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Bird Study Merit Badge - Session II & Owl Prowl - E.G. White-Swift EG.White-Swift@EQDepot.com I have been studying bird identification, bird behavior and bird distribution since 1976. I have identified and observed more 600 spericies of birds in the continental United States. I have served as editor of Oregon Birds magazine published by Oregon Field Ornithologists, assisted at bird banding stations, assisted with breeding bird censuses, served as president of Dallas County Audubon Society, served as Christmas Bird Count Compiler for Alma-Upper Siusalaw CBC in Oregon and Eastern McLennan County (Waco) CBC. I serve on the McLennan County Bird Records Committee that publishes the checklist of birds of McLennan County. I am an assistant scoutmaster in Troop 456 (Waco) and assistant district commissioner for the Indian Nations District in Longhorn Council and a member of the Capitol Area Council's Hornaday Weekend committee Energy Merit Badge: John Coombs I have a degree (BA) in international economic politics from Brown and an MBA from the University of Chicago. I sold supercomputing and visualization solutions into global energy companies (e.g., Chevron, Shell, Exxon, BP, Schlumberger, Landmark) for twenty five years, focusing on seismic analysis and reservoir simulation solutions. I am currently an assistant scoutmaster with Troop 146 in Northwest Austin and serve on the District Committee for the Chisholm Trail District of BSACAC. Fish and Wildlife Management: Kristy Crawford, kc9901mom@hotmail.com Troop 255, Harker Heights, Texas (Longhorn Council, Leon Valley District) I became involved with Scouting when my two boys decided to join Cub Scouts in 2006. My boys have decided to continue with Scouting and I decided that I would use my education to help educate Scouts about the on-going environmental issues by becoming a Merit Badge Counselor. I am an outdoor enthusiast and I enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, animals, and outdoor photography. I have an Associate's Degree from Central Texas College, Killeen, Texas in Applied Science. I attended Baylor University where my major was Geology. I transferred to University of Maryland University College (online) where my major was Environmental Management. Although, I do not have actual work experience in the fields of Geology or Environmental Management; I do what I can to help preserve and protect our natural resources. Fishing Merit Badge: Bruce Jerpseth, bruce.jerpseth@agilent.com I was born in July of 1964 in Minneapolis MN. I grew up in San Diego California and my company relocated me to Cedar Creek Texas in 1998. I have been a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader since 2004. In October of 2007 I was asked to fill-in for the regular Fishing merit badge counselor, because he had a conflict. I’ve have been filling in as the Fishing merit badge instructor, at Hornaday, twice a year, ever since. When my kids heard I was going to teach the fishing merit badge they both laughed. Over the years I have continued to modify the book/teaching portion of the Fishing merit badge in an effort to make the learning both fun and educational. I believe in interactive teaching, challenging the youth to provide answers and insight on the rules and customs of fishing. I am not an avid fisherman, but I feel I’m a competent fisherman. I enjoy working with the youth and sharing in their experience of cutting worms, baiting a hook, catching and cleaning, what for many of them, is their fish. The success rate for completing the fishing merit badge in the morning classes, catching and cleaning a fish, is about 70%. While the success rate in the afternoon class in about 40-50%. Youth are encouraged to bring their own tackle (fishing pole and gear), but if they do not have tackle it will be provided for them. I feel the majority of the youth enjoy this class and walk away with a good initiation to the fun and challenges of fishing. As I always tell the youth “Your odds of catching a fish go up radically, if you have your hook in the water”. Fishing Merit Badge: David Till I'm a registered Scouter, A.S.M. with Troop 533. Forestry Merit Badge: Keith O'Herrin Forestry Merit Badge: Andrew Anstrom Keith O'Herrin holds a B.S. in Urban Forestry from University Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and am working towards my Master of Public Administration at Texas State University-San Marcos; I have 4 years of municipal/urban forestry experience. Helping him out this time will be Andrew Anstrom who holds a B.S. in Forest Management from Stephen F Austin. I think that his knowledge of traditional forestry will compliment my knowledge of urban forestry. Gardening Merit Badge: Tim Miller Tim P. Miller has operated Millberg Farm a Certified Organic farm since 1989. A highly diversified 5 acre farm with 140 fruit trees, herbs and vegetables. While working at Austin Community Gardens for 9 years from 1985-1994 I established and taught at 9 school gardens in Austin while maintaining 22 other garden sites in Austin. My farm operates on rainwater only and specializes in heirloom and drought resistant cropping in all plantings. Having worked all my life in the outdoors knowing and working with nature has been a lifetime of experiences. Currently selling my crops through my CSA(Community Supported Agriculture) and some local farmers markets when need be. Geology Merit Badge: John Mikels Mr. Mikels is a hydrogeologist with over thirty years of experience, acquired in both the public and private sectors. Most of his experience is in the areas of groundwater hydrogeology and resources and the environmental assessments for impact by waste and hazardous substances. His experience extends to such areas as: waste injection wells; minerals exploration; regional structural and hydrogeologic characterizations; and geophysical surveys. In recent years the major focus of his professional activities has been on groundwater resource evaluation, development and management in the Central Texas region. Most of Mr. Mikels’ experience has been acquired in Texas; however, he has developed and managed or had significant roles in projects in a number of other States and overseas (Mexico, Taiwan, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe). Mr. Mikels is also active in earthscience outreach activities to Austin area schools (K-12 and teacher workshops). Mr. Mikels is education committee chair for the Austin Geological Society. He was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout attaining Life Rank during his youth in the Rio Grande Valley. Landscape Architecture MB: Sandra Chipley
Sandra earned M.L.A. Landscape Architecture - The University of Texas at Arlington.. She is a licensed Landscape Architect in both Texas and Nevada as well as a certified playground safety inspector. She current is employed as an environmental specialist in the envrionmental affairs division for the Texas Department of Transportation in Austin. Nature Merit Badge: Jennifer Reid, jjejqreid@aol.com Veteran of the US Coast Guard. Drove heavy boats for search and rescue and law enforcement. Attended Central Michigan University, received a BS in Community Development with emphasis in Public Administration. While living in Puerto Rico I discovered I enjoyed teaching. I received my teaching certification in Science 4-8 grade. I'm a science specialist. Have completed over 200 clock hours of science professional development. I taught 5th grade science until my husband retired from the military and moved to Central Texas. Currently I'm active with Troop 101 with my two boys. Looking forward to attending Woodbadge Spring 2012. Oceanography Merit Badge: Sharath Ravula, sharath_ravula@yahoo.com Sharath Ravula's interest in oceanography stems from experiences living in North Africa and traveling Southern Europe as a child. In the last several years, he has spent more time teaching the Oceanography merit badge than he was ever was a Cub Scout. His oceanographic experience while a graduate student at Texas A&M, College Station include several research trips: in Galveston Bay; offshore across the Gulf of Mexico from Galveston to Key West, FL; six weeks at Woods Hole, MA; along the Hawaiian Islands for three weeks; and along the Southeast Atlantic along the South African and Namibian coasts for two months. He has worked for the oil and gas industry either as an engineer in the design of offshore platforms, as a surveyor/oceanographer/technician for oceanic conditions, or sometimes as both! Currently, he works offshore as an oceanographic contractor. Besides the Gulf of Mexico, he has previously worked offshore Brazil, in the east Pacific, and Alaska. He does also enjoy SCUBA diving and traveling. For his merit badge class, Sharath likes to intersperse his slide presentation with stories of his experiences, those of his fellow oceanographers, lab demonstrations, and equipment from Texas A&M's oceanographic department. During the class, participants are taught the necessary objectives to help them earn their Oceanographic merit badge, but an additionally project and paper are required to complete the requirements. Soil and Water Conservation: Jeremy Hasty, jeremy.hasty@tx.usda.gov I grew up in San Angelo, TX and was involved in scouting at a young age. I started out as a Tiger Cub and made the journey through Cub Scouts and into Boy Scouts eventually earning the rank of Eagle Scout. As a Boy Scout I had the opportunity to experience nature in her finest at Philmont Scout Camp. That week instilled my passion for the outdoors and the desire to conserve it for future generations to enjoy. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Angelo State University in 2005. I have been employed since graduation with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service as a Resource Conservationist in Travis County. I enjoy the outdoors whether it’s hunting, fishing, hiking or camping. Weather Merit Badge: Paul Yura Pual works for NOAA at its regional National Weather Service offices in New Braunfels. Wilderness Survival - for Scouters - Doug Hearn I am an Eagle Scout and have been an adult leader for over thirty years. My positions have included Merit Badge Counselor (Wilderness Survival, First Aid, Emergency Preparations, Backpacking, Camping, Engineering, Surveying, etc.), Assistant Scoutmaster, Associate Advisor for Crew 911, Skipper of Sea Scout Ship 911, Wilderness First Aid Course Director / Instructor, Powder Horn Assistant Course Director and Instructor, Capital Area Council Climbing Instructor Training Chair, and National Camp School Instructor for High Adventure Trek Planning. I have extensive training in wilderness survival and ground search and rescue. ----------------------------- Counselors at Large: Dana and Matt Stokes ScoutingStokes@yahoo.com The Stokes will be handling Flag Ceremonies and Scout's Own Service on Sunday morning. They also serve as emergency counselors in case a confirmed counselor has a last minute conflict. |
