Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - North of Expected - AS hosts Aviation Merit Badge College

Alaska Dispatch (http://www.alaskadispatch.com/blogs/bush-pilot/2750-boy-scouts-earn-aviation-merit-badges)


Boy Scouts earn aviation merit badges
Alaska Airlines and more than 70 employee volunteers helped a group of Seattle-area Boy Scouts discover the magic of flight during the carrier's first Aviation Merit Badge Day. Sponsored in cooperation with the Chief Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the event attracted a sellout crowd of more than 160 Scouts.
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This is awesome AS! I've been involved in Scouting ever since I was a Tiger Cub, and to see my airline doing this is phenomenal, and all the employees on hand to help out too including the CEO & President! :cool: When I saw this I just had to post about it :p

Alaska Dispatch (http://www.alaskadispatch.com/blogs/bush-pilot/2750-boy-scouts-earn-aviation-merit-badges)



This is awesome AS! I've been involved in Scouting ever since I was a Tiger Cub, and to see my airline doing this is phenomenal, and all the employees on hand to help out too including the CEO & President! :cool: When I saw this I just had to post about it :p
So, what's required to earn the merit badge? Earning MVP status? :D

If so, beckoa...how many merit badges are they going to give you retroactively? :p

So, what's required to earn the merit badge? Earning MVP status? :D

If so, beckoa...how many merit badges are they going to give you retroactively? :p

:(

Sadly I never did earn Aviation. I'm sure I fulfilled all the requirements... but just didn't do the paperwork (kinda like not claiming miles on a flight)

But a very cool program, and hope they expand it to ANC (and that I can attend :p)

I have 2 boys in scouts. We are part of the council. I never heard of this opportunity and do not want to miss it. Was it promoted by either AS or the council?

I have 2 boys in scouts. We are part of the council. I never heard of this opportunity and do not want to miss it. Was it promoted by either AS or the council?

Sounds like it was promoted internally at AS to find volunteers, and by the Chief Seattle Council for scouts to show up.

Here's Chief Seattle's page:
http://www.seattlebsa.org/AviationMB.htm


Alaska Airlines & Chief Seattle Council BSA Aviation Merit Badge Clinic
We apologize, this clinic is now at full capacity.

Due to overwhelming demand, we will be hosting another clinic next year. Thank you for your interest!
General Schedule
8:00 am
Scouts begin arriving
8:30 am
Program Begins. Introduction & General Aviation Class
9:00 - 12:00 pm
Morning Breakout Sessions
12:10 - 1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
4:00 pm - 5:00
Meet with Merit Badge Counselors
5:00 pm
Program Ends

Program will run from 8:30 to 5pm. Please plan to arrive between 8am and 8:30. Pick-up Scouts at 5pm.

Enough requirements will be available to complete the Merit Badge. It is up to the Scout to insure they make it to the classes offered that day. The requirements will be accomplished through a series of classroom sessions and tours of aircraft and airport facilities. The day will also include a glider making contest to satisfy requirements. Merit Badge Counselors will be on hand at the end of the day to review the requirements with the Scouts and sign the blue card if applicable.

This is the first of what we hope to make an annual event sponsored by Alaska Airlines and the Chief Seattle Council. We will plan this same clinic at approximately the same time next year if you are unable to attend this year.

Description of Days Activity from Permission Slip:
The Clinic is co-sponsored by Chief Seattle Council and Alaska Airlines. It will begin at 8:00am and end at 5:00pm.

The clinic will be held in a classroom setting and in the Alaska Hangar at SEATAC international airport. Transportation between the Alaska Flight Operations Building (Classrooms) and the Hangar will be provided by the Port of Seattle, Airport Employee Bus department using professional full time bus drivers.

All classes and hands on instruction will be provided by Alaska Airlines employee volunteers and staff from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Port of Seattle Airport Management. Scouts will be organized into Patrols of 10 Scouts and use the buddy system during the Clinic.

Lunch will be provided free by the Air Line Pilots Association. Please have Scouts bring a pen or pencil; and both the pre-printed Blue Card and a signed copy of this permission slip. Parent or guardians are encouraged to accompany the Scout through registration and the Introduction, but limited accommodations for non-participants are available during the day.

The Parent or Guardian must be available at the emergency phone number provided throughout the day and are encouraged to pick the Scout up promptly at 5:00 pm.


Oh, and here's another blog on the event:

http://www.b-townblog.com/2009/10/27/160-boy-scouts-earn-first-ever-aviation-merit-badges-at-sea-tac-airport/


Most residents of the Pacific Northwest would think that Boy Scouts participating in a day-long event to earn a merit badge on a mostly sunny Saturday in late October would be hiking in the Cascade Mountains or exploring the Puget Sound shoreline.

But such was not the case on Oct. 24, when 160 scouts packed classrooms at the Alaska Airlines Flight Operations Center in SeaTac and visited the company’s hangar at Sea-Tac International Airport for a close look at a Boeing 737-700 – inside and out.


Oh, and welcome to Flyertalk SeattleMadrona and the Alaska Airlines Forum! :cool: