Huskies Patrol Takes a Career Trip

By KIM MORERA | Huskies Patrol Leader

On Saturday February 8th from 1:30-3:30pm my patrol, the Huskies of Troop 223G, met with Steve Dunn, the CEO and founder of popular baby products brand Munchkin.

When we all first arrived, we were looking at the big logo that stood in front of their main door. We couldn’t figure out what it was. Marisol thought it was a heart, I thought it was the letter B, and Jaylnn said it was an M. Later, Mr. Dunn confirmed it’s a sideways heart that serves at the dot in the letter I in their logo.

Then, we settled into a conference room that Mr. Dunn and Munchkin Head Design Engineer Michael Dillane had prepared and individualized for our patrol. Each seat had each Husky’s name on it, and a customized no-spill cup and rubber ducky waiting for us. They also had cupcakes and popcorn just for us, it was so nice of them.

Mr. Dunn’s goal was for us to have fun while he taught us about entrepreneurship and innovation in regards to what he’s done with Munchkin.

We played a game of “better” or “different” where he showed us different products and their patents and asked us whether we think it’s better or different. It consisted of a glass baby bottle lined with silicone to be no-slip which we all said was better as it improved the state of current baby bottles.

There was also a diaper trash can that opened and closed with automatic sensors which we said was another “better” design because it can help parents who are holding a kid in one hand and just need to throw in the diaper.

He also showed us a rubber ducky that, when placed inside a bathtub, will turn a different color on the bottom to signal that the water is too hot for a baby. Mr. Dunn explained to us that he identified a problem that babies were getting burned because parents were not aware that the bathwater is too hot and unsafe for their babies’ bodies, so he innovated this ingenious idea that actually saves babies’ lives. Products like those are the epitome of what Munchkin strives for, either making a new category completely or just bettering what’s already out there in different ways.

Afterwards, Mr. Dunn showed us around the Munchkin Headquarters, warehouse, and offices which felt like a museum (reminded me of MOMA in New York City)! Lining the hallways and in every room was art from famous artists like Banksy (I was in awe) to cool pieces his daughter made. It didn’t feel like a boring corporate office building at all, but a lively place bursting with culture.

He showed us around where Munchkin designs and tests prototypes and showed us designs that will never make it in stores and that were just part of brainstorming. We walked through the warehouse that had a pickleball court and bar exclusively for employees and the lunchroom that looked like a fancy restaurant!

We walked around some more in the outside area of Munchkin then went back inside to ask final questions and to take a group photo. We ended up going a bit overtime but no one cared because we were all so interested in the presentation and what Mr. Dunn had to say. Even the parents were engaged!

Overall, this trip was a success and I’m so grateful it ended up working out. My original career trip guide wasn’t able to make it so I sent an email to the parents of my patrol to see if anyone had any connections with someone willing to help lead a career trip for our patrol and Marisol’s mom, Melissa, so kindly helped me coordinate it.

Parents of fifth- or sixth-graders who want to learn more or visit a 223 Troop meeting can contact Greg Frost at frostfamily@frostinvestigations.com (Boys) or Scoutmaster Larry Kirven at lkirven@gmail.com (Girls).