Boy Scouts of America's Architecture Merit Badge
The Boy Scouts of America Architecture Merit Badge is a great way for pre high school kids to get an introduction to this wonderful design profession.
While approximately 80,000 scouts nationally earn the First Aid Merit Badge each year, I encourage those same 80,000 to earn the Architecture Merit Badge.
The requirements entail listing building types, identifying styles, sketching, researching world architecture, and meeting an architect. They also include discussing “green thinking”, building materials, and construction. Drawing and exploring career opportunities are a part of this educational inquiry as well. This was one of the original merit badges introduced to scouting in 1911(102 years ago). The BSA celebrate 104 years as of February 8, 2014.
It is less about becoming an architect and more about appreciating what architects do. Just look around you. We are surrounded by the built environment. .
topic: building design