Scouts Earn Merit Badge At BussardShowing dedication and giving up a chance to sleep in, 13 Scouts from Troop 715 were on hand Saturday morning at Bussard Automotive and Performance to earn a merit badge.
The Scouts, including a couple of Eagle Scouts, were at Bussard's to learn about automotive maintenance.
The tutorial, led by owner Kim Bussard and his son Brandon, took about two hours and ranged in topics from general maintenance to learning about engines.Saturday was the third year Bussard's opened its doors to Troop 715.
Bussard and Scout leader Keith Lafountain were childhood friends and Lafountain asked if Bussard would help the Scouts earn an automotive merit badge.
The troop, a Warsaw troop sponsored by the Claypool Lions Club, currently has about 20 members, according to Scoutmaster Richard McCleary.
The Bussards started the morning by showing the kids a muscle car at their shop.
"The kids are really into the fun stuff," said Brandon.
"They get the kids attention with the street rods, racecars and classics they have," said Lafountain.
While the Scouts earn a merit badge, Kim Bussard said their reward is less tangible.
"It's just the satisfaction of helping the kids," said Kim. "We really enjoy it.
"They'll show them really practical stuff like how to change a tire or check their oil," said Lafountain. "They learn a lot of stuff as they're getting closer to driving that they'll need to know."
And according to Kim Bussard, the kids are paying attention during the demonstrations.
"They're almost always asking great questions," said Kim. "They're active and really paying attention."
