Sparta WI, February 4, 2023 – Local Scouts BSA members from the Gateway Area Council will
earn a variety of merit badges at the annual “Merit Badge Day” event hosted by Western
Technical College (WTC) Public Safety Training Center and the Gateway Area Council.
Programming occurs on February 4th between 9am and 3pm at the Public Safety Training
Facility located at 11177 County Road A in Sparta Wisconsin.
Over 100 Scouts (ages 11-17) will learn different skills from adult role models who are experts in
their field. They are taught by Scouting volunteers along with help by WTC faculty and students
and community experts.
The merit badge program emphasizes hands-on learning in a variety of fields designed to help a
Scout gain life and leadership skills, explore careers and hobbies, and learn about their
community.
There are over 135 different merit badges that a Scout can earn
(https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges/).
Some of the hands-on merit badges being offered on Saturday include: Citizenship in the
Nation, Citizenship in the World, Personal Management, Programming, Robotics, Crime
Prevention, Fingerprinting, Fire Safety, First Aid, Environmental Science, and Game Design.
On-site contacts on Saturday are Morgan Hoff, District Executive, 608-769-2985 and Auto
Olson, Merit Badge Day Chairperson, 608-792-0682.
About the Gateway Area Council
The Gateway Area Council provides programming to 1,000+ youth Scout members throughout a nine county region of Western Wisconsin and Southeast Minnesota with the help of nearly 450 adult volunteers. Gateway Area Council Scouting programs take place in Buffalo, Crawford, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, Vernon counties of Wisconsin and Houston County, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.gatewayscouting.org
Branding Guidelines
Youth members of the Gateway Area Council are called Cub Scouts if ages 5-10 and Scouts BSA
Members if ages 11-17. Both males and females can be Scouts. All members of our organization are members of the Gateway Area Council — sometimes referred to as Gateway Scouting
