Jacksonville, FL — April 14, 2005 — Clary & Associates Professional Surveyors and Mappers partnered with members of the Black Creek District of the Boy Scouts of America to teach a group of interested Scouts the requirements of the Surveying Merit Badge.
As required by the Boy Scouts of America, a licensed surveyor must teach the objectives Scouts must achieve in order to earn the Surveying Merit Badge. Clary & Associates’ four-man team of Kris Knapp (Rodman), Matt Jennings (Crew Chief), Josh Wilkie (Instrument Man) and Christian Hawes (Instrument Man) collectively served as the required Certified Merit Badge Counselor for the Scouts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 19th at the Clay County Fairgrounds.
“We are proud to support the Boy Scouts in its vast curriculum,” said Greg Clary, founder and president of Clary & Associates. “As a Scout, people look at you with respect and honor because of your personal ethics and educational achievements. As professional surveyors and mappers, our work is performed with the highest level of skill and integrity. The Boy Scouts operate with the same philosophy, making the purpose of our role instructional and a reinforcement of the values of the organization.”
Incorporated in 1910 and chartered by Congress in 1916, its mission as stated by the Boy Scouts of America is to “prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.” Through its educational program, Scouts have the opportunity for advancement within a ranking system: Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and the renowned Eagle. It is estimated that less than three percent of all Scouts receive the Eagle Scout Award.
While the achievement of each rank becomes increasingly difficult, Scouts also have the opportunity to earn merit badges in more than 120 subjects. Merit badges serve as introductions to specific life skills, career fields, or subjects of interest and fun.
To achieve the most honored and highest rank of Eagle, Scouts must earn 10 merit badges in subjects of their choosing, and earn an additional 11 merit badges in required subjects. The required badges involve subject matter central to the fundamental Scouting values: Camping, Citizenship in the Community; Citizenship in the Nation; Citizenship in the World; Communications, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, Family Life, Swimming, Lifesaving and Environmental Science.
The Surveying Merit Badge (Badge #109) is one of the original badges approved in the early 1900s by the Boy Scouts of America. With the most recent change having occurred last year, requirements for the merit badge are periodically updated to keep pace with the continuous technological advancements applied within the surveying and mapping industry.
Assisting the Scouts in meeting all of the Surveying Merit Badge requirements, the Clary & Associates team gave instruction in the following areas: Computing height and distance, completing a five-sided horizontal traverse, completing a level run through the five-sided traverse (adding elevation to each point), and transferring the field notes to a map. These exercises involved the use and application of automatic levels, robotic total stations, basic geometry and the latest technology available to surveyors today.
As the Certified Merit Badge Counselor, Clary & Associates acquainted with the Scouts a variety of instruments used in land surveying and mapping. The company also imparted the educational and professional requirements of surveyors, as well as information on a multitude of available career opportunities and professional societies.
According to the Kansas Society of Land Surveyors, the Boy Scouts offer eight merit badges relating to professional societies, including: Engineering, Architecture, Geology and Surveying. Several additional merit badges are indirectly tied to surveying, such as orienteering and astronomy.
“We welcome the opportunity to work with our youth in achieving positive goals,” said Clary. “We take an active role in our community, and have been a long-time supporter of local non-profit and charitable causes. Recently, we provided mapping information for the popular Walk for Jesus that took place during Super Bowl week. We also regularly support a variety of Pine Castle’s programs, such as our purchase of surveying stakes made by disabled residents and employees. Our city offers a huge number of worthwhile, charitable and community programs, and we look forward to continuing our relationships with many of them.”
Since 1983, Clary & Associates, Inc. has been making its mark as a leading provider of professional surveying and mapping services. Specializing in large-scale residential and commercial land development projects, Clary & Associates has a well-earned reputation for delivering high performance and value. By blending innovation and integrity, founder Greg Clary and his team of skilled professionals are committed to maintaining the highest standards of excellence while serving clients in the real estate, architecture, engineering and transportation industries, as well as state and local government.
Clary & Associates, Inc. provides a wide range of surveying and mapping services, including: Boundary, topographical, wetland and condominium surveys, as well as transportation design and right-of-way surveys, subsurface utility designation and excavation, and GIS Mapping.
Clary & Associates is located at 3830 Crown Point Road in Jacksonville. For more information, please call (904) 260-2703, or visit www.claryassoc.com.
