Mining in Society Merit Badge Celebrates 10 Years

A lot has happened in the past 10 years for Scouting. A name change, as the Boy Scouts of America announced it is becoming Scouting America. A doubling of potential youth members, as girls were welcomed into Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, now known as “Scouts BSA.” Along with that and more, came the introduction and growth of the Mining in Society merit badge. Providing Scouts with a balanced introduction to modern mining, this merit badge would not exist without the vision, hard work and dedication of many SME members. The history of working with the Boy Scouts of America to create the merit badge extends back much farther than 10 years. But 2014 was the year the badge became available for Scouts to earn. In fact, SME hosted the kickoff for the badge at the 2014 SME Annual Meeting and Expo in Salt Lake City, UT. Earned by more than 41,000 Scouts nationwide In the decade since the Mining in Society merit badge first became available, it has been earned by more than 41,000 Scouts nationwide. That means an average of more than 4,000 Scouts each year learn about the importance of minerals and mining in their lives, mining operations in their state or region, and hazards associated with both active and abandoned mines. Along the way, the Minerals Education Coalition (MEC) has helped more than 1,300 Scouts earn the badge at the 2017 and 2023 National Scout Jamborees, and taught thousands of Scouts from dozens of countries about mining at the 2015 and 2019 World Scout Jamborees. In 2023, the MEC Scouting Subcommittee facilitated the first major update of the Mining in Society merit badge pamphlet. Really more than a pamphlet, it is a nearly 100-page booklet that helps Scouts earn the badge and provides a solid introduction, for anyone, to mining and its important role in our daily lives. It is even available on Kindle. Working on the Mining in Society merit badge, Scouts have the opportunity to visit active mines, take virtual mine tours and visit mining equipment suppliers. They explore topics such as controlling environmental impacts and how reclamation aligns with Scouting’s “leave no trace” principles. They also consider the future of mining — including mining in space and underwater. Most importantly, Scouts earning the merit badge have the opportunity to meet, talk with and learn from mining professionals. From that interaction, they learn about the variety of career fields to be pursued in mining and the associated educational requirements. In short, they learn about what a great opportunity a career in mining can be — from those who know firsthand. Enhancing our youth’s competitive edge Aside from Scouting America, no other organization provides young people, ages 11 to 17, with such a valuable introduction to mining — and many other fields. It is why Scouting refers to merit badges as “Enhancing our youth’s competitive edge.” But MEC and the Scouting Subcommittee need your support to help promote the Mining in Society merit badge. Here are just a few ways you can help: Buy a copy of the Mining in Society merit badge pamphlet and learn what Scouts are learning (https://amzn.to/3AmVy9J). Become a Mining in Society merit badge counselor. To learn how, visit the MEC’s webpage supporting the merit badge (https://bit.ly/mec-scouts). Work with your company to welcome Scouts working on the merit badge, who need to meet mining professionals or visit a mining facility. Contact your local Scout council about working with merit badge counselors in the area to help arrange tours, visits or mining exhibits at upcoming Scouting events. Support the MEC Scouting Subcommittee financially. We organize exhibits at national and world jamborees, offer online merit badge classes, keep the Mining in Society merit badge pamphlet current and more. Your tax-deductible financial gift can be made through the SME Foundation at bit.ly/mec-scout-fund. Join our volunteer staff at the 2026 National Scout Jamboree, taking place July 22-31 that year, near Beckley, WV. Contact Edward Wellman at ecwellman@arizona.edu for more information about the Jamboree. If all of the above has excited you and/or raised questions in your mind, please reach out to us. Scouting is an awesome program for our nation’s young people, and the chance to help those young people intersect with the mining profession is an invaluable opportunity. Join us for the next 10 years.

Mining in Society Merit Badge Celebrates 10 Years

Authored by: Charlie Zimmerman, Chair, MEC Scouting Subcommittee

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