The Lewis and Clark District of the Pony Express Council is excited to host the 2026 Missouri Western State University Merit Badge College on Saturday, March 14.

There will be a total of 17 merit badges as well as some adult training offered at this year's event.

The cost to attend if signed up before 3/1 is $25 per Scout and adult leader, and this includes all program supplies, a patch, and lunch. Registrations between 3/1 and 3/8 will cost $30 per Scout and adult leader. Online registration will close on 3/8 and any call-in or walk-in registrations after that will be allowed but will cost $35 per Scout and adult leader. 

Schedule for the Day 

*** Please note that this is the actual schedule. The computer system has slightly different class period times listed that we are unable to modify, but the times published below are correct.***

Schedule

7 a.m. counselor breakfast (Blum Student Union)
8 to 8:45 a.m. troop check-in (Blum Student Union)
9 to 11:30 a.m. morning session classes (various locations across campus)
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. lunch (Blum Student Union)
12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. afternoon session classes (various locations across campus; Scouts depart after classes end)
3 to 3:30 p.m. counseors turn in paperwork (Blum Student Union)

Registration, including adjustments to classes, will run through 3/8/26. All classes are open until they reach capacity.

The following merit badges are being taught. Adults should NOT sign up for any merit badges, but should only sign up for the Adult Leader Training if taking that. 

Merit Badge/Class- Classroom- Suggested prerequisites- Counselor

Adult Leader Trainings (offered as half-day session in both morning and afternoon):

Safeguarding Youth Training- Agenstein 123
General Training Room- Agenstein 126

Eagle Required Merit Badges:

Citizenship in the Community- Popplewell 102 (all day)- 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 4b, 7a, 7b- Eric Turner
Citizenship in the Nation- Spratt 205 (all day)- 5, 6, 7, 8- Eugene Lickenbrock
Citizenship in the World- Popplewell 201- (all day)- 3a, 3b, 7- Amanda Terhune
Communication- Murphy 109 (all day)- 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8- Tim Murphy
First Aid and Emergency Preparedness- Murphy 105 (all day)- First Aid 2, E Prep 3c- Shawn Harmer
Personal Fitness- Murphy 108 (half day class, a.m. and p.m. sessions offered)- 1a, 1b, 6, 7, 8- Brian Miller 
Personal Management- Murphy 104 (all day)- 1, 2, 9- Tom Jones
Sustainability- Popplewell 101 (all day)- 8a- Erik McGuire

Elective Merit Badges:

Electricity- Murphy 112 (half day class, a.m. and p.m. sessions offered)- 2, 5, 8, 9- Matt Lee
Engineering- Murphy 205 (half day class, a.m. and p.m. sessions offered)- no pre-reqs- Don Payne
Fingerprinting- Spratt 216 (half day class, p.m. session only)- no pre-reqs- Brian Jackson
Fire Safety- Popplewell 111 (half day class, a.m. and p.m. sessions offered)- 6a, 6b- Lisa Harmer
Fishing- Popplewell 207 (all day class)- 1, 4, 5- Christian Muff
Music- Popplewell 202 (half day class, a.m. and p.m. sessions offered)- Paul Hart 
Nuclear Science- Murphy 110 (half day class, a.m. and p.m. sessions offered)- Ryan Maderak
Traffic Safety- Spratt 216 (half day class, a.m. session only)- Brian Jackson

Merit Badge/Advancement Notes:

Please encourage your Scouts to visit with the counselors while in class to verify which requirements are or are not completed. Scouts who take the time to complete preprequisite work or preparation of assignments for merit badges will contribute to a more fun and productive merit badge class for everyone. Scouts who bring either proof of requirements being completed or documentation signed by their parent or Scout leader stating they have completed pre-requisites can ask the counselor to mark the pre-reqs off at the end of class. 

For all badges, please read the merit badge pamphlet. All merit badge pre-reqs and requirements will reflect the new 2026 advencement updates. For the latest requirments, please visit https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/. 

At the conclusion of the event, the counselors will turn in the record sheets to the Council and shortly thereafter we will email out a pdf document by troop showing which badges were completed and/or partially completed. We'll use the Black Pug system to track the merit badge records and can generate completed blue cards upon request if needed.