Like Mt. Washington, Katahdin is one of those classic, must do, northeastern hikes. Logistically it is a challenge because of the remoteness and competitiveness for campground space. The attached gives an overview of the hike. I wrote it using powerpoint 07, if it does not open for you, send a note and I’ll try saving [...]

(Credit: wikipedia)
At 14,494 feet (4,418 meters) above sea level, California’s Mount Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Whitney is part of the Sierra Nevada, a fault-block mountain range formed when shifting tectonic plates led to the cracking and faulting of the Earth’s surface. Limited access (one needs a permit to enter), [...]

A friend at work introduced this to me and I introduced it to my daughter. I’m bringing it up because they have a great Junior Program for kids starting at the age of 14. I think this is a great opportunity to do something challenging and really build confidence.  If your son has any thoughts [...]

 
This is an easy but interesting merit badge. In the northeast, we’re blessed with numerous early American history sites, but I bet wherever you are you can find something interesting. I’ll work on some training material, in the meantime, I’ll share this one piece I was working on:
 
The Concord Hymn
 ”…And fired the shot heard round the world.” [...]

     
Leave No Trace is not simply a program for visiting the backcountry, it is an attitude and a way of life.
I plan to expand this area considerably, I have lots of material to share on this topic.
Here’s one that is pretty good - an extensive powerpoint done on the entire program:
Leave No Trace Powerpoint (large [...]

Wilderness Survival Merit Badge Supplement 
Here are three good survival scenarios to use with your kids. Not part of the badge requirements but can be used as a warm-up or post-badge activity. If you are cabin camping some night and want an interesting group activity, pull these out.
survival1.doc
survival2.doc
survival3.doc
 
 

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Last year we did this whitewater rafting trip out in western MA. They actually organize a full Whitewater MB class, but we wanted the kids to have an introductory run first before getting into the whole MB requirement process. It was on class III rapids which I thought were pretty mild (albeit, it was a [...]

 
Here’s something that looks pretty interesting – earning the geology merit badge (and mammal study) while exploring a cave. They seem to have a nice program designed. Could do all year, not just a summer activity. Lincoln Caverns is somewhat in the area of Gettysburg (center, bottom of PA), so if you are traveling there from [...]

 
These may help – free sky maps showing what is in the sky by month.
The telescope.com one is a little better for locating planets. Skymaps.com has nice descriptions of the night sky.
http://www.space.com/spacewatch/sky_calendar.html (click on planets 1/2 way down), map at bottom.
http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html

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 If this link stays active, here is a program for the Bird Study Merit Badge:
http://k2gw.tripod.com/birdstudy/

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Here’s a powerpoint to use for oceanography. Not my work, but one of the few docs available on this topic. Maybe it helps…
oceanography.pdf

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