VIRTUAL MERIT BADGE COURSES
REGISTRATION FOR SOME CLASSES NOW OPEN. READ BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Scouting families are looking for fun, innovative, and accessible merit badge advancement opportunities. Volcano Scouting hears you! This off-season, we will be offering virtual merit badge courses for ten (10) Eagle Scout-required and Distinguished Conservation Service Award (DCSA) merit badges. Each course will be offered al a carte (separately) for just $5.00/each.
PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS
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Registered youth members of the Scouts, BSA program
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Reside within the United States
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Meet all technology requirements
REGISTRATION DATES
āRegistration dates vary by course.
See course schedule below.
REGISTRATION COST
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$5.00/scout/course
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
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Access to consistent internet
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Access to a desktop or laptop computer (preferred) or smartphone with a microphone and camera
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Access to word-processing software (Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, etc.) and ability to export documents as PDF files.
PARTICIPATION GIFTS
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Programming Only
COURSE DELIVERY UPDATE
We have shifted all courses to be completely asynchronous. This means a scout will have access to all course materials and assignments to complete at their own pace during the course dates listed above. No courses included live Zoom meetings at this time.
ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Scouts can choose to participate in the following merit badge courses.
Citizenship in Society*
Program Dates
September 2022 (4 weeks)
November 2022 (4 weeks)
January 2023 (4 weeks)
March 2023 (4 weeks)
May 2023 (4 weeks)
Registration Opens
July 1, 2022
September 1, 2022
November 1, 2022
January 1, 2023
March 1, 2023
Registration Closes
August 26, 2022
October 26, 2022
December 26, 2022
February 23, 2023
April 25, 2023
Communication*
Program Dates
October 2022 (4 weeks)
April 2023 (4 weeks)
Registration Opens
August 1, 2022
February 1, 2023
Registration Closes
September 25, 2022
March 26, 2023
Environmental Science* + Mammal Study
Program Dates
October 2022 (4 weeks)
April 2023 (4 weeks)
Registration Opens
August 1, 2022
February 1, 2023
Registration Closes
September 25, 2022
March 26, 2023
Fish and Wildlife Management + Forestry + Nature
Program Dates
September 2022 (4 weeks)
May 2023 (4 weeks)
Registration Opens
July 1, 2022
March 1, 2023ā
Registration Closes
August 26, 2022
April 25, 2023
Personal Management*
Program Dates
September-December 2022 (16 weeks)
February-May 2023 (16 weeks)
Registration Opens
July 1, 2022
December 1, 2022
Registration Closes
August 26, 2022
January 26, 2023
Soil and Water Conservation
Program Dates
November 2022 (4 weeks)
March 2023 (4 weeks)
Registration Opens
September 1, 2022
January 1, 2023
Registration Closes
October 25, 2022
February 23, 2023
Sustainability*
Program Dates
December 2022-February 2023 (12 weeks)
Registration Opens
October 1, 2022
Registration Closes
November 25, 2022
ABOUT OUR CURRICULUM
Volcano Scouting utilizes a plethora of open-source curricula from trusted government agencies, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and the Boy Scouts of America for its programming. Content in this course is arranged in a unique progressive format that takes scouts through a natural resource conflict example. Scouts will learn skills and apply them to the example. All merit badge requirement certification is conducted in accordance with the BSA's Guide to Advancement through virtual quizzes and submitted assignments.
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We will again utilize Instructure's Canvas learning management system (LMS) to deliver our instruction to scouts regardless of where they live. Each module includes supplemental readings and videos, themed live instructional and discussion sessions, and opportunities to apply new skills to an example scenario. This year, our merit badge counselors will be utilizing ScoutBook to certify merit badge requirement partial completions. Please note that all courses are primarily asynchronous instruction, with some courses having live Zoom meetings (attendance highly-recommended, recorded for later viewing).
ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTORS
Volcano Scouting was established by a group of scouts, adult leaders, and land managers in 2016 who continue to serve our program today! Check out who will be engaging with scouts this year:
QUENTIN COMUS
Instructor / Merit Badge Counselor / Curriculum Developer
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Quentin is a Senior at OSU-Cascades in Bend, Oregon majoring in Natural Resources Education. An Eagle Scout and Hornaday Silver Medal recipient, he has several years of experience advocating for and teaching environmental conservation in the Scouting program. He is also the President of Volcano Scouting. You can contact him at quentincomus@gmail.com
RONALD COMUS
Instructor / Merit Badge Counselor
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Ron is the Scoutmaster of Troop 7520 in Newberg, Oregon. He grew up in Indiana where he was awarded his Eagle Scout rank in 1983. After moving to Oregon in 2005, he was reintroduced to scouting as a leader, when his son, Quentin, joined Cub Scout Pack 196 in Newberg. He became Scoutmaster for Troop 7520 in 2013. Being active in scouting has given him several years of learning and teaching experience in the outdoors. You can contact him at roncomus66@gmail.com