Forester Activity Badge Outline -- Outdoor Group

The Forester Activity Badge is recommended to be presented in a one month format, as outlined in the Webelos Program Helps booklet.  This example outline presents the Badge in four weekly meetings.  The goal of this outline is to complete as many requirements as possible in the four weeks.  The only requirement that is not addresses sufficiently to complete is the planting of 20 forest saplings. This is not well suited to an urban or even suburban environment, unless you have a forest very close by in which to plant them.  I don't think it is a very good idea to plant them in a pot or planter, watch and care for them for a month, knowing that they will not survive.
In order to complete the requirements, a day hike to a forest is required.  Plan this trip and alert the parents ahead of time.  Make sure to telephone the parents a couple days before the field trip, which will help attendance.  Deal with any transportation problems ahead of time.  While this is a Den outing, it does not require one parent per Scout -- only enough to drive.
You will need tree finder, fern finder and plant finder books for the day hike.  If you have several copies that would be better -- some Scouts can carry them too.  Prepare to card tree and plant samples.  You will need 4x6 or 5x7 cards, 12 each per Scout, and pieces of clear contact paper cut to that size, one for each card.  As you do your hike, and identify plants and trees, have each scout select a leaf or sprig, place it on a card and cover with the contact paper.  IMMEDIATELY write on the back of the card what it is, where you found it and what it is used for.
Use the Webelos book in the meeting.  Have the Scouts read sections from the book.  Use all the resources you have available, such as the Program Helps and the Webelos Den Activities Book.  Make sure you sign off their books each meeting.

Week 1

Requirements to be fulfilled:
Do Five of These:
1.	Identify six forest trees.  Tell what useful things come from them.
2.	Identify six forest plants that are useful to wildlife.  Tell which animals use them and for what.

Discussion :
1.	Read the introduction and requirements on pages 167 - 168.  Discuss the requirements and how they will be worked on in and outside the Den.  
2.	Read pages 169 - 171 on Identifying Forest Trees, and identifying forest plants.
	Bring in examples of carded tree and plant samples.  Show the Scouts how it works.  Show them the information that is on the back of each card.  
	Bring in the finder books.  Show the Scouts what information is contained in them.  Show them how they work.  Perhaps there is a pine tree near your meeting place that you can identify using the finder.  Perhaps you can use this tree as the Scouts first sample to card.
3.	Plan your field trip.  Pick a location for your day hike that will be in forest.  This hike should be at least 3 hours long and cover at least a couple miles of trail, in order to find the six trees and six plants.

Homework:
1.	Go on your day hike.

Week 2

Requirements to be fulfilled:
3.	Make a poster showing the life history or a forest tree.
4.	Make a chart showing how water and minerals in the soil help a tree grow.

Discussion :
1.	Read pages 171 - 172 on How a Tree Grows.
	If you have a log laying around your log, like a piece of firewood, bring it in to show tree rings.  Let the Scouts count the rings to determine how old the tree was when it was cut down.
	Make the poster showing the life history of a tree.  This can be done using an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet from their binders, or you can bring in larger paper.  Bring in colored pencils or markers to draw the pictures on the poster.
	I would suggest using the poster to complete requirement 4 also.  Use the final picture they draw of a full grown tree.  Have them add the root system, show water and minerals and draw arrows showing where the water and minerals go.  If you choose to do this, you probably want to use larger paper than letter size.

Homework:
1.	If you did not get the poster done, finish it at home.  

Week 3

Requirements to be fulfilled:
5.	Collect pieces of three kinds of wood used for building houses.
6.	Plant 20 forest tree seedlings.  Care for them for a month.

Discussion :
1.	Read page 173 on Collecting Wood Samples.
	It is easy to and very low cost to acquire the necessary wood from your local lumberyard.  You should be able to purchase Douglas Fir and Redwood 8-foot 2x4's for about $2 each.  You should be able to purchase Ponderosa Pine 8-foot 2x4's or at least 1x4's, again for about $2 each.  One 2x4 of each type will probably suffice for the Den.  
	You may wish to hold this meeting at your home, where you have a circular saw and belt sander.  Cut the samples for the boys -- DO NOT LET THE SCOUTS USE THE CIRCULAR SAW.  You can teach them how to use the belt sander.  Make sure you have ear muffs for the Scout that is using the belt sander.  Tell the other Scouts to stand back.  Cut and sand according to the project in the Webelos book.  Have some varnish available to seal the sanded cuts.  Some quick drying sealer, such as clear Krylon would be best.
	Have the Scouts write on the back of each sample their name, what kind of wood it is, and what it is used for.
2.	Read page 173 on tree planting.
	You may be in a location where you can plant seedlings in a forest and care for them for a month.  You can easily obtain the seedlings from a wood products company, such as Weyerhaeuser.  If you contact them and tell them what you need, they will even send them to you in the mail.  If you cannot plant seedlings, do the reading and talk about what you would have to do if you were going to do it.  What do you have to remember when planting them?  Keep them far enough apart so they will not grow into each other.  They need to be in the right kind of soil, and the right micro-climate if they will survive.  You will also have to water them for a while until they are established.
	Extra Credit:  What is a micro-climate?  You can show them what this means on the day hike.

Homework:
Plan on bringing the wood samples and posters to the next Pack meeting.

Week 4

Requirements to be fulfilled:
7.	Describe the harm caused by wildfires.  Tell how you can help prevent wildfire.
8.	Make a map of the United States.  Show the kinds of forests growing in different parts of the U.S.A.  Tell what important things made of wood come from each part.

Discussion :
1.	Read page 174 on Prevent Wildfires.
	Discuss the harm caused to plants, animals and our environment by wildfires.
	Discuss what we can each to help prevent fires.
2.	Read page 175 on Principle Forest Regions of the United States.
	You will have to get better information than what is available in the Webelos book in order to do this requirement.  Look in an encyclopedia for better info. Bring with you pages with the continental United States in outline, so that the Scouts can draw on them the forest regions.  Bring colored pencils or markers for the Scouts to do this.  Have them mark on the map the principle tree types in the various regions.  The Scouts can put the posters in their binders.

Forester Activity Badge Den Leaders Record
	List Boy's Names

Date:  			
	Month/Year

Requirements
Do Five of These:													
1.	Identify six forest trees.  Tell what useful things come from them. 													
2.	Identify six forest plants that are useful to wildlife.  Tell which animals use them and for what.													
3.	Make a poster showing the life history or a forest tree.													
4.	Make a chart showing how water and minerals in the soil help a tree grow.													
5.	Collect pieces of three kinds of wood used for building houses.													
6.	Plant 20 forest tree seedlings.  Care for them for a month.													
7.	Describe the harm caused by wildfires.  Tell how you can help prevent wildfire.													
8.	Make a map of the United States.  Show the kinds of forests growing in different parts of the U.S.A.  Tell what important things made of wood come from each part.													

													

Date Completed													
Awarded