Scout On In Central Illinois – Scouts Are Not Afraid to Get Dirty!
Jan 15, 2025 03:41PM ● By Scott Fishel
You know who Mike Rowe is, right? He’s not from around here, but some of his ideas and efforts are having an impact on Scouting and Scouts in Central Illinois. The celebrated, wisecracking host of Dirty Jobs is a tireless promoter of the virtues and values of vocational education and careers in the skilled trades.
Did I mention that Mike is also an Eagle Scout? He earned the highest rank in Scouting in 1979 and was honored as a Distinguished Eagle Scout in 2012. He has been known to invoke the Scout Law when he advises Scouts that, “A Scout is Clean, but not afraid to get dirty.”
Through the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, Mike promotes a notion that most of us can agree with: Our modern world could not function without plumbers, electricians, steamfitters, carpenters, bricklayers, farmers, and other skilled workers. We all know this, but we can sometimes take it for granted. The reality is, every time you flush a toilet, flip on a light, drive a car, or sit down to a meal, you have these highly trained, often underappreciated professionals to thank.
The Scouting merit badge program — which is designed to help young people explore their community and learn about career options — encourages the skilled trades with a dozen or more offerings. Sadly, Pigeon Raising and Rabbit Raising are no longer offered, but there are many other modern careers represented, like: American Labor, Automotive Maintenance, Electricity, Farm Mechanics, Home Repairs, Metalwork, Mining in Society, Plumbing, Railroading, Truck Transportation, Welding and Woodworking.
Each of these merit badges challenges young men and women to learn how they can have a financially rewarding and personally satisfying career that makes a difference in people’s lives. No one is saying that working as a plumber or welder or truck driver is any better or worse than an accountant, engineer, or medical professional. All of these occupations are needed to make our world function.
The way I see it, these merit badges chip away at the notion that Scouting teaches skills that have no application in “real life.” I’ve written before about how skills like knot tying, fire starting and first aid can come in handy, or even save someone’s life. Learning about a career as an electrician, plumber, auto mechanic, truck driver or other trade brings the value of Scouting even closer to home.
I can almost guarantee that a few of the workers you have hired to build or repair your home, fix your car, unclog the kitchen sink, or grow the food you eat were inspired in Scouting to pursue their occupation. Of the 139 merit badges currently being offered, there is at least one that would be the perfect fit for your son or daughter.
Everyone always says it’s great to have a doctor or a lawyer in the family. That’s certainly true, but as Distinguished Eagle Scout Mike Rowe reminds us, a plumber, electrician, or auto mechanic can come in handy, too. Learn more about the Scouting merit badge program at www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all.
Scout On!
Scott Fishel wears several hats in Scouting, including a longtime association with Troop 178 and Troop 1178 in Morton. You can contact him at [email protected]. Find a Scout unit in your community at beascout.org.