Bay-Lakes Council is no stranger to offering its Scouts USA and Cub Scouts members a peek at local careers in the trades. According to Scouting magazine, over 70,000 merit badges have been earned nationally in areas related to skilled labor like robotics, engineering, and woodworking. In the past, Bay Lakes Council hosted opportunities to earn the welding merit badge at its Gardner Dam Scout Camp and partnered with the former Kewaunee Nuclear Plant to work on award requirements there. Voyageur District Senior Scout Executive Christopher O’Brien says those types of opportunities can open doors locally.

O’Brien says in addition to recruiting more merit badge counselors, the Boy Scouts of America has career exploration units scattered across its councils to introduce youth to future job paths.