Innovation Challenge

Any Boy Scouts doing the Inventing merit badge? How about Cub Scouts doing the Science, Computers, or Mathematics belt loops? Or maybe Webelos working on Engineer or Scientist activity badges?
Any of these guys might be prime candidates to enter the BSA Innovation Challenge this spring.

Edison Nation and the BSA are asking youth from 7 to 21 years old to put on their inventing hats and come up with ideas that could be made and sold in stores. Edison Nation will do the design, prototype, and patents of any selected inventions. The inventor splits royalties.
All the details are at BSA Innovation Challenge page.


Reading through the requirements, I did notice that each entry costs $25 - ouch. But, their information says, "Each entry will be reviewed by a team of Edison Nation product development and intellectual property experts. Your submission fee helps defray a portion of the actual cost of reviewing each submission."
So, I guess it's to cut down on Pet Rock type inventions but I hope it doesn't eliminate some great idea from a kid without a wallet.

A program like this might be just the thing to get a few scouts interested in doing the Inventing merit badge. By going through the process, many of the merit badge requirements can be completed and there is a reason for doing them.
The deadline for the program is May 7, so doing the merit badge during these cold months would work out great for most troops.

Using your mind to help solve problems and create new things is a great way to be a productive citizen.

Here's a video explaining the Edison Nation program:


Scout On