Chemistry Ambassadors - - Making a Difference with the Boy Scouts

The ACS Chemistry Ambassador program has been working to provide support and educational materials to chemists who want to help out in their communities and teach people about the awesomeness that is chemistry.  I could blather a bit about why you should SIGN UP, but instead I thought I would let people know about a recent ambassador success story.

 

Every four years, thousands of Boy Scouts cross the country to participate in the Jamboree, where they can participate in various Boy Scout activities, make friends, etc.  Even better, they have the chance to earn a whole slew of badges.

 

This is where our Chemistry Ambassadors come in and supply the know-how and the excitement about chemistry that helps thousands of boy scouts begin the process to earn their chemistry merit badge.

 

 

Here are some details on the endeavor:

ACS Chemistry Ambassador Lisa Balbes, of Kirkwood, Mo., and her team of 15 leaders, make chemistry experiments fun!

 

The boys conduct a crime scene investigation at one station, assess food chemistry concerns at a second, hold a ‘Senate hearing’ on an oil spill that has happened at a ‘Boy Scout beach’ at a third, and learn what scientists understood about chemistry in 1910 – the year the Boys Scouts of America was established. 

In fact, the chemistry badge is amazingly popular given the rigorous requirements; it is the third most popular of all the merit badges taught at the jamboree, said Balbes. 

Of the 45,000 scouts gathered this week at Fort AP Hill, in Virginia, Balbes expects at least a thousand will complete their chemistry merit badge if this year’s jamboree is anything like their experience in 2005.  Then 3,000 kids did part of the badge (and many likely completed the balance back home) and 1,000 completed the requirements entirely.  This year, in the first day, 480 kids visit the four chemistry stations, 20 kids completed the badge!