Well we’re coming into February and Scout/Guide week. This is a wonderful time to promote the hobby. I can’t speek for the Scouting movement outside of Canada but what we can do is to invite the cubs to see what MR’ing is all about.
If you have layout or are part of a group, contact your Regional Scout Shop or any Scout Leader and offer to invite a group or two into see your layout.
What you will be offering is a chance for youth to see your hobby and also give them a requirement towards the Canadian Arts Award, which requires a cub to visit and talk to a serious hobbyist.
My Pack is coming next Saturday to build Kub Kars and see the MESS[:D]
I am alos in the scouts as a leader. I did just that this last week. We had 30 + boys in to our layout and they had a ball. I thike more clubs should try this.
Mike
Agreed.
What a couple of us do here the past few years is to hold a class to satisfy the requirements of the Boy Scout merit badge for railroading. We go over the topics needed to qualify the boys and then they are given the test. We also give each one a simple kit and help them build and weather it. We have a small module set up with a switcher where they can run and switch out their new cars. We get around 30-40 boys each year.
I wish something like this was available when I was a scout. I inquired at the time and was told there were no merit badge counselors available for my areas of interest. Don’t let that happen in YOUR area to some kid. I never got my railroading merit badge…AND I STILL WANT IT!
Unfortunately, we don’t have a RR merit badge in our program. I’m still learning the Troop program as I’m still heavily involved at the cub level. They are coming over tomorrow to build Kub Kars and check out the layout.