Arnold volunteers teach Boy Scout Merit Badge class on energy awareness

  • Published
  • By Philip Lorenz III
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  On Oct. 11, a couple of Aerospace Testing Alliance (ATA) employees volunteered their off-duty time to teach 26 Boy Scouts, representing five area troops, an energy awareness merit badge class at the Gossick Leadership Center at Arnold Air Force Base. 

Rick McCoy, an ATA energy program manager and an assistant troop leader for Boy Scout Troop 135 in Franklin, Tenn., teamed up with Richard Turner, an ATA energy manager, to offer the energy awareness class in what they considered an ideal setting. 

"Richard and I had been putting together the items we'd like to accomplish during October for Energy Awareness Month at AEDC," said McCoy. "He knew I was involved heavily with Boy Scouts and I had taught this merit badge class before at a merit badge university in Lebanon, Tenn. We thought it would be a neat idea to offer this class to the local troops and Temple Bowling, the deputy director of the 704th Mission Support Group, granted his approval for them to use the GLC for the class." 

McCoy said he was pleased with the number of scouts who showed up for the event.
"This was a real good turnout," he said. "These kids could have done a lot of things with their Saturday, but they have chosen to do this class. It is evidently very important to them. This is not an Eagle Scout required merit badge; it's an elective." 

McCoy said teaching the class provided him with an opportunity to improve his own skills. 

"Every time I pick up a book on energy, whether I'm doing a merit badge class for the Boy Scouts or I'm learning something for the base, I'm improving myself so I can be a better
energy manager," he said. "And listening to these young folks, there are plenty of good ideas out there. There are several boys in this group today who I guarantee you, I could stand there for eight hours and just talk to them about their ideas on saving energy - they're the future. They've got a tough future with respect to energy unless we can get them interested in this." 

Boy Scout troops from Franklin and Coffee counties, as well as one from Franklin, Tenn., attended the day-long class. The day began with a showing of 'Kilowatt Ours,' a video created to educate the general public about where electricity comes from and why it is important to reduce usage. The video provides practical steps individuals, families and organizations can take to cut electrical use. 

McCoy conducted the class using an energy merit badge notebook, power point presentations, question and answer periods and by demonstrating practical applications. This included a light board comparing the amount of energy an incandescent bulb and a compact florescent lamp use in average applications.