The Santa Clara Valley Carvers held a Wood Carving Merit Badge workshop for registered Scouts on September 10 and 17, 2026. Both sessions took place at the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council of Scouting America (SVMBC) office at 1900 The Alameda #100 in San Jose, where our club also meets every Thursday evening. Four SVMBC Merit Badge Counselors who are also SCVC club members shared their passion for woodcarving with scouts again this year: Dan Brady, John Parissenti, Mike Campi, and Nitin Varshney.
The workshop filled up quickly, with all ten spots taken in just two weeks. Although ten Scouts signed up, only five attended, leaving three counselors for five students. The atmosphere was quiet and focused, making it ideal for learning a craft that needs patience and a steady hand.
Safety Before the First Cut
Every carving journey starts with safety. Nitin Varshney, an SVMBC Merit Badge Counselor, a club member, and a leader for both Scouts and Cub Scouts, led the first session. He covered the basics: how to hold a carving knife, why you should carve away from the body, and how to hold a wooden block to prevent accidents.
Before using any tools, the Scouts put on thumb guards and cut-resistant gloves and learned where the first aid kit was. Knowing where the kit is before you need it is an important part of the workshop.
Tools, Teaching, and the Art of Sharpening
Teaching was a group effort. Dan Brady, an SVMBC Merit Badge Counselor and our club secretary, showed the Scouts how to whittle and do relief carving. He explained why basswood is a good wood to start with and how the grain affects each cut. After that, John Parissenti ran the sharpening bench, showing the Scouts how to use a stone to make an edge and a strop to polish it.
The club supplied everything the Scouts needed, including basswood blocks, carving knives, palm gouges, bench hooks, sharpening supplies, and even pencils. Club president Roman Chernikov also spoke to the group, talking about geometric and free-style chip carving patterns and showing a special chip carving knife along with finished pieces.
Mike Campi, an SVMBC Merit Badge Counselor and a Scout leader who often joins our workshops, helped with the technical details. He handled the merit badge paperwork and sign-offs and gave one-on-one help at the tables with other SVMBC Merit Badge Counselors: Dan, Nitin, and John.
Carving Beside the Club
One of the best things about the workshop is where it happens. The Scouts worked in the same room as our regular Thursday night club meeting. With club members carving nearby, the Scouts could ask for advice or watch how someone made a certain cut.
To inspire the Scouts, members set up tables with finished projects. The Scouts could pick up the pieces, feel the different textures and finishes, and ask the carvers how they made them. The displays included everything from decorative spoons to detailed puzzles.
Creative Projects and Earned Badges
To earn the badge, Scouts had to finish two projects: one carving in the round and one in relief.
Most of the ‘in the round’ projects were creative versions of butter knives and letter openers, while the relief carvings showed a lot of imagination. The designs included reliefs of Egyptian pyramids, an oak leaf, a circular flower opening up, a cobra wrapped around the board, and a mysterious logo for a language one Scout invented.
Since good carving takes time, the Scouts came back for extra evenings during our regular meetings to finish their projects. By the second follow-up, all five Scouts had completed their projects and earned the Wood Carving Merit Badge, and one even joined the club.
Looking Ahead to 2027
We usually hold one Scout workshop each year, most often in the fall. You can read about our February 2025 class or look at photos from September 2025. Our next workshop is planned for 2027, so subscribe to our newsletter or check the club calendar for updates.
We thank the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council of Scouting America for giving us the space and for their ongoing partnership. Guests are always welcome to visit during our carving hours. You can find details about times and locations on our homepage.
Teaching woodcarving to the next generation is one of the best parts of being in our club. We look forward to seeing these new carvers keep growing.
You can also read about our scouting workshops in September 2025 and February 2025.
Leave a Reply