Surveying Merit Badge

California University of Pennsylvania Merit Badge University (MBU) 2025

Surveying Merit Badge Class: A Great Opportunity for Future Surveyors!

One of the most common concerns I hear from surveyors is the difficulty in finding responsible, entry-level candidates to join their companies. After teaching the Surveying Merit Badge at the 2025 California University Merit Badge University (MBU), I've found an excellent pool of potential future surveyors.

For the past 26 years, California University of PA has hosted MBU, providing scouts with the opportunity to earn merit badges. I've had the pleasure of teaching Surveying to scouts numerous times, and this year's experience was truly remarkable. The college classrooms were equipped with modern technology, and we had ample outdoor space for field exercises. With six hours allocated for both classroom and lab time, I was able to guide 8 scouts through the fascinating world of surveying.

This year, over 180 scouts attended MBU for a single day. The scouts were working toward a variety of merit badges that closely align with surveying, such as: Surveying, Drafting, Orienteering, First Aid, Wilderness Survival, Hiking, Landscape Architecture, Public Speaking, Entrepreneurship, Law, Architecture, Engineering, Environmental Science, Aviation (Drones). Graphic Arts, Programming, Archaeology, Search and Rescue, Geocaching, Robotics, American Business, etc.

In total, there were 138 different badges available for scouts to explore. These badges, combines with the scouts' foundation in responsibility and positive morals (thanks to the Boy Scouts' motto, Be Prepared), make them ideal candidates for surveying careers.

The scouts were particularly fascinated by the 3D LiDAR point clouds and classifications, allowing them to interact with technology that could instantly remove or add trees, buildings, and other features. They quickly grasped the GPS and started locating items on the campus, from fountains to water valves and parking lot markings. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and they worked together as if they were seasoned professionals. The combination of historical equipment and cutting-edge technology seemed to capture their interest, and I even had two older scouts ask me about summer job opportunities after the session!

Unfortunately, the Surveying Merit Badge continues to rank among the least awarded, consistently placing near the bottom of the list of 138 merit badges. In 2025, it ranked 137th. So why is this? Is it because scouts don't understand what surveying is? Or perhaps because professionals aren't teaching it, or worse, non-professionals are teaching it incorrectly? We have the opportunity to change this by continuing to introduce scouts to the world of surveying.

If you're looking for a way to volunteer your time, consider helping with future Surveying Merit Badge classes! It's a rewarding experience that helps open the eyes of young people to the world of surveying. There's a Youth Protection Class online requirement and two free State Clearance applications (which only take about 10 minutes to complete). If you have access to cutting-edge technology like robotic total stations, drones, or terrestrial scanners, or if you can share videos and examples of your final projects, your participation would be especially appreciated.

Next year, I anticipate a smoother experience now that I'm familiar with the

, the agenda, and the requirements for instructors. However, wrangling 8 scouts - 3 working with taping, 2 with GPS, and 3 with total station - can be a challenge, and having extra help would make a big difference!

If you'd like to get involved and help shape the future of surveying, please don't hesitate to reach out!

2025 Requirements for Surveying Merit Badge

1. Show that you know first aid for the types of injuries that could occur while surveying, including cuts, scratches, snakebite, insect stings, tick bites, heat and cold reactions, dehydration. Explain to your counselor why a surveyor should be able to identify the poisonous plants and poisonous animals that are found in your area.

2. Do the following:

   1. Set an instrument over one of the corners of a five-sided lot laid out by your counselor and sighting one of the other corners for reference and, using your radial measurement methods, record the angle turned and the distance measure to each of the remaining corners, as directed by your counselor. Record the angle and distance to five topographic features (trees, shrubs, rocks, etc.) near your work area.

   2. Measure to three of the same points with GPS measurement and compare the distances between the points measured.

3. From the field notes gathered for requirement 2, and using a protractor and scale, plot the points you measured and draw to scale a map of your survey which includes a north arrow, scale bar, title, date, and a diagram of the lot you measured. Submit a neatly drawn copy.

4. Use one of the corner markers from requirement 2 as a benchmark with an assumed elevation of 100 feet. Using a level and rod, collect and record measurements, and determine the elevation of the other four corner markers.

5. Get a copy of the deed to a piece of property approved by your counselor from the local courthouse or title agency. Discuss with your counselor the different parts of the deed and their importance.

6. Discuss emerging surveying technology such as drones and laser scanning and the strengths and weaknesses of each.

7. Tell what GPS is; discuss with your counselor the importance of GPS and how it is changing the field of surveying.

8. Discuss the importance of surveying with a licensed surveyor. Also discuss the various types of surveying and mapping, and plications of surveying technology to other fields. Discuss career opportunities in surveying and related fields. Discuss the qualifications and preparation for such a career.

Special thanks to Precision Laser of Ambridge, who supplied the scouts with a welcome package, which included pens, lanyards, graph paper pads, and hats!

If you'd like to get involved and help shape the future of surveying, please don't hesitate to reach out.

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Feel free to contact me for further information at jeffreyhorneman@yahoo.com or 412-592-4126.