Chowan University welcomed the Boy Scouts of America East Carolina Council in October for Merit Badge College – approximately 200 Scouts and adults participated in the event.

Thirty-two faculty, staff, and community members taught twenty-two merit badge classes. All day classes included environmental science, graphic arts, and chemistry. Morning and afternoon badges included an array of topics ranging from archery, rifle shooting, metalworking, and landscaping to citizenship, American heritage, digital technology, music, public speaking, pottery, and more. There are over 135 merit badges in total.

Friday night, two troops of 38 Scouts and leaders camped near the Rose Family Tennis Complex and Saturday night one troop of ten Scouts and leaders camped as part of the Merit Badge College. Saturday afternoon while waiting for their fellow Scouts to complete merit badges, Scouts relished the fall beauty of the Chowan campus. The Scouts particularly enjoyed the taste of college life, dining in Thomas Cafeteria for lunch, and being able to dip their own ice cream.

Sunday morning prior to the Scouts leaving campus, Dr. Ralph J. Brabban, Professor of Religion at Chowan and an Eagle Scout, held an abbreviated worship service. Troop leaders received a Chowan bag with a few goodies and informative fliers for each Scout. Every Scout also left with a patch that said Chowan University Merit Badge College 2018.  

The East Carolina Council of Boy Scouts of America is comprised of nine districts, which includes approximately 243 units of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorer Groups. The merit badge college included 144 registered Scouts from 28 troops, 15 troops in-council, 13 troops out-of-council, and 41 registered adults. Thirty-five out-of-council participants included Colonial Virginia, Del Mar Virginia Council, Occonneechee Council, Tidewater Council, and Tuscarora Council.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is one of the largest Scouting organizations in the United States of America and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with more than 2.4 million youth participants and nearly one million adult volunteers. BSA is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations, providing programs for young people that build character. The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.