To pique interest in the field, AWS helped the Boy Scouts of America establish a welding merit badge, according to this Chicago Tribune article. In addition to serving the long-time BSA motto “be prepared,” AWS is hoping some scouts will view welding as a career opportunity, even though some were not immediately enamored with the high heat and often long process involved. However, in a field where the average age is 55, any recruiting technique is a positive thing.