BSA Troop 4414 Scouts Amy Nova Alarcon (left) and Emily Whelchez pose with Merit Badge Counselor Paul Decker after earning the Shotgun Merit Badge
In 2018, the youth program known as Boy Scouts was renamed Scouts BSA with the advent of the admission of girls into this high adventure organization.
In 2019, under the direction of scout commissioner and Merit Badge Counselor Paul Decker, working with Bob Fix, president of the Upper Perkiomen Valley Sportsmen's Association, Red Hill, a Shotgun Shooting Merit Badge Program was instituted.
On March 26, the first all-girl class was held at the club. This is believed to be the first such class statewide and possibly nationally. Participating were six Scouts from Troop 229G, Colmar, including First Class scouts Holly Harrison, Liz Johannsson, Tina Spizziri, Tenderfoot scout Roisin McNamara and scouts Juliana Lehrer and Jaina Smith.
Also participating from Troop 4414, St. Stanislaus Parish, Lansdale, were two new scouts, Emily Whelchez and Amy Nova Alarcon. Present from Troop 229G were Scoutmaster Anna LoPiccolo and Assistant scoutmasters Tom Meyer, Steve McNamara and Max Lizana. From Troop 4414, Committee Chair Meg Garner was in attendance.
After an opening ceremony, the intense morning classroom portion of the program began that included, but was not limited to, firearms safety, fundamentals of ammunition and shotgun types, principles of shooting and safe handling of firearms.
A hearty lunch was served and then it was outdoors for a briefing by the chief range safety officer and the individual fitting of a suitable type and gauge of shotgun for each scout. The scouts were then divided into two groups for practice and qualifying shooting. Each scout, when shooting, was under the watchful eye of an NRA Certified Instructor and two Certified Range Safety Officers.
To add to the afternoon's challenges, myriad weather passed through including rain, snow, sleet, hail, and high winds, with very little sun appearing. Despite the adversity, the "rain or shine" range portion was completed. The it was back to the classroom for "hands-on" cleaning of the shotguns.
To qualify for the merit badge, a scout is required to hit a minimum of 12 moving clay targets out of 25 twice in a row.
Of particular interest, the two newest scouts from Troop 4414, Emily Whelchez and Amy Nova Alarcon, not only exceeded the minimum requirement, but it was the first Merit Badge each of them earned. A commendable start to their scouting adventure.
The staff for the day included Merit Badge Councilors and NRA Instructors Bob Fix, UPSA President, Ed Tryon and Paul Decker. The Range Safety Officers were James Adelsberger, Dennis Albertson, Dave Wolf, Claudia Garner and Jerry Rawson. Other staff members included Marion Cesarone, Tiffany Tokarchek, Chris Jamison and Brandon Reed.
Shotguns and ammunition were provided through grants from the Friends of the National Rifle Association. The scouts participated free of charge as all the remaining costs were covered by the UPSA and donations.
Since this program began in 2019, participating scouts came from three councils, five districts and 12 troops. Any Scouts interested in earning the Shotgun Shooting Merit Badge may contact the UPSA at [email protected].
See also:
New Boy Scouts Troop For Girls Is Forming At St. Stanislaus
Photos: Local Boy Scout Troop Celebrates 100th Anniversary
Photos: Cub-o-Ree Held at Parkside Place in Upper Gwynedd
Photos: Volunteers Clean Up Lansdale Parks as Part of MLK Day of Service
