Community Corner

Boy Scouts May Find a Career in Here

Merit Badge University is a one-stop shop that allows Scouts of all ages to learn from experts in the fields of—well—everything.

It’s not easy to find a place you can go and, in one day, learn about everything from scuba diving to public speaking to dentistry.

That is, of course, unless you’re a Boy Scout.

Merit Badge University, held last Saturday at York High School in Elmhurst, offered all of that and much more. The all-day event, which began as an Elmhurst-only event 14 years ago, now attracts some 1,300 Scouts from all over the Chicago area—and even from other states.

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“It’s just kind of grown over the years,” said Elmhurst resident Keith Miller, vice chairman of operations for the Potowatomi District, Three Fires Council. “People come from all over—West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri—it’s amazing.”

Scouts at Merit Badge U range from fifth grade all the way up to age 17, with the older boys working toward Eagle Scout. They had an opportunity to earn up to four badges, but they had the difficult task of choosing from among more than 90 different topics, including citizenship, astronomy, climbing, cinematography, fly fishing and weather. The experts teaching the classes were flown in from all over the country, too, Miller said. He is diligent in finding them.

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“I call, and call and call—and you hear rumors,” he said. “I’m working on getting a lady up in Wisconsin that does coin collecting around the country. We have great people teaching the classes. The kids get to meet people who are really top-notch.”

The idea is to get the kids interested in careers, he said.

“It gets kids interested in all these different topics,” he said. “A huge percentage of scouts find their life’s career in one of these merit badges.”

It takes a small army to pull off the event every year, and as one ends, it’s only a couple of months before planning for the next Merit Badge University begins.

“It takes a lot of people to make this happen,” he said, adding about 350 adult signed up as volunteers.

Many, like Miller, no longer have kids in scouting, but have been involved for 15 years.

“I come from a long scouting background. I just believe so strongly in the program,” Miller said. “Wholeheartedly.”


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