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Promoting the merit badge program directly to the Boy Scouts is a tough nut. Our group went directly to the local Boy Scout executive offices, to Round Table meetings at the district level to offer the merit badge as well as a merit badge intense day given by our district. The fellow leading the program is a former scoutmaster and he was initially amazed at the lack of interest. On a high note, a boy's father showed up yesterday at the beginning of the program and wanted to participate without his son as skateboarding was the son's thing. He heard that there might be room for him to participate from a fellow scouter. One dad outside our district is a member of our club. His association with our club has enabled his troop to take advantage of our program and we were to the point of turning folks away when they finally jumped on the opportunity. It appears to have a snowball effect once they find out that the program exists in follow up programs. The merit badge program almost has to be promoted at the troop level over the district level. If you think that you would want something like this, now is not too early to start getting the word out. The merit badge program established by our club takes two days without the on the water requirements satisfied. An invite to Kistler Ranch would only satisfy half of the last requirement- catch, identify two different fish. Release one and prepare and cook the other. The Kistlers would not take kindly to the last part with their bass or sunfish. A follow up day with a local fly club might prove beneficial in order to satisfy the last requirement. I'll talk to our boy scout coordinator about getting in touch with you with his thoughts as well.
The youth fare might just be the way to go.
Hope this helps.
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