Over 50 Scouts spent a full day recently, learning about land surveying at Clark College in Vancouver, WA. Troop leaders and parents helped the Scouts learn about the survey profession as a career and earn their Scout Merit Badge in Surveying. About six Professional Land Surveyors (PLS’s) from Oregon and Washington, along with Clark College faculty and students helped in the instruction and field exercises.
The all-day event included was aimed at encouraging future careers in surveying. Scouts got hands on experience in total stations, commercial GPS units and automatic levels. Clark College provided the equipment, while faculty and students set up the event for several groups to take part simultaneously. A polygon was staked out and Scouts used the total stations on one corner and complete radial measurement of distance and angle for the other 4 corners.
Scouts were also tasked with measurements of 5 other features around their lot. 3 of the 5 were measured with a GPS unit for position, so they could compare distance between the two. Scouts also used an automatic level to measure elevation for each corner and calculate each corner based on known elevation. With all their elevation collected, they could then sketch a map of the polygon, with features of all the correct distances, angles and elevations.
The event was held Saturday, June 6, 2026. Thanks to Clark College faculty member, Brian Miyake, for contributing to this report and pictures.
