Watch CBS News

Boy Scouts To Roll Out Robotics Badge

DALLAS (AP) - The Boy Scouts will be rolling out a new robotics badge next week as part of the Texas-based organization's move toward teaching its members modern skills.

Scouts officials tell The Dallas Morning News that the organization is adapting to reflect changes in kids' interests. The first patch will be awarded in Boston next Saturday.

Scouts must design, build, program and test a robot to earn the badge, which features NASA's Mars Rover. NASA has agreed to take 100 patches into space on the Endeavour shuttle mission.

Former NASA scientist and Eagle Scout Ken Berry helped develop the robotics badge program over the last 14 months. He says it will make scouts more competitive in universities and in the job market.

The Scouts has about 2.7 million members nationwide.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.