Geology Jamboree brings Boy Scouts to Diamond Mines

MINES

By David Robinson

Jason Safford, CEO of The Safflyn Corporation, gives a presentation to the Boy Scouts participating in the Geology Jamboree at Herkimer Diamond Mines Inc., on Saturday. The scouts gathered at the pavilion to learn about “going green.”

Advertisement

By David Robinson

Evening Telegram

Mon Oct 27, 2008, 10:13 AM EDT

Story Tools: Email ThisEmail This |  Print ThisPrint This

Herkimer, N.Y. -

 Boy Scouts from six states spent Saturday learning about everything earth.
As part of the 10th Northeast Boy Scout Geology Jamboree at Herkimer Diamond Mines, over 400 scouts participated in educational workshops in an attempt to obtain their Geology Merit Badge.
However, a couple of the instructors admitted the badges were more like a foregone conclusion.
Michael Bickerstaff, an environmental consultant from Maryland, addressed teams of scouts about the impact of their actions.
“I told them to think about what you’re doing before you do it,” he said.
Using a demonstration of dye and soap filtering into water, the message was clear: “Everything we do has a consequence,” said Bickerstaff.
Renee’ Scialdo Shevat, head educator and mine owner, said the visitors enjoyed learning “every aspect of geology, but admitted “it’s also fun to see the scouts make new friends...they’re having a great time.”
A lot of the scouts were also repeat attendees, having already earned their badge, who wanted to relive the experience.
Michael Whitton, earth science teacher at Herkimer High School, provided a lesson focusing on the basic elements of the earth, such as the hardness of minerals and their application in daily life.
He said the attentive scouts wanted to know about the uses of each element, “They were very well informed, and asked really good questions. Reuse, renew recycle; they already knew it,”
Jason Safford, CEO of The Safflyn Corporation, gave a presentation on “going green” that emphasized the scouts’ status as the future stewards of the earth.
He talked about terms such as carbon footprint, eco-friendly, and renewable energy as the vocabulary the aspiring conservationist will use with increasing familiarity.
But the future appeared to be in good hands as there didn’t seem to be any lack of enthusiasm or knowledge in the group.
When Safford asked the scouts about going into the woods and “How do you leave it?,” the packed pavilion responded in unison, “The same or better than when you found it.”