Trapper Tails Council Camp Bartlett Boy Scouts of America

Ecology- Conservation Center

Environmental Science

Dear Staff,

As you all know we have a great opportunity to teach the Environmental Science Merit Badge
which is required for the Eagle Scout. This is the requirements that we are going to do as a staff for the
summer. For the most part this should cover all you need to get ready for camp and know what to do so
that you can place it accordingly in your lesson plan.

REQUIRMENT 3
SECTION A # 3 Discuss what an ecosystem is. Tell how it is maintained in nature and
how is survives.
EQUIMEPMENT – Use the ecosystem posters in class.
TIME FRAME – This requirement can be passes off any time during the week. So
you may place it as you need in your lesson plan.

SECTION B # 1 Perform an experiment to test for particulates that contribute to air

pollution Discuss your findings with your councilor.
EQUIMEPMENT - For this Experiment go, and grab some cardboard from the
Lodge. Then take and put a small amount of Vaseline on the cardboard. Tie the
cardboard to the tree. The Vaseline will be at camp. WARNING: you will need to
check it out.
TIME FRAME- For the Best results I would recommend doing this one a Tuesday
or Wednesday, so they have some time to collect things from the air.

SECTION C # 2 Conduct an Experiment to identify the methods that could be used to

mediate (reduce) the effects of an oil spill on Waterfowl. Discuss your results with your
counselor.
EQUIMEPMENT- For this experiment we use soap and water. Take an oil spill tub
out to your teaching area. For starters go and poor some soap in the water. The
look is identical to what would happen in a real oil spell. Then if you want to you
can mix up the water to make bubbles. This is a great realization for the scouts to
see.
TIME FRAME- This could be done any were during the week. I would recommend
if you are going to play with the bubbles that you do this on Friday. But supplies
will be available all week for your class.
Trapper Tails Council Camp Bartlett Boy Scouts of America
Ecology- Conservation Center
Environmental Science

SECTION D #1 Conduct an experiment to illustrate soil erosion by water. Take

photographs or make a drawing of the soil before and after your experiment, and make
a poster showing your results. Present your poster to your counselor.
EQUIMEPMENT- For this experiment we will use the soil erosion boxes. For these
simply go and add dirt. Have them draw a before picture. Then have them a
draw an after picture after you have added water. Talk about what happened to
the soil and how this can be prevented.
TIME FRAME- This can be placed anywhere in your lessons plan. Just remember
to be prepared before class, Even if you have to do it the night before.

SECTIONS E #1 do research on one species that was endangered or threatened but

which has now recovered. Find out how the organism recovered, and what its new
status is. Write a 100-word report on the species and discuss it with your counselor
EQUIMEPMENT- The Scouts are responsible for doing this and getting it to you
before NOON on FRIDAY. Tell the scouts when the nature lodge will be open.
Monday 2:00-4:55, 6:15-8, Tuesday 9:00-11:55, 2:00-4:55, 6:30-8:30, Wednesday
2:00-4:55, Thursday 9:00-11:55, 2:00-4:55, 6:30-8:30, Friday 9:00-11:55.
TIME FRAME- Tell the scouts right off the bad that they have to get you the
reports by NOON on FRIDAY. So that way you can make sure that they have the
requirements completed and so they don’t receive a partial. This is very
important to do first thing.

SECTION F #3 Perform an experiment on packaging materials to find out which ones are
biodegradable. Discuss your conclusion with your counselor.
EQUIMEPMENT- Take your Bio kit that we assembled on Sunday. Talk to them
about what might happen. Have them predict and give them the rest of the
week to observe. These will be in class and in the nature lodge, so that they can
and observer it. Then talk about it more day and see if they can see what is
happening.
TIME FRAME- Do this at the First and the Last of the week. It will give the
materials enough time to decompose.
Trapper Tails Council Camp Bartlett Boy Scouts of America
Ecology- Conservation Center
Environmental Science

REQUIREMNT #4 Choose two outdoor study areas that are very different from one another
(e.g., hilltop vs. bottom of a hill; field vs. forest; swamp vs. dry land). For BOTH study areas,
do ONE of the following:
1. Mark off a plot of 4 square yards in each study area, and count the number of
species found there. Estimate how much space is occupied by each plant species
and the type and number of nonplant species you find. Write a report that
adequately discusses the biodiversity and population density of these study
areas. Discuss your report with your counselor.
2. Make at least three visits to each of the two study areas (for a total of six visits),
staying for at least 20 minutes each time, to observe the living and nonliving
parts of the ecosystem. Space each visit far enough apart that there are readily
apparent differences in the observations. Keep a journal that includes the
differences you observe. Then, write a short report that adequately addresses
your observations, including how the differences of the study areas might relate
to the differences noted, and discuss this with your counselor.

***Explain this to the scouts. Tell them that it must be to you by NOON ON
FRIDAY. Tell them that this is a major part of the merit badge. And that it only
takes 20 minutes a day.