![[BADGE]](../art/2490.gif)
Merit Badge Outline For
| Introduction | Your challenge as a summer camp merit badge counselor is to see that the Scouts who attend your session have the best opportunity to learn about nature. It is important that they have a positive experience. This lesson plan is designed to help you plan a logical, high quality program experience. You may have to use a slightly different approach in presenting the material based on your camp resources and facilities. |
| Resources | Be sure to utilize all the resources available to you. There are many state and federal agencies that can provide you with a variety of materials and support to help you present the Nature merit badge program. |
| Special Note | In order to have requirement 4b (birds) the Scout must have a birdhouse or feeder set out at least 1 month before coming to camp and bring with him a list of birds. The list should be initialed by the Scoutmaster. In requirement 4b (soil and rocks) the Scout may need to bring five different rocks from his area to camp. Requirement 5 also takes 30 days to complete and should be completed before attending camp. This should be shared with troops before summer camp. |
|
|
|||
| DAY | ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION | |
|
|
|||
| 1 | Greet Scouts | A. | Examine all merit badge cards for the Scoutmaster's signature. Make a roster of the Scouts. |
| Hike/Observe | B. | Take a nature hike, explaining to the group the information for requirements 1-3 and remind them to watch for species of mammals and mammal tracks for requirement 4a (mammals). | |
| Hike/Observe | C. | While on the hike, allow participants to make plaster casts for requirement 4b (mammals). Every Scout must make a cast. | |
|
|
|||
| 2-4 | Hike/Observe | A. | Take a nature hike, allowing the Scouts to collect leaves of 12 plants, and help them identify 15 species of plants. Point out plants for participants to identify. |
| Hike/Observe | B. | While on the hike, allow Scouts to collect necessary soil samples and/or rocks for requirement 4a (soil and rocks). | |
| Hike/Observe | C. | Help Scouts identify eight species of birds, then point out birds, allowing participants to identify them to complete requirement 4a (birds). | |
| Hike/Observe | D. | Allow participants to identify three species of reptiles, or amphibians, or one reptile or amphibian by there den, burrow, or eggs, etc., to complete requirements 4a and 4b (reptiles). Show what poisonous snakes can be found in your area. | |
|
|
|||
| 5 | Review | A. | Wrap up all the requirements. Prepare the merit badge cards for the proper signatures. If any Scout does not complete all the requirements, make sure that his records properly indicate the requirements that he has completed and that the Scout knows why he did not complete the merit badge requirements. |
| B. | Submit necessary records to the camp program director. | ||
| Merit Badge Resource Links | MBRC Site Map |
Comments, corrections, and questions should be sent by e-mail to: feedback@meritbadge.com
