More on this in the next section. @Camille - Sure, some of it could count towards his merit badge, if some Record the trips taken, mileage, and fuel consumption of Discuss your findings with your counselor. Onward we go. Please advise what is needed so that he has the necessary information to finish the badge at camp. However, if you want to become an environmental engineer, dont let that deter you. Discuss your observations Discuss your observations with your counselor. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Can you please explain what #5 for the Environmental Science merit badge? site which will help you find out what invasive species are a problem in your area, Splash! Visit an allergist or your Make it count . If youre looking for a few more home sustainability ideas, some of the things I personally do to reduce my impact on the environment include: By now you should be a sustainability expert! Do research on two invasive plant or animal species in your community or camp. It isnt a direct problem for us that small fish are becoming filled with plastics and toxic chemicals. For example, I could Google, invasive plants San Diego and click on the .gov result to find an extensive list of local invasive weeds. Estimate how much space is occupied by each plant species and the type and number of nonplant species you find. Part of our time will be spent outdoors, rain Visit the site of one of these projects and report on what you saw. Visit the site of one of these Prepare a 100-word report about the organism, symbiosis, niche, habitat, conservation, threatened species, endangered Created by. See examples of twelve endangered species which have recovered. Theyve done a fantastic job detailing the recovery of bald eagles in North America. With your parent's and counselor's approval, work with a natural resource professional to identify two projects that have been approved to improve the habitat for a threatened or endangered species in your area. The BSA gives special thanks to the following individuals who contributed their expertise, time, and other resources to past editions of the Environmental Science merit badge pamphlet: Tim Environmental Science | Tallgrass Prairie Center After numerous regulatory reforms, current research shows that ozone layer depletion has slowed dramatically. Learn to identify the major invasive plant species in your community or camp and explain to your counselor what can be done to either eradicate or control their spread. There are three types of symbiosis: Have you ever watched the movie, Finding Nemo? However, dont let the badges difficulty get you down. This web page provides all the information that you will need for the course. . Wow, we just covered a ton of info and now the page is even beginning to lag! How do these merit badge However, if videos (3:17) are more your style, Id suggest you watch this history briefer for a better visual understanding of the US environmental events: Awesome! An ecological niche is the role that an organism or population plays in its environment. For instance, streams that collect rainfall and flow into reservoirs would be considered examples of a watershed. Conservation is the deliberate preservation of a resource. Read more about ecosystems and see some examples. 2023 Keep a journal of your data and observations. Z=-x=intAa>=;{#i,|BoV\E_Mcz~# =sy Assessment. would appreciate it. The BSA gives special thanks to the following individuals who contributed their expertise, time, and other resources to past editions of the Environmental Science merit badge pamphlet: Tim @John - The Boy Scouts of America program is separate, and not The sun produces harmful ultraviolet radiation, and the ozone layer protects the earth by absorbing these dangerous rays before they can reach the surface of the earth. Im sure youve heard of this, but I want to tell you a lesser-known fact about the 3 Rs. and what its new status is. Each factor in an ecosystem depends on the other factors. Calling all Environmental Science merit badge counselors; do you require scouts to specifically identify all plant and non-plant species for requirement 4a, or are more general descriptions acceptable (e.g. These plants tend to spread uncontrollably and often cause damage to the environment or human health. These plastics and hazardous wastes ultimately end up being swept into our lakes, rivers, and oceans. I was shocked when I found this out a few years after learning about the 3 Rs, but it makes sense. can take to help reduce its effects. PDF Environmental Science - USSCOUTS.ORG Read more about the effects of acid rain and see some examples. This can be done by placing stricter regulations on the emissions a factory is able to produce, or by encouraging the public to purchase more environmentally-friendly vehicles. E-Book Stock (SKU) Number: 7 These magnificent birds were on the brink of extinction! However, the components that cause acid rain, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, can cause heart and lung problems in humans. I think this badge should be required for Eagle. If youd like to research a different species that was saved from the brink of extinction, here are a few more options: When I first learned about conservation, I was taught to always keep the 3 big Rs in mind: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Define the following terms: population, community, ecosystem, biosphere, symbiosis, niche, habitat, conservation, threatened species, endangered species, extinction, pollution prevention, brownfield, ozone, watershed, airshed, nonpoint source, hybrid vehicle, fuel cell. Scouting/BSA/Environmental Science Merit Badge - Wikibooks Take photographs or make a drawing of the soil before and after your experiment, and make a poster showing your results. endobj Once you finish this badge, youll be equipped with the knowledge needed to understand and protect our planets resources. The merit badge college was held on March 3, 2022. Personally, I completed option 1. I hope this timeline was useful to you because it took me FOOORREEEVVERRRR to research and write everything. This usually occurs when a species is unable to breed or adapt within a new environment. Identify the contribution made by the Boy Scouts of America to environmental science. Both of these options are a lot of fun to complete, so Id recommend you choose whichever one youd enjoy the most. Environmental Science has several requirements where where scouts can choose to do specific parts. Types of habitats can include coral reefs, clumps of moss, and even the human body (for parasites). Although I didn't realize it at the time, Scouting helped shape my life! 33088 (SKU-618673) . For instance, most hybrid cars run on gasoline and electricity. Marchal likes to connect the study-plot requirement with requirement 5, in which Scouts must consider the environmental impact of a proposed construction project. Discuss what is an ecosystem. This is just one small example of our planets many ecosystems! Take part in a project of at least one hour to eradicate or control the spread of an invasive plant species in your community or camp. Visit Our Trading Post at www.ScoutingBooks.com. Do ONE activity from SEVEN of the following EIGHT categories (using the activities in this pamphlet as the basis for planning and carrying out your projects): Conduct an experiment to find out how living things respond to changes in their environments. Tell how it is maintained in nature and how it survives. coordinated with, any other country's scouting program. Report your research orally or in writing to your counselor. By discovering better chemical methods of recycling or working to repair the hole in our ozone, these scientists pave the way for humanitys advancement! hI&a-?IOA*xIN54I[}U|I7u2!*#4w7*lJCBa:Cw-$GrXY!%*p What PS: The article also links to my other ultimate badge guides thatll help you to complete your merit badge worksheets. honey bees. but which has now recovered. Hopefully, you can try out some of her ideas such as using digital notes or doing your practice problems on an erasable surface. He needs the impact to humanity if there were no pollinators. To see the changes which were made, Click here. and discuss it with your counselor. Make a timeline of the history of environmental science in America. there anything extra he would need to do to complete it? Many environmental policies have been created, changed, and then done away with in that time span. The world population reached 2 billion in 1930. Fuel cells present in an enormous opportunity to begin weaning off of nonrenewable fossil fuels and switch over to environmentally friendly energy sources. Population size plays a large role in a species categorization. Describe the impact of a waterborne pollutant on an aquatic The items here are the remaining requirements to complete the merit badge. Include dates, names of people or organizations, and important events. Practice at least two of these methods to bee stings, you should choose another option Report your research orally or in writing Please recommend a book, video or poster that would help me Plymouth Colony became the first established English colony in Massachusetts. This puzzle contains all 19 words and definitions for requirement 2. Practice at least two of these methods for five days and discuss with your counselor what you have learned. Weve done this in a variety of ways at times killing off the consumer animals and, in other instances, releasing chemical pollutants that stop producers or decomposers from properly functioning. If you found this post helpful, Ive also written guides to many of the other Eagle-required merit badges. I dont think becoming a Pelican Scout has the same ring to it (Does this count as a dad joke? ScoutSmarts.com is not sponsored or endorsed by the Boy Scouts of America. what might be done to help alleviate the erosion. There are 11 categories of environmental law that environmental lawyers can practice. Until next time, best of luck on your Scouting journey! This site is not officially associated with the Boy Scouts of America. Setting expectations of what is needed for a Some of the negative effects of acid rain include: Luckily, the acids in acid rain are too dilute to directly harm humans. Ive heard firsthand that the work of an environmental engineer is incredibly rewarding. 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). Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Kudzu is an example of an invasive plant . For requirement #5, we chose two outdoor study areas that are very different from one another (a nearby forested woodland and an area of the sand dune undergoing succession). 46 plan in there. Im looking forward to having you back at ScoutSmarts soon because Im constantly uploading new articles to support Scouts like yourself. In 1910, Scouts BSA was founded in the US as the Boy Scouts of America by William D. Boyce. Discuss your conclusion with your The Defenders Of Wildlife nonprofit was also founded around that time. for this profession. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If so, you're in the right place! I have a son taking Environmental Systems for his Science credit in school Before we jump into learning though, take the time to read through each of the following requirements and fully understand what well be covering in this badge. Discuss your observations with your counselor. For an ecosystem to survive in nature, 4 components must be provided: Humans have been known to throw off this balance and cause the destruction of ecosystems. I encourage them to skim it. While the amount of work that goes into becoming an environmental engineer is comparable to the work it takes to become a lawyer or doctor, the average pay is significantly less. In 1892, John Muir founded the Siera Club. Find specific helps for some of the Environmental Science merit badge requirements listed below. Discuss what is an ecosystem. << /Type /Page /Parent 4 0 R /Resources 7 0 R /Contents 5 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 387 576] Include dates, names of people or organizations, and important . I'm constantly writing new content because I believe in Scouts like you! PDF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MERIT BADGE - fairfaxcounty.gov An environmental impact statement (EIS) is a document which describes the impact of a proposed project on the environment. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the site author is strictly prohibited. link to The Value And Benefits of Scouting (58 Highlights From Scouts), link to All Eagle-Required Merit Badges: Difficulty Rankings in 2023, Difficulty Ranking Guide to Every Eagle-required Badge, atmospheric carbon pollution was around 400PPM, All Eagle-Required Merit Badges: Difficulty Rankings And Guides, Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy For ScoutSmarts.com. Keep a journal that includes the differences you observe. Edit: here is the Yankee stadium EIS: https://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/nyy_stadium/pdf/final_scope_of_work.pdf, Ok thank you so much. Hybrid vehicles are much more environmentally friendly than their gas-powered counterparts. Environmental science wins requirement 5 and is especially useful if you're planning an Eagle Scout project. have been approved to improve the habitat for a threatened or Practice Keep a journal of your data and observations. Now, lets pause for a second to take a closer look at how dumping garbage into lakes can negatively impact aquatic life. Conduct an experiment to illustrate soil erosion by water. New innovations like industrialization and the steam engine created a demand for nonrenewable resources such as metals, fossil fuels, and coal. Environmental Science Merit Badge - 2020 Changes - USSCOUTS.ORG Then, have a chat with your counselor and discuss how you can help alleviate the problem within your own community. Thanks for reading! In my timeline below, Ive added these events and more. Present to your counselor a one-page report on how and why For the previous requirements, Click here. He has diagrams of his plots, % of each living item, time, weather. allergic to bee stings. Youre halfway done. Conservation organizations also work to breed and restore the habitats of endangered species to increase their numbers. Scouts learn about ecology, pollution, endangered species, pollination by bees, and other environmental topics while working on the Environmental Science merit badge. The electricity used to power these vehicles is generated by converting the rotational energy of the motor into electrical energy. The Value And Benefits of Scouting (58 Highlights From Scouts). Fish and Wildlife act was passed in 1934. Conduct an experiment to show how living things react to for example, might state that a satisfactory bridge or . events. effective Some of those categories include: Environmental lawyers protect these categories by representing communities, organizations, farmers, and even wildlife in court. 650870 Hope this helps you out! The Environmental Science Merit Badge: Your Ultimate Guide in 2023 species, extinction, pollution prevention, brownfield, ozone, watershed, However, the creatures that eat the small fish: salmon, bass, and tuna, are just a few examples of the larger fish we eat. Ask Scouter Mom a question or share your ideas with others. Unfortunately, in many places around the world, humans have disrupted those food chains and caused ecological collapse. See more details about these different types of erosion. Discuss your report with your counselor. Identify the contribution made by the Boy Scouts of America to environmental science. If I remember correctly, just come up with some kind of construction project and make a list of some ways that the construction project would impact the environment. Congratulations, youve made it!