Merit Badges

California or Bust

Merit Badges were the work of the day. The merit badges came in two basic flavors, aquatic and all others. The meeting place for breakfast, lunch, dinner and many of the aquatic merit badges was the Bayview Terrace. The rest of the merit badges classes, not aquatic, happened in the open area by the flagpole. The aquatic classes covered the popular subjects like kayaking, canoeing, small boat sailing, motor boating, lifesaving etc., While the land classes covered such diverse subjects as welding, leatherwork, wood carving, Space Exploration, Graphics Arts and Oceanography.

When it was time for a break the camp catered our breakfast, lunch and dinner on the Bayview Terrace. The food was good and the guys always let out a holler when the dinner bell for seconds. The Bayview terrace was also the place to pass the time when there was nothing else to do. It served as the focal point for all activities in the camp and had shade to boot. It offered a centralized place to check on the guys as they went from class to class during the day. The trading post was there also, a favorite of the crowd.

Be Prepared,

Uncle Ralph