This series of articles is designed for scout leaders and parents who want to help scouts achieve the merit badge and enjoy the game of chess.
Each article focuses on an aspect of the badge requirements and offers suggestions for encouraging scouts to learn and share.
If you have questions or suggestions for future articles, don’t hesitate to contact me!
Check out each article below:
After you read the articles, here are a few tips for getting started:
About Jerry Nash:
I am a national chess education consultant. I work not only with the United States Chess Federation (US Chess), but with educators, foundations, and chess enthusiasts across the country to promote chess. I specialize in helping educators use the game of chess as an engaging tool to introduce and reinforce literacy, math, critical thinking, and life skills.
In 2011-12, I had the privilege to serve on the committee that helped formulate the content for the chess merit badge pamphlet. BSA reports that the chess merit badge has been one of its fastest-growing new badges. My goal is to help leaders introduce chess to the next generation of scouts and help them become lifelong players of the royal game!
Note from Jerry Nash: Scout leaders and parents should know that the questions listed in these articles are meant to be used as a starting point and a guide for the type of questions and critical thinking you should be encouraging in your scouts. These questions are mere samples of the kinds of questions that could be asked. By providing a few answers within the articles, we mean to help those new to chess not feel completely overwhelmed with the information, and to help provide context to the type of knowledge that should be gained through the experience. Happy scouting, and happy chess merit badging!