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Exploring Career Achievement Award - Skilled Trades
Exploring Post
2021 requirements, effective May 1, 2021
Requirements
Complete nine of the following achievements:
1.
Do the following:
(a)
Identify five different kinds of wood and state each wood's characteristics and suitability for different purposes.
(b)
Make a tabletop display or presentation on this subject to your post, another post, or a community youth group.
2.
Do the following:
(a)
Learn how to use five different hand tools and demonstrate their use to a group.
(b)
Demonstrate the safe use of common power tools, such as an electric drill, power saw, sander, or nail gun.
(c)
Learn and demonstrate important safety features of various power tools.
3.
Do the following:
(a)
Learn how and then demonstrate how to properly care for tools.
(b)
Learn how to sharpen a chisel or plane.
(c)
Learn how to sand wood manually and with a power sander.
(d)
Learn how to make a simple 45-degree miter cut, and then learn how to make a compound miter cut.
4.
Do the following:
(a)
Build a shelf, birdhouse, flower box, or other wood project using hand tools.
(b)
Lead a community youth group, school class, or day-care center group in building a wood project.
5.
Do the following:
(a)
Learn and demonstrate how to read blueprints.
(b)
Design a blueprint for a personal project or help another Explorer or youth develop a blueprint.
6.
Do one of the following:
Complete 1 of the following
(a)
Tour a residential or commercial job site to watch carpenters at work, or work as an assistant for a day.
(b)
Work on a construction project, such as one for Habitat for Humanity.
7.
Do the following:
(a)
Learn and demonstrate mechanical drawing skills by making detailed drawings of a mechanical device.
(b)
Visit a drafting company that uses a computer-aided design (CAD) system to see how computers are used in design work.
8.
Do the following:
(a)
Make a schematic drawing that explains how hot and cold water pipes work in your home.
(b)
Learn how to protect pipes from freezing in cold weather.
(c)
Learn the advantages and disadvantages of using PVC and copper pipe for plumbing purposes. Determine code requirements for using these materials in your area.
(d)
Make a tabletop display or presentation for a group on this subject.
9.
Do the following:
(a)
Arrange a tour of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) facility.
(b)
After the tour, lead a post discussion on the function and job requirements of that facility.
10.
Do the following:
(a)
Learn how manual and automatic automobile transmissions work.
(b)
Learn how the entire drive train of an automobile works.
11.
Do the following:
(a)
Take down and reassemble a carburetor or equivalent part.
(b)
Learn the function of several different tools mechanics use, including computer diagnostic equipment.
12.
Do one of the following:
Complete 1 of the following
(a)
Develop a plan to use your acquired skilled trades' skills to help your community, such as building or fixing something in a day-care center, school, or community center.
(b)
Use your skilled trades' skills as a volunteer on a Habitat for Humanity project or similar construction project.
13.
Explain 10 electrical terms, such as volt, ampere, watt, ohm, resistance, potential difference, rectifier, rheostat, conductor, ground, circuit, or short circuit.
14.
Attend a regional or national skilled trades career conference as a staff member or a participant.