Waynesburg University’s fifth annual Merit Badge University will take place Nov. 4. The event gives local Boy Scouts the opportunity to earn one or two merit badges, depending on the class they take, while also gaining academic knowledge and experience from university instructors.

The cost of the daylong event is $15, but that includes the scout’s lunch, a patch, the class they select and a t-shirt. There is a limited number of spaces per class, making seats first come, first serve. There will be walk in registrations allowed, but a seat in the scout’s desired instruction session cannot be guaranteed.

Adults also have the opportunity to be a part of the event. There are a few options that can be considered. Adult leaders who wish to attend can also pay the $15 cover charge and have the option to attend the merit badge classes with their scouts or attend an adult leadership training taught by the Laurel Highlands Council. Parents also have the option of attending a free informational session through the Office of Admissions.

There will be 21 classes being offered at the event and eight of them offer badges required for a boy scout to meet the requirements for Eagle Scout. The citizenship in community, citizenship in the nation, citizenship in the world, communication, cycling, environmental science, family life and personal management are all classes that are a part of the required eagle scout badges. Those eight classes typically fill up faster than the others. Once a class has been filled to capacity, it will be removed from early registration as an option.

Sarah Bell, the academic communications coordinator, has been involved in Merit Badge University for the past three years. For the first year, she assisted in the planning, and has since lead the past two. In her time involved with the event, Bell has seen many changes to improve the event.

“This year students can teach an instruction session if a faculty or staff member will sponsor and guide that student,” said Bell, as an example. With students now being able to assist in the instruction sessions or teach the session themselves, many of the classes have students taking advantage of that opportunity.

This year, the event also features a more compressed schedule of events.

“We shortened the schedule so that the event wouldn’t take quite so long,” said Bell. “This is a big, campus-wide project. We’re trying to make it run more efficiently. The amount of class time is not being shortened. There will just be a slightly shorter lunch period and reduced registration and check in times.”