scouting

Scouting Merit Badge Workshops

From Thomas Oakes, PA Certified Art Teacher (K-12)
& Ceramic instructor at the Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC)

CALC is a non-profit organization offering ceramic merit badges to scouting programs at a discount. This is one of many programs that CALC seeks in our mission of exposing the arts to our community. I have run this program since 2000 for Brownies, Jr troop Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Senior Troop Girl Scouts, daycares, and the US Army War College Youths and Services program. Large groups have come in on their own, and scout troops have teamed up to come in together. Without assistance I have educated groups as large as 29 and I have facilitated a girl scout day of ceramic crafts of 42 Jr troop scouts in multiple activities. A Troop leader or an appointed activities leader is required during the educational experience.

I can offer three programs for scouts. Two are simple two day hands on project oriented clay experiences, and the other is the full Senior Scout Clay Merit Badge program. The difference is the cost, the number of projects, and the hours of student time.

THE SMALL PROGRAM: (age 5-9 -- Brownies and young Cubscouts)
A Ceramic Introduction

We meet a first time to demonstrate wheel throwing and introduce the scouts to a working studio ( 1& 1/2 hour session) . On the first day we will then make one project (usually a Garden Flower Plaque for Brownies or pinch-pot box for young cub scouts). We need about a two week time period for the projects to dry and get fired. We then meet a second time to review kiln firing (1 hour session). On the second visit we then glaze the projects. I will then fire the projects again for a glazed finish(glass finish). I then call you to pick up the boxed projects usually within a week from the second visit.

The class cost of $10.00 for each scout, (we request a minimum of 14 scouts or the equivalent $140 for this program). We try our best keep our costs down for scout programs.

This cost will cover the use of CALC (a non-profit art center), art instruction, studio tools, clay, glaze or paint,
and two kiln firings.

THE MEDIUM PROGRAM:
(age 7-14 -- Jr. Troop Girl Scouts, older Cubscouts and younger Boyscouts)
A Ceramic Experience

We meet a first time to demonstrate wheel throwing and introduce the scouts to a working studio ( 1 & 1/2 to 2 hour session) . On the first day we will make two projects that meet requirements for different processes (usually a coil, and pinch pot box). We need about a two week time period for the projects to dry and get fired. We then meet a second time to review what was discussed about ceramics, processes, and kiln firing(about a 1 & 1/2 hour session). On the second visit we glaze the projects. I will then fire the projects again for a glazed finish (glass finish). I will call you to pick up the boxed projects usually within a week from the second visit.

The class cost of $18.00 for each scout, (we request a minimum of 12 scouts or the equivalent $216 for this program). We try our best keep our costs down for scout programs.

This cost will cover the use of CALC (a non-profit art center), art instruction, instructional handouts, studio tools, clay, glaze or paint, and two kiln firings.

THE LARGE PROGRAM:
Detailed program aimed to meet certain Boyscout requirements
This program can be adapted to fit the ceramic craft requirements
in the Senior Girlscout Craft Merit Badge
Full Boyscout Ceramic Merit Badge

Through a Boy Scout certified ceramic merit badge counselor the course requirements will cover what it should take for Boy Scouts to complete the badge.

Requirements I have from 2002: Pottery merit badge

Explain the properties and ingredients of a good clay body for pottery.

Make two drawings of pottery forms. These are to be on paper at least eight and a half by eleven inches.

One must be a recognized pottery type. the other must be of your own design.

Explain the meaning of the following pottery terms:

bat, wedging, throwing, leather dry, bone dry, greenware, bisque, terracotta, grog, slip, earthenware,

stoneware, porcelain, pyrometric cone, glaze.

Do three of the following. Each is to be painted, glazed or otherwise decorated by you:

a) make a flat tray or dish.

b) make a box, using the slab method

c) make a vase or jar, using the coil method.

d) make four different tiles of your own design

e) make a human or animal figurine or decorative design

f) throw a simple vase on a potter's wheel

g) make a pottery form and help to fire it.

Make a rough drawing of a potter's wheel. Tell how it works

Do ONE of the following:

a) Explain the scope of the ceramic industry in the United States. Tell some of the things made, other than craft pottery.

b) Visit a pottery, brickyard, ceramic plant, trade school, or workshop. Take notes on how pottery is made. Describe your visit.

Proposed educational opportunity at CALC

Visit #1 (2 1/2 hours)

Instruction (requirement #1)
(studio introduction and clay basics, preparing clay for use from reclaiming to wedging)
Describe (requirement #2) to be checked at visit #3
Preparing slabs for visit #2
Make a coil vase (requirement #4c)
make four different tiles of your own design (requirement #4d)

Visit #2 (1 1/2 hours)

	Make a slab box with prepared slabs (requirement #4b) Wheel demonstration and further studio familiarization (requirement 5, 6b)
Visit #3 (1 hour)
	Prepare the kiln in loading and firing a bisque firing (in requirement #4g) Check and discuss student drawings (requirement #2)(requirement #5) Discuss terms and properties (revisiting requirement #1 and #3)
Visit #4 (2 hours)
	Unload bisque kiln, glaze projects, and reload kiln for glaze firing (requirement #4g)
Visit #5 (1/2 hour)
	Unload kiln and discuss trip notes (requirement 4g, 6b)
Visit #1 and #2 can be combined into a weekend visit of 4 hours, if older students have the stamina, and choose to do so.
This is an outline of what I can offer in ceramic instruction to cover the Boy Scouts Pottery Merit Badge. A Certified Merit Badge counselor is open to certifying Boy Scouts to this educational program. The total teaching time is about 7 and 1/2 hours of instruction, but this will fully teach the scouts about ceramics. The costs to be paid to CALC is $36 dollars per scout, with a minimum of 12 scouts attending(we request a minimum of 10 scouts or the equivalent $432 for this program) This cost will cover the use of CALC(a non-profit art center), art instruction, instructional handouts, studio tools, clay, glaze, and two kiln firings.