similar to the Journeyman level of the Master Beekeeping certification if my memory serves me.

Here are the merit badge requirements at the time it was dropped:
http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Beekeeping

weBEE Jammin · « **Reply #29 on:** February 28, 2010, 12:53:00 pm »

Chris made a good show on the tv news last week in promoting beekeeping and trying to get the beekeeping merit badge reinstated. He said thak you and he appreciates all the help he can get. Thank you indypartridge for the requirements before it was discontinued; they do not seem to be an unreachable goal for a young person to achieve.

Brent_I · « **Reply #30 on:** February 28, 2010, 06:54:53 pm »

I had been preparing a formal request to BSA for the Beekeeping MB reinstatement. I'm glad this Scout got the ball rolling with a company that can get the news out there. Im an Eagle Scout that would have loved to have earned the merit badge but no mentor could be found (East Texas in the mid 80's). I hope this gives us the final push to bringing the merit badge back.

Brent
Assist. Scoutmaster Troop 97; Eagle Scout 1987

Two Bees · « **Reply #31 on:** March 01, 2010, 08:36:49 am »

Indy, that sounds like what we did in 1965 to earn it! Everyone even took a jar of honey home with them after the day in the beeyard. :-D

weBEE Jammin · « **Reply #32 on:** March 04, 2010, 01:45:41 pm »

There was almost a full page article on Chris Stowell in the Tulsa World newspaper on Mar 3. Deron Smith, a national spokesman for Boy Scouts of America said, "Should qualified experts in the field of beekeeping submit a proposal to reinstate the merit badge, the suggestion would be considered." He also said, "We are aware of this youth member's petition and are excited to see his passion for scouting and beekeeping." I think we are on the right road, we just need many more signatures. Thanks again to everyone who signed.

weBEE Jammin · « **Reply #33 on:** March 07, 2010, 10:51:41 pm »

We are almost there! Here is the petition.

http://www.helpthehoneybees.com/#buzzlove

http://www.experienceproject.com/beepetition

fuzzybeekeeper · « **Reply #34 on:** March 08, 2010, 02:41:49 am »

Done. And sent the link to my own Eagle Scout (where is the avitar for a proud beaming father?) and asked HIM to send it also.

Fuzzybeekeeper

weBEE Jammin · « **Reply #35 on:** March 10, 2010, 10:45:20 pm »

Thanks to everyone that has signed the petition. We are so close, so do not give up, and pass this petition on to everyone you know.

weBEE Jammin · « **Reply #36 on:** March 20, 2010, 07:17:11 pm »

Everyone (over 110 people) that showed up to our Big Bee Buzz signed the petition!! Our local lawyer Neil even came up with a legal motion for all clubs to vote on and send into the Boy Scouts of America. Our club unanimously voted for it! Haagen-Dazs even Fed Ex'ed ice cream to our Bee Buzz in support of Chris and the honey bees!! It was great, with all the great speakers!!!!!! The dead line Chris will hand in the petition is July 15th I believe. Please help!

Two Bees · « **Reply #37 on:** March 22, 2010, 08:59:50 am »

I plan to bring this topic up at our next NCSBA Executive Committee meeting in early July and see if we can get some political horsepower behind reinstating the merit badge.

greenbtree · « **Reply #38 on:** March 22, 2010, 10:29:42 am »

They dropped the Beekeeping merit badge?!! Arrgh! Just this week got into beekeeping and both my boys are in scouts. It never occur ed to me that there WOULDN'T be one. You can bet I will writing that letter!

Highlandsfreedom · « **Reply #39 on:** April 02, 2010, 07:46:23 pm »

Done and I love the bee dance videos.

weBEE Jammin · « **Reply #40 on:** April 17, 2010, 09:55:05 pm »

I would like to give special thanks to Robo and Neil for joining in to help Chris and the Boy Scouts, with more sights and adding the mentor list. Chris gave a speach at our state meeting a few weeks ago about beekeeping and the merit badge. That is one special young man. Thanks also to all those that have signed the petition and mentor list.

weBEE Jammin · « **Reply #41 on:** July 04, 2010, 03:48:12 pm »

The deadline is almost here.!!!!!!! Please help our youth and future beekeepers by signing the petition and the mentor list. Thanks to everyone that have already signed it (the bees will thank you too) :-D

Storm · « **Reply #42 on:** July 09, 2010, 08:47:31 pm »

Done, and best wishes!

Birdman · « **Reply #43 on:** July 31, 2010, 09:19:35 pm »

Got er did

weBEE Jammin · « **Reply #44 on:** November 12, 2010, 08:46:11 pm »

**ALMOST THERE**!! Just received!!!

Please e-mail BSA and let them know you are willing to be a mentor. Many of us signed the petition and wrote letters stating we would make ourselves available to teach boy scouts about the honey bees. Now is the time to contact BSA . They are requesting that we e-mail them at: merit.badge@scouting.org put Honey Bees in the heading

Just write a few words letting them know you are willing to mentor. Give them a way to contact you and let them know the areas of your state/county you are willing to mentor in.

BSA had added Bee keeping to 8 merit badges now. One is required to earn Eagle Rank. 100,000 boys will be learning about bee keeping each year through BSA merit badges as of 2015 and some merit badges will be in effect as of 2012. They are going to need our help to teach all these boys.
Thank you.
Christopher

Please help Christopher!!!!!!!! Thanks again to everyone that has helped.

ApalacheeRiverFarms · « **Reply #45 on:** August 22, 2012, 09:59:50 am »

Any updates on this? We can easily find out what packs are in our area and lobby those leaders. I can't imagine there being any community without at least a few beekeepers willing to help.

I just signed my seven year old up for cub scouts and the asst pack leader (former beekeeper even) couldn't give me any info on the status or what we could do.

If the future of beekeeping means something to you, I challenge each of you to contact your local chapters and spark a fire under them!

TemeculaBeek · « **Reply #46 on:** May 03, 2013, 06:23:55 am »

Quote from: weBEE Jammin on November 12, 2010, 08:46:11 pm

BSA had added Bee keeping to 8 merit badges now. One is required to earn Eagle Rank.

They have added SOME parts of beekeeping to these merit badges. Environmental Science is one of them.

More info can be found here:
http://www.scoutingvermont.org/News/beekeeping