Merit Badge Requirements for

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O
1		1	2	3	4a	4b	4c	4d	4e	4g	4h		5	6 a and b	7a
2	Nature Merit Badge Requirements	Name three ways in which plants are important to animals.Name a plant that is protected in your state or region, and explain why it is at risk.	Name three ways in which animals are important to plants.Name an animal that is protected in your state or region, and explain why it is at risk.	Explain the term “food chain.” Give an example of a four step land food chain and a four-step water food chain.	(a) Birds (1) In the field, identify eight species of birds. (2) Make and set out a birdhouse OR a feeding station OR a birdbath. List what birds used it during a period of one month.	(b) Mammals (1) In the field, identify three species of wild mammals. (2) Make plaster casts of the tracks of a wild mammal.	(c) Reptiles and Amphibians (1) Show that you can recognize the venomous snakes in your area. (2) In the field, identify three species of reptiles or amphibians.(3) Recognize one species of toad or frog by voice; OR identify one reptile or amphibian by eggs, den, burrow, or other signs.	(d) Insects and Spiders (1) Collect and identify either in the field or through photo graphs 10 species of insects or spiders.* (2) Hatch an insect from the pupa or cocoon; OR hatch adults from nymphs; OR keep larvae until they form pupae or cocoons; OR keep a colony of ants or bees through one	(e) Fish (1) Identify two species of fish native to your area. (2) Collect four kinds of animal food eaten by fish in the wild. (f) Mollusks and Crustaceans (1) Identify five species of mollusks and crustaceans. (2) Collect, mount, and label six shells.	(g) Plants (1) In the field, identify 15 species of wild plants. (2) Do ONE of the following options: (a) Collect and label the seeds of six plants OR the leaves of 12 plants. (b) Photograph the seeds of six plants OR the leaves of 12 plants and create a catalog of your photos.	(h) Soils and Rocks (1) Collect and identify three different types of soil that rep resent soils high in sand, clay and humus. (2) Collect and identify five different types of rocks from your area.	Nature Merit Badge Requirements	Discuss the importance of the Leave No Trace Seven Principles and the Outdoor Code and how they relate to nature. Explain how you have followed the Leave No Trace Seven Principles and the Outdoor Code while in natural areas during field observation, specimen collection, and identification.	Do the following: (a) Explain what succession is to your counselor. (b) Visit a natural area (forest, grassland, meadow, water feature) and explain what stage of succession (both plant and animal) the area is in. Talk about what community/succession stages may have been there before and what community/succession stages may replace what you see now. Discuss what disturbances or changes have taken place in the past to create this landscape and what changes may occur in the future to change the landscape further.	(a) Identify three career opportunities that would use skills and knowledge in Nature. Pick one and research the training, education, certification requirements, experience, and expenses associated with entering the field. Research the prospects for employment, starting salary, advancement opportunities and career goals associated with this career. Discuss what you learned with your counselor and whether you might be interested in this career.
3		6a	6b	6c	6d	6e	6f	7					6a
4	Cooking Merit Badge	a. Using the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model, plan a menu for trail hiking or backpacking that includes one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and one snack. These meals must consider weight, not require refrigeration and are to be consumed by three to five people (including you). List the equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve these meals.	b. Create a shopping list for your meals, showing the amount of food needed to prepare and serve each meal, and the cost for each meal.	. Share and discuss your menu plan and shopping list with your counselor. Your plan must include how to repackage foods for your hike or backpacking trip to eliminate as much bulk, weight, and garbage as possible.	While on a trail hike or backpacking trip, prepare and serve two meals and a snack from the menu planned for this requirement. At least one of those meals must be cooked over a fire, or an approved trail stove (with proper supervision).**	After each meal, have those you served evaluate the meal on presentation and taste, then evaluate your own meal. Discuss what you learned with your counselor, including any adjust ments that could have improved or enhanced your meals. Tell how planning and preparation help ensure successful trail hik ing or backpacking meals.	Explain to your counselor how you should divide the food and cooking supplies among the patrol in order to share the load. Discuss how to properly clean the cooking area and store your food to protect it from animals.	Food-related careers. Find out about three career opportunities in cooking. Select one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.				Cooking Merit Badge	a. Using the MyPlate food guide or the current USDA nutrition model, plan a menu for trail hiking or backpacking that includes one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and one snack. These meals must consider weight, not require refrigeration and are to be consumed by three to five people (including you). List the equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve these meals.
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6	Safety Merit Badges	Explain what safety is and what it means to be safe. Then prepare a notebook to include: (a) Newspaper, internet (with parent or guardian’s permission), or other articles, facts, and statistics showing common types and causes of injuries in the home and in the workplace, and how these injuries could be prevented (b) Newspaper, internet (with parent’s or guardian’s permission), or other articles, facts, and statistics showing common types of crime and ways to avoid being a crime victim (c) A paragraph or more, written by you, explaining how a serious fire, accident, crime, or a natural disaster could change your family life (d) A list of safe practices and safety devices currently used by your family, such as safety practices used at home, while working, and while driving	Do the following: (a) Using a safety checklist approved by your counselor, make an inspection of your home. Identify any hazards found and explain how these can be corrected. (b) Review and develop your family’s fire prevention plan. Review your family’s emergency action plan for fire in your home. As you develop these plans with family members, share with them facts about the common causes of fire in the home, such as smoking, cooking, electrical appliances, and candles. (c) Develop a family emergency action plan for a natural disaster. (d) Explain what risk assessment is and its purpose. (e) Explain the BSA’s Commitment to Safety.	Do the following: (a) Discuss with your counselor how you contribute to the safety of yourself, your family, and your community. (b) Show your family members how to protect themselves and your home from accidents, fire, burglary, robbery, and assault. (c) Discuss with your counselor the tips for online safety. Explain the steps individuals can take to help prevent identity theft. (d) Discuss with your counselor the three R’s of Youth Protection and how to recognize child abuse.	Show your family the exits you would use from different public buildings (such as a theater, municipal building, library, supermarket, shopping center, or your place of worship) in the event of an emergency. Teach your family what to do in the event that they need to take shelter in or evacuate a public place.	Make an emergency action plan for five family activities outside the home (at your place of worship, at a theater, on a picnic, at the beach, and while traveling, for example). Each plan should include an analysis of possible hazards, proposed action to correct hazards, and reasons for the correction you propose in each plan.	Plan and complete a safety project approved by your counselor for your home, school, place of worship, place of employment, or community.	Explain what the National Terrorism Advisory System is and how you would respond to each type of alert.	Learn about three career opportunities in the field of safety. Pick one career and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profes sion. Discuss this choice with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.			Safety Merit Badges	Explain what safety is and what it means to be safe. Then prepare a notebook to include: (a) Newspaper, internet (with parent or guardian’s permission), or other articles, facts, and statistics showing common types and causes of injuries in the home and in the workplace, and how these injuries could be prevented (b) Newspaper, internet (with parent’s or guardian’s permission), or other articles, facts, and statistics showing common types of crime and ways to avoid being a crime victim (c) A paragraph or more, written by you, explaining how a serious fire, accident, crime, or a natural disaster could change your family life (d) A list of safe practices and safety devices currently used by your family, such as safety practices used at home, while working, and while driving
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8	Bird Study	Explain the need for bird study and why birds are useful indicators of the quality of the environment. Describe how birds are part of the ecosystem.	Show that you are familiar with the terms used to describe birds by doing the following: (a) Sketch or trace a perched bird and then label 15 different parts of the bird. (b) Sketch or trace an extended wing and label six types of wing feathers.	Demonstrate that you know how to properly use and care for binoculars, a spotting scope, or a monocular. (a) Explain what the specification numbers mean on binoculars, a spotting scope, or a monocular. (b) Show how to adjust the eyepiece and how to focus for proper viewing. (c) Show how to properly care for and clean the lenses. (d) Describe when and where each type of viewing device would be most effective.	Demonstrate that you know how to use a bird field guide. Show your counselor that you are able to understand a range map by locating in the book and pointing out the wintering range, the breeding range, and/or the year-round range of one species of each of the following types of birds: (a) Seabird (b) Plover (c) Falcon or hawk (d) Warbler or vireo (e) Heron or egret (f) Sparrow	Observe and be able to identify at least 20 species of wild birds. Prepare a field notebook, making a separate entry for each species, and record the following information from your field observations and other references. (a) Note the date and time. (b) Note the location and habitat. (c) Describe the bird’s main feeding habitat and list two types of food that the bird is likely to eat. (d) Note whether the bird is a migrant or a summer, winter, or year-round resident of your area.	Describe to your counselor how certain orders of birds are uniquely adapted to a specific habitat. In your description, include characteristics such as the size and shape of the following: (a) Beak (b) Body (c) Leg and foot (d) Feathers/plumage	Explain the function of a bird’s song. Be able to identify five of the 20 species in your field notebook by song or call alone. Explain the difference between songs and calls. For each of these five species, enter a description of the song or call, and note the behavior of the bird making the sound. Note why you think the bird was making the call or song that you heard.	Do ONE of the following: (a) Go on a field trip with a local club or with others who are knowledgeable about birds in your area. (1) Keep a list or fill out a checklist of all the birds your group observed during the field trip. (2) Tell your counselor which birds your group saw and why some species were common and some were present in small numbers. (3) Tell your counselor what makes the area you visited good for finding birds. (b) By using a public library, the internet, or contacting the National Audubon Society, find the name and location of the Christmas Bird Count nearest your home and obtain the results of a recent count. (1) Explain what kinds of information are collected during the annual event. (2) Tell your counselor which species are most common, and explain why these birds are abundant. (3) Tell your counselor which species are uncommon, and explain why these were present in small numbers. If the number of birds of these species is decreasing, explain why, and what, if anything, could be done to reverse their decline. (c) Participate in a bird banding program with an approved federal or state agency, university researcher, bird observatory, or certified private individual. (1) Explain who is able to band birds and why. (2) Explain why birds get banded. (3) Explain what kinds of birds get banded. (4) Tell how the birds were captured, the number of bird species recorded during your visit, and your role in the program.	Do ONE of the following. For the option you choose, describe what birds you hope to attract, and why. (a) Build a bird feeder and put it in an appropriate place in your yard or another location. (b) Build a birdbath and put it in an appropriate place. (c) Build a backyard sanctuary for birds by planting trees and shrubs for food and cover. (d) Build a nest box for a species of your choice using plans approved by your counselor.	Do the following: (a) Explain the differences between extinct, endangered, and threatened. (b) Identify a bird species that is on the endangered or threatened list. Explain what caused their decline. Discuss with your counselor what can be done to reverse this trend and what can be done to help remove the species from the endangered or threatened list.	Bird Study	Explain the need for bird study and why birds are useful indicators of the quality of the environment. Describe how birds are part of the ecosystem.	Identify three career opportunities connected to the study of birds. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss with your counselor if this profession might interest you.
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