Scouting and Mining: The Boy Scouts of America Makes it Happen

Recently, the Boy Scouts of America presented nearly 8,000 Scouts with its Mining in Society merit badge, which focuses on STEM topics and was first developed in 2014 with the support of The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc. (SME).

“Whether it's the source of the metal in a Dutch oven or the key components in a smartphone, mining affects Scouts both in their Scouting activities and in their everyday lives, making this Mining in Society merit badge a great way for Scouts to gain a better understanding of some of the key building blocks of commonly used items,” said Chief Scout Executive Wayne Brock. “There are some important STEM lessons to be learned through earning this badge, and that focus may lead some Scouts to develop an even greater interest in the vastly important fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.”

Because U.S. mining supports more than 1.2 million jobs nationwide with bright prospects for recent graduates, education cultivation is extremely important to the sector. In fact, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold has provided $11 million in STEM education programs in order to benefit the generations to come, as well as to ensure well-trained mining engineering candidates. Additionally, a portion of these funds have been donated to a multi-sector effort called 100Kin10, which supports 100,000 excellent STEM teachers in the United States over the next 10 years.

Nothing is more important to U.S. mining than the safety and progress of its employees. The Boy Scouts’ Mining in Society merit badge provides a great example of early education and hands-on experience that will make for a brighter and safer workforce for years to come.

To learn more about this badge and its requirements, see here.