Hello all, Please forgive my laziness in not searching the Archives, but my skills in that area are lacking, and since it seeems this past season is a blur, well... I have a nephew who would very much like to get the beekeeping merit badge. I was told by my local Boyscout council that as long as can physically get a copy of the book and a badge, that this is OK. I'm not so sure about that, and I'm continuing in my investigation. Anyway, I remember a number of posts concerning this issue, and I believe reps. for the Boyscouts were quoted, etc. I sure would like those contacts. If anyone can help........ In the meanwhile, I'm also in the process of talking to local scout leaders and beekeepers in an effort to make this a registered badge again. I myself was a scout 15 years back and I never even knew about what I was missing. What I'm trying to do is collect letters of intent from a number of commercial and hobbyist beekeepers that pledge assistance to local scout troops if interested. This assistance would be of course, things like apiary tours, maybe supplying an apiary for the scouts to work, use of an extractor, etc. The requirements for the badge are not that tough: the scouts must be able to identify the different bees in a hive and discuss their respective roles. They must hive a package or make a split, and must be able to manipulate frames. They must build a few frames, and lastly, they must extract salable honey. If you think about it, they really don't have to do all that much, and it certainly would help the hobby/industry. I would ask that other beekeepers might keep an open mind about this and might even help to initiate a similar program in their area. If anyone is interested in my progress, or would like to see copies of letters of intent (as soon as I get them back) I'd bee happy to help. Just email me at the above address. Thanks to all Mike