EARNING THE BLACK STAR
The Natural World Activity Area
PURPOSE
To create a feeling of care and concern for the natural world and an interest in nature study. The Natural World activities are intended to create a feeling of care and concern for the natural world, and an interest in nature study. Activities in this area provide opportunities for youth to explore the wonders of nature, learn about the connections between the environment and the life it supports, explore and develop an understanding of the effects people have on the environment, and give direct ideas about how to help the environment in everyday situations.
The Natural World Activity Area has four goals
- To provide practical environmental activities that explore the wonders of nature
- To develop an understanding that all life requires food, water, shelter and space.
- To explore and develop an understanding of the positive and negative impacts people
have on the environment. - To give ideas how to help the environment in everyday life situations.
The Natural World Activity Areas is geared to discovering nature from the perspective of an 8 to 10 year old. The Activity Area comprises the Black Star, Natural World Badges and the Canadian Wilderness Award.
The Natural World activities are intended to create a feeling of care and concern for the natural world, and an interest in nature study. Activities in this area provide opportunities for youth to explore the wonders of nature, learn about the connections between the environment and the life it supports, explore and develop an understanding of the effects people have on the environment, and give direct ideas about how to help the environment in everyday situations.
BADGES
There are six badges and one award badge within the Black Star. The six badges take a "family" approach; they all relate to each other by providing outdoor education experiences which develop nature awareness in Cubs. The Observer Badge involves learning how to observe, recognize and interpret what Cubs see. By developing a keen eye, youth will begin to discover what nature is lying all around them.
Gardener Badge / World Conservation Badge
Naturalist Badge
Observer Badge
Canadian Wilderness Award
A REQUIREMENTS: Do any five "A" requirements
A-1: Care for a lawn or garden for a month.
A-2: 2 Without harming nature, mount and label a display of natural things, such as leaves, weeds, rocks, or seeds and tell about your collection.
A-3: Grow a plant indoors and describe how it grew.
A-4: Grow a sugar or salt crystal on a string
A-5: Plant a tree or shrub, describe how trees grow and why they are important to nature
A-6: Point out or describe some sources of pollution in your neighborhood and describe possible solutions.
A-7: Make a rain gauge and use it to record rain or snowfall for a month
A-8: Make and set up a bird bath, bird house, or bird feeding station, and look after it for a season
A-9: Show how to use and take care of common garden tools.
A-10: Using the water cycle, show the route water takes to your home or show how acid rain is formed and how it affects nature
A-11: Point out the North Star and three constellations
B REQUIREMENTS: Do any two "B" requirements
B-1: Visit a natural area of your choice and point out some different ways the local plants and animals depend on one another for life
B-2: Go on a ramble and identify six different kinds of birds, or keep a record of birds using a bird bath or bird feeder for a season. Know which birds are protected in your area.
B-3: Visit one of the following places: conservation area, weather station, fish hatchery, observatory, tree farm, fire ranger tower, farm, greenhouse, park, zoo, forestry station, dam. Learn about how this place helps the environment.
Version 0.2 – Jan 27th 2009