Oct 10 2007
About the Merit Badge
History of the Merit Badge and Brenda Borden - Chief Project Manager
Anyone who has met Brenda Borden has probably heard that she’d love to see the Boy Scouts of America institute a Dog Mushing Merit Badge….after all the Girl Scouts have one! She has been working on this idea since 2001. When Brenda’s husband, Bill Borden, signed up for his Iditarod run at the 2001 Volunteer Picnic, he wore his Class A uniform and had 3 Scouts with him. They started a petition in favor of the badge at that time. Since then Brenda has gotten a Proclamation from Iditarod Trail Committee in favor of this badge and the same from the Yukon Quest and Race to the Sky of Montana. Besides lots of signatures on the petition, Brenda has gathered some letters urging BSA to create the badge from various interested parties including Eagle Scout mushers, Aaron Burmeister and Iditarod Champion Dick Mackey. She has a proclamation from one of her US Senators. It was an impressive package that was sent to BSA Advancement Committee in 2006….which they turned down, and with no explanation. So, when the most recent Eagletter with ‘Eagle Scout volunteers as Iditarod Vet’ on the cover came in the mail for her son, Jordan Lolley who is a Gold Palm Eagle Scout, she decided to renew her effort to make this badge a reality. Brenda and I still think it is a great idea! Even Northern Tier High Adventure camp offers dog sledding as part of the winter activities in Ely, MN. Wouldn’t it be great for Scouts to be able to earn a badge to go with all this fun stuff?
Brenda and Bill have been very involved in their son’s Scouting career as well as with other Scouts in their area. They started Troop and Pack 412 at Summit Baptist Church in Acworth, Georgia. Bill was on the National Jamboree Staff in 2005 in Caroline County Virginia and has been a Cubmaster of Troop 422 as well as Scoutmaster of Troop 412.
About Christian Hollingsworth - Webmaster and Internet Relations
Christian is just the crazy kid who manages the e-petition and DMMB website. He is also an avid scouter, and is on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout. He is a proud supporter of the Dog Mushing Merit Badge and can’t wait until it becomes a reality…which will only take some help from all of you!
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