Re: Climbing Merit Badge

STEVEN GRAFSTROM wrote:
>
> Our council HAT is concerned about how to evaluate merit badge councilers
> for this new badge.

Yo! Does this mean we're soon to see National announce ROCK CLIMBING as
a new MB? Man, I sure hope so. Although it's a highly technical sport,
that requires excellent training and expensive gear, I look forward to
seeing it added to the list. Sure, it's going to be tough to find
qualified counselors, but the badge will be a mark of distinction for
those who earn it.

I've been forced by middle-age and war-injury-related scoliosis (a
crooked spine) to give up rock climbing for fear that a too-hard jerk as
I reach the end of my dynamic safety line will snap my spine. But I
still teach rappeling! This has given me several wonderful
opportunities to "connect" big-time with difficult-to-handle Scouts. I
always make every one of my rappelers look me straight in the eyes as
they step off backwards over the cliff, thus keeping them from going
wall-eyed with fear and preventing them from losing their focus. We see
into each other's very souls. <HUGE grin!>

I have always had my "macho" boys see me in a new light afterward, and
now they listen to me when I tell them things that their folks can't get
them to hear. And, so far, they've all stopped the "tough guy" routine
while they're with me, and we are having a regular Scouting blast
together.

I can't wait to see what the requirements will be. I hope it's a
hands-on MB and not a read-and-tell badge.

Statically,
Drew

--
Andrew Hagemann <hagemann@visi.net>
SA, Troop 6
Colonial Virginia Council
A "Charging" Buffalo, SR-158
Jamboree '97 Metal Work MB Booth Coordinator

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