USA fleet member PSEG Nuclear recently hosted a successful Nuclear Science Merit Badge workshop for area Boy Scouts at its Energy & Environmental Resource Center (EERC). Now in its fourth year, more than 600 Boy Scouts have visited the EERC to earn one of the more elusive merit badges.

“The workshop is well received and popular among the scouting community,” explained PSEG Nuclear’s Theresa Widger who coordinates the workshop and runs the EERC. “There is an extensive waiting list and based on its popularity we plan on expanding the number of workshops next year.”

The scouts participated in a number of activities including a visit to the Hope Creek control room training simulator, tested everyday items for radioactivity and a cloud chamber activity using dry ice to help them better understand radiation. The day also included a discussion on energy and the environment as well as a scavenger hunt through the EERC exhibits.

Boy Scouts use a backlight to examine uranium glass during the Nuclear Science Merit Badge workshop.