In 2021, 138 Scouts BSA earned over 500 Merit Badges from 45 different offerings, including Eagle required Merit Badges at the Camp Snyder Scouts BSA Specialty Week.
Specialty week will be offered again in 2022 during the week of July 17 – 23. New for 2022 will be rank advancement skills training and knowledge instruction for obtaining Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class ranks. Perfect for new Scouts!
Camp Snyder has some amazing facilities. Among those are the Woodshop, STEM facility, swimming pool, archery and air rifle ranges, Scouterhorn climbing tower and amphitheater. We have created a Scouts BSA Specialty week with the activities Scouts expect from a summer camp. Want to earn your Woodworking or Woodcarving Merit Badge? Want to learn about Drones and spend some time in the STEM lab? Or, learn the basic Scouting skills needed to advance in rank, like how to start a fire, prepare an outdoor meal or safely use a knife and axe? Come out and spend a week of your summer at Camp Snyder!
Combine your interest in merit badges and rank advancement with camping, dining, swimming, boating, and many other summer camp favorites. Scouts can participate as units or individuals, as day campers or as overnight campers.
Registration for Merit Badges and advancement training will be in spring 2022. Only 150 Scouts will be able to participate in this special week at Camp Snyder, so sign up now to reserve your space at https://www.gotosnyder.org/summer-camp/specialty-week/
During Camp Snyder’s Fall Family Camping events, Michael’s Woodshop officially began its fourth year of operations and it certainly got off to a great start! During the two family camping weekends, over 30 families visited the wood shop and had the opportunity for some hands-on woodworking fun. Families were able to select from a variety of projects including game boards, tool boxes and bird houses. During the events, Michael’s Woodshop debuted its newly donated CNC machine and was able to add the fleur de lis image to youth projects. To view more of the fun, please see our 2021 Family Camping slideshow.
Since its opening in 2018, Michael’s Woodshop has offered high quality programs that directly support the Aims & Methods of Scouting across all youth age groups. Michael’s Woodshop has continued to operate core programs such as the Pinewood Derby Days car building sessions, monthly Woodwork merit badge sessions and has supported many Eagle Scout projects. During the past year, new Baloo the Builder and Webelos Build It workshops were developed to support Cub Scouts in completing these adventures. In addition, this past summer a visit to Michael’s Woodshop was added to Camp Snyder’s Day Camp and Resident Weekend programs and Michael’s Woodshop supported the camp’s first ever merit badge week. Finally, the first Summit Award Project was hosted in the shop this fall.
Michael’s Woodshop is a fantastic resource available to all NCAC youth. It is a hands-on work space that was designed for use by Scouts of all ages to create and learn. The shop is maintained and operated by a group of volunteers who are also available to help plan and carry out events. Michael’s Woodshop may be reserved for Unit activities, District events, Eagle Scout projects and many other Scouting activities. For information about shop capabilities, upcoming events or reserving the shop, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop webpage or email us at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com
In November, Cole S. of Troop 424 attended his second merit badge session in Michael’s Woodshop and completed all of the requirements to earn the Woodwork merit badge. He arrived well prepared with materials and project plans and was able to make a DVD/game storage console, two versions of a cell phone stand and a bird house. While completing the requirements, Cole used a classic “brace and bit”, various saws, a hand plane and more. In his projects he demonstrated several incised cuts and built a project with beveled edges. Not only did he complete all of the requirements, he also earned the distinction of being the 50th Scout to earn the Woodwork merit badge in Michael’s Woodshop. Congratulations!
Earning the Woodwork merit badge requires a certain level of interest and dedication. In addition to learning about shop safety, first aid, tool sharpening and various aspects of lumber production, there are four projects to complete. Youth must demonstrate the use of certain tools, joinery and cutting techniques and project estimating skills. Scouts who earn this merit badge should take pride in their achievement.