Recently, a few members of TSPS Chapter 2 and Chapter 5 were given the opportunity to represent the surveying profession at the Boy Scouts of America - Circle Ten Xperience 2 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. With over 8,000 people in attendance; including scouts, scoutmasters, adult leaders, parents our TSPS representatives were given the opportunity to discuss the profession, teach others about different equipment used and educate some scouts about how they can earn one of the original merit badges, the Surveying Merit Badge! 

Requirements for earning a Surveying Merit Badge include: 
1. Scouts must know first aid for the types of injuries that could occur while surveying. 
2. Find and mark the corners of a five-sided lot that has been laid out by their counselor to fit the land available and must do so by using surveying instruments. 
3. From the field notes gathered for requirement two, draw to scale a map of their survey. 
4. Write a metes and bounds description for the five-sided lot in requirement two. 
5. Use one of the corner markers from requirement two as a benchmark with an assumed elevation of 100 feet. 
6. Get a copy of the deed to their property, or a piece of property assigned by their counselor, from the local courthouse or title agency. 
7. Tell what GPS is; discuss with their counselor the importance of GPS and how it is changing the surveying field. 
8. Discuss the importance of surveying with  a licensed surveyor. 

To view the requirements in their entirety, click here. 

Members of Chapter 2 and Chapter 5 also held a drawing for the scouts and scoutmasters/adult leaders for a new drone. Over all the event was successful and hundreds of connections were made to allow our chapter representatives to teach the scouts about Surveying as a profession and help them earn their merit badge, which many didn't even know existed. On behalf of Shaun Piepkorn, RPLS, "Thank you to everyone who helped organize and attended this event!".