BY JULIE DOCKSTADER HEAPS

Local BSA Troop 1307 is looking for merit badge counselors, Scoutmaster Karl Scherbel told SVI Media recently during a broadcast of Weekday Wake-up.

The counselors, Scherbel told SVI’s Duke Dance of the SVI Radio Network, can be anyone “with a passion and an interest in the profession or hobbies or things they have a knowledge of to share with youth.”

Troop 1307 of Star Valley is part of the national Scouts BSA, formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America, and has some 30 youth – young men and young women – and some 25 to 30 Cub Scouts, as well as a family pack. Before COVID-19 ended public assemblies temporarily, the packs met on Wednesday evenings each week at the community center in Etna.

The merit badge counselors, Scherbel explained, would be contacted by pack leaders to set up a time convenient to the counselor to meet with two or more Scouts for merit badge counseling. He added that topics could range from such things as fly-fishing, fishing, surveying, drafting, backpacking, hiking, public speaking and dog care.

“There’s all kinds of merit badges out there, and we’d love to have counselors,” Scherbel added. “And best of all there’s no cost to register as a merit badge counselor.”

Dance and Scherbel continued by assuring people that Scouting is alive and well in Star Valley. Scherbel said there’s been a “broader community outreach” since the change in Scouting to include girls. The two also talked about the continuance of the program after the end of the century-long relationship between Scouting and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“People all over have tried to get involved,” Scherbel added. “It’s a lot of fun. I have a campout a month. Snow rain, wind — we’re going. We have a high adventure planned for this summer. Hopefully the [coronavirus] shutdown doesn’t go on too long. We’ve gone over with [Wyoming] Game and Fish to look at salmon spawning last year.”

And Troop 1307 would love to have more people involved. Scherbel said if you don’t want the weekly contact of Scoutmaster or other leadership, there is help needed with advancements, boards of review and working with Eagle Scout candidates.

“Give me a call, and I can get you pointed in the right direction,” he said.

To be a merit badge counselor or to just get involved with local Scouting, call Karl Scherbel at 307-887-7890.