Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Opportunities

Merit Badge Requirement Activities

Scout leaders or parents: Please use this list to help you organize and lead activities for your scouts at Irvine Prairie. There are four required Eagle merit badges listed below (marked with ER) where Irvine Prairie can be a great place to fulfill the chosen requirements. There are 10 other merit badges that can provide opportunities for scouts to connect to outdoor spaces such as prairie ecosystems while progressing through their ranks.

*Note: The requirements embedded within each merit badge link below were carefully chosen to apply Irvine Prairie. A link to all of the merit badge requirements is provided in the title of each page for clarity.

Contact Information/Other Info:

Feel free to explore/print out the Observation Guides for birds, wildflowers, and grasses that can help with merit badges below
Irvine Prairie Visitor Policy page (hours, parking, guidelines, map, etc.)
Please note that Irvine Prairie is a publicly accessible natural area, but there is no building or staff on site.
For questions or any other information, please contact Laura Walter at laura.walter@uni.edu or 319-273-3005

List of Activities

Hiking (ER Optional)

Requirement #4: Take the five following hikes, each on a different day, and each of continuous miles. These hikes MUST be taken in the following order (map linked above):

One 5-mile hike
Three 10-mile hikes
One 15-mile hike
You may stop for as many short rest periods as needed, as well as one meal, during each hike, but not for an extended period (example: overnight). Prepare a written hike plan before each hike and share it with your Scoutmaster or a designee. Include map routes, a clothing and equipment list, and a list of items for a trail lunch.*

Requirement #6: After each of the hikes (or during each hike if on one continuous “trek”) in requirements 4 and 5, write a short reflection of your experience. Give dates and descriptions of routes covered, the weather, and any interesting things you saw. It may include something you learned about yourself, about the outdoors, or about others you were hiking with. Share this with your merit badge counselor

Communications (ER)

Requirement #7: Three options to choose ONE from (including all for clarity)

7a. Write to the editor of a magazine or your local newspaper to express your opinion or share information on any subject you choose. Send your message by fax, email, or regular mail.
7b: Create a webpage or blog of special interest to you (for instance, your troop or crew, a hobby, or a sport). Include at least three articles or entries and one photograph or illustration, and one link to some other webpage or blog that would be helpful to someone who visits the webpage or blog you have created. It is not necessary to post your webpage or blog to the internet, but if you decide to do so, you must first share it with your parents and counselor and get their permission
7c: Use desktop publishing to produce a newsletter, brochure, flier, or other printed material for your troop or crew, class at school, or other group. Include at least one article and one photograph or illustration.

*NOTE: This requirement (specifically 7c) could be related more to the Tallgrass Prairie Center and how the work accomplished through the center is good for the community and the greater state of Iowa. Green Iowa AmeriCorps also recruits members and volunteers that are placed in the Tallgrass Prairie Center and throughout Iowa. Creating a flier or brochure for either one of these organizations is an excellent option for you to connect to and learn about the community and satisfy an Eagle Requirement. For more info and who can help connect you to what you need, please contact Laura Walter: laura.walter@uni.edu or 319-273-3005

Environmental Science

Requirement #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

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. Report to your counselor orally or in writing the biodiversity and population density of these study areas
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. Discuss your observations with your counselor

Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge (ER)

Requirement #7 Do the following:

a. Identify three charitable organizations outside of Scouting that interest you and bring people in your community together to work for the good of your community.
b. Pick ONE of the organizations you chose for requirement 7a. Using a variety of resources (including newspapers, fliers and other literature, the Internet, volunteers, and employees of the organization), find out more about this organization.
c. With your counselor’s and your parent’s approval, contact the organization you chose for requirement 7b, and find out what young people can do to help. While working on this merit badge, volunteer at least eight hours of your time for the organization. After your volunteer experience is over, discuss what you have learned with your counselor.

*NOTE: This requirement relates more to the Tallgrass Prairie Center (even though we are not a ‘charitable organization’) and how the work accomplished through the center is good for the community and the greater state of Iowa. Green Iowa AmeriCorps also recruits members and volunteers that are placed in the Tallgrass Prairie Center, throughout Iowa, and can be an excellent organization to focus on for requirements 7b and 7c. For more info and who can help connect you to the right people, please contact Laura Walter: laura.walter@uni.edu or 319-273-3005

Nature Merit Badge

Requirement #4 Do all of the requirements in FIVE of the following fields (some choices omitted based on relevance to prairie - check link in merit badge heading for further requirements):

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.
d. Insects and Spiders (1) Collect and identify either in the field or through photographs 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 season.
g. Plants (1) In the field, identify 15 species of wild plants. (2) Collect and label the seeds of six plants OR the leaves of 12 plants.

Note: In most cases, all specimens should be returned to the wild at the location of original capture after the requirements have been met. Check with your merit badge counselor for those instances where the return of these specimens would not be appropriate. Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, some plants and animals are or may be protected by federal law. The same ones and/or others may be protected by state law. Be sure that you do not collect protected species. Your state may require that you purchase and carry a license to collect certain species. Refer to the following Iowa DNR page before you decide to collect any specimen.

Bird Study Merit Badge

Requirement #2 Show that you are familiar with the terms used to describe birds by sketching or tracing a perched bird and then labeling 15 different parts of the bird. Sketch or trace an extended wing and label six types of wing feathers.

Requirement #5 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.

Requirement #8 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.

Insect Study Merit Badge

Requirement #5 Do the following:

(a) Observe 20 different live species of insects in their habitat. In your observations, include at least four orders of insects.
(b) Make a scrapbook of the 20 insects you observe in 5a. Include photographs, sketches, illustrations, and articles. Label each insect with its common and scientific names, where possible. Share your scrapbook with your merit badge counselor

Requirement #6 Do the following:

(a) From your scrapbook collection, identify three species of insects helpful to humans and five species of insects harmful to humans.
(b) Discuss the use of integrated pest management vs. chemical methods of insect control. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Exploration Merit Badge

NOTE: Expeditions are widely variable. You do not have to climb Mount Everest or go to a jungle to be an explorer. For this merit badge, an expedition should be viewed like a field trip or science project. While you cannot just hike some place and call it an expedition, you can hike to a location and study an aspect that interests you. The major difference between an expedition and a field science trip is that you (with your counselor’s guidance) have to plan everything. You have to formulate objectives and plan an agenda. As needed, you will need to do things like confirm transportation, arrange communication, plan for food and medical supplies, acquire all food and other supplies, construct safety and possible evacuation procedures, manage any adverse events, and prepare a report after the expedition. Evaluating the effects of a storm on the local forest or nature preserve, the effects of a drought on a field used by birds and mammals, changes in butterfly populations due to loss of wildflower habitat, incursions by invasive plant or animal species, insect diversity, and presence or absence of amphibians or fish are just some of the examples that can be studied and reported. Your imagination is your only limitation.

Requirement #6 Expedition Planning. Discuss with your counselor each of the following steps for conducting a successful exploration activity. Explain the need for each step. (Refer to the Irvine Prairie Visitor Policy Page to help with your plans)

a. Identify the objectives (establish goals).
b. Plan the mission. Create an expedition agenda or schedule. List potential documents or permits needed.
c. Budget and plan for adequate financial resources. Estimate costs for travel, equipment, accommodations, meals, permits or licenses, and other expedition expenses.
d. Determine equipment and supplies required for personal and mission needs for the length of the expedition.
e. Determine communication and transportation needs. Plan how to keep in contact with your base or the outside world, and determine how you will communicate with each other on-site.
f. Establish safety and first aid procedures (including planning for medical evacuation). Identify the hazards that explorers could encounter on the expedition, and establish procedures to prevent or avoid those hazards.
g. Determine team selection. Identify who is essential for the expedition to be successful and what skills are required by the expedition leader.
h. Establish detailed recordkeeping (documentation) procedures. Plan the interpretation and sharing of information at the conclusion of the expedition.

Requirement #7 Prepare for an Expedition. With your parent’s permission and counselor’s approval, prepare for an actual expedition to an area you have not previously explored; the place may be nearby or far away. Do the following:

a. Make your preparations under the supervision of a trained expedition leader, expedition planner, or other qualified adult experienced in exploration (such as a school science teacher, museum representative, or qualified instructor).
b. Use the steps listed in requirement 6 to guide your preparations. List the items of equipment and supplies you will need. Discuss with your counselor why you chose each item and how it will be of value on the expedition. Determine who should go on the expedition.
c. Conduct a pre-expedition check, covering the steps in requirement 6, and share the results with your counselor. With your counselor, walk through the Sweet Sixteen of BSA Safety for your expedition. Ensure that all foreseeable hazards for your expedition are adequately addressed.

Requirement #8 Go on an Expedition. Complete the following:

a. With your parent’s permission and under the supervision of your merit badge counselor or a counselor-approved qualified person, use the planning steps you learned in requirement 6 and the preparations you completed in requirement 7 to personally undertake an actual expedition to an area you have not previously explored.
b. Discuss with your counselor what is outdoor ethics and its role in exploration and enjoying the outdoors responsibly
c. After you return, compile a report on the results of your expedition and how you accomplished your objective(s). Include a statement of the objectives, note your findings and observations, include photos, note any discoveries, report any problems or adverse events, and have a conclusion (whether you reached your objective or not). The post-expedition report must be at least one page and no more than three; one page can be photos, graphs, or figures.

Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge

Requirement #7 Do TWO of the following (some lettered choices omitted based on relevance to Irvine Prairie - check link in merit badge heading for further requirements reference):

(a) Make a trip to TWO of the following places. Write a report of more than 500 words about the soil and water and energy conservation practices you saw.

(1) An agricultural experiment
(2) A managed forest or woodlot, range, or pasture
(3) A wildlife refuge or a fish or game management area
(4) A conservation-managed farm or ranch
(5) A managed watershed
(6) A waste-treatment plant
(7) A public drinking water treatment plant
(8) An industry water use installation
(9) A desalinization plant

Geocaching Merit Badge

Requirement #9 Plan a geohunt for a youth group such as your troop or a neighboring pack, at school, or your place of worship. Choose a theme, set up a course with at least four waypoints, teach the players how to use a GPS unit, and play the game. Tell your counselor about your experience, and share the materials you used and developed for this event.

Note: Refer to the Geocaching webpage to help with your geohunt!

Mammal Study Merit Badge

Requirement #3 Do ONE of the following:

a. Spend three hours in each of two different kinds of natural habitats or at different elevations. List the different mammal species and individual members that you identified by sight or sign. Tell why all mammals do not live in the same kind of habitat.
b. Spend three hours on each of five days on at least a 25-acre area (about the size of 3 1/2 football fields). List the mammal species you identified by sight or sign.
c. From study and reading, write a simple life history of one nongame mammal that lives in your area. Tell how this mammal lived before its habitat was affected in any way by humans. Tell how it reproduces, what it eats, and its natural habitat. Describe its dependency upon plants and other animals (including humans), and how they depend upon it. Tell how it is helpful or harmful to humankind.

Note: Bolded options are better suited for sites such as Irvine Prairie

Photography Merit Badge

Requirement #4 Do TWO of the following, then share your work with your counselor:

a. Photograph one subject from two different angles or perspectives.
b. Photograph one subject from two different light sources—artificial and natural.
c. Photograph one subject with two different depths of field.
d. Photograph one subject with two different compositional techniques.

Requirement #5 Photograph THREE of the following, then share your work with your counselor.

a. Close-up of a person
b. Two to three people interacting
c. Action shot
d. Animal shot
e. Nature shot
f. Picture of a person—candid, posed, or camera aware

Requirement #7 Using images other than those created for requirements 4, 5, and 6, produce a visual story to document an event to photograph OR choose a topic that interests you to photograph. Do the following:

a. Plan the images you need to photograph for your photo story.
b. Share your plan with your counselor, and get your counselor’s input and approval before you proceed.
c. Select eight to 12 images that best tell your story. Arrange your images in order and mount the prints on a poster board, OR create an electronic presentation. Share your visual story with your counselor.

Backpacking Merit Badge

Requirement #9 Do the following:

a. Write a plan that includes a schedule for a patrol/crew backpacking hike of at least 2 miles.
b. Conduct a pre-hike inspection of the patrol and its equipment.
c. Show that you know how to properly pack your personal gear and your share of the crew’s gear and food.
d. Show you can properly shoulder your pack and adjust it for proper wear.
e. While using the plan you developed for requirement 9a, carry your fully loaded pack to complete a hike of at least 2 miles.

Note: Bolded options relate more to open field sites such as Irvine Prairie

Plant Science Merit Badge

Requirement #8 Choose ONE of the following options and complete each requirement (Option 1 Agronomy and Option 2 Horticulture are omitted as Field Botany is the best option to be completed at Irvine Prairie - check link in merit badge heading for other options & requirements):

Option 3: Field Botany

A. Visit a park, forest, Scout camp, or other natural area near your home. While you are there:

(1) Determine which species of plants are the largest and which are the most abundant. Note whether they cast shade on other plants.
(2) Record environmental factors that may influence the presence of plants on your site, including latitude, climate, air and soil temperature, soil type and pH, geology, hydrology, and topography.
(3) Record any differences in the types of plants you see at the edge of a forest, near water, in burned areas, or near a road or railroad.

B. Select a study site that is at least 100 by 100 feet. Make a list of the plants in the study site by groups of plants: canopy trees, small trees, shrubs, herbaceous wildflowers and grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, algae, fungi, lichens. Find out which of these are native plants and which are exotic (or nonnative).

C. Tell how an identification key works and use a simple key to identify 10 kinds of plants (in addition to those in general requirement 5 above). Tell the difference between common and scientific names and tell why scientific names are important.

D. After gaining permission, collect, identify, press, mount, and label 10 different plants that are common in your area. Tell why voucher specimens are important for documentation of a field botanist’s discoveries.

E. Obtain a list of rare plants of your state. Tell what is being done to protect rare plants and natural areas in your state. Write a paragraph about one of the rare plants in your state.

F. Choose ONE of the following alternatives and complete EACH of its requirements:

(1) Tree Inventory

(a) Identify the trees of your neighborhood, a park, a section of your town, or a Scout camp.
(b) Collect, press, and label leaves, flowers, or fruits to document your inventory.
(c) List the types of trees by scientific name and give common names. Note the number and size (diameter at 4 feet above ground) of trees observed and determine the largest of each species in your study area.
(d) Lead a walk to teach others about trees and their value, OR write and distribute materials that will help others learn about trees.

(2) Transect Study

(a) Visit two sites, at least one of which is different from the one you visited for Field Botany requirement 1.
(b) Use the transect method to study the two different kinds of plant communities. The transects should be at least 500 feet long.
(c) At each site, record observations about the soil and other influencing factors AND do the following. Then make a graph or chart to show the results of your studies. (1) Identify each tree within 10 feet of the transect line. (2) Measure the diameter of each tree at 4 feet above the ground, and map and list each tree.

(3) Nested Plot

(a) Visit two sites, at least one of which is different from the one you visited for Field Botany requirement 1.
(b) Mark off nested plots and inventory two different kinds of plant communities.
(c) At each site, record observations about the soil and other influencing factors AND do the following. Then make a graph or chart to show the results of your studies.
- (1) Identify, measure, and map each tree in a 100-by-100-foot plot. (Measure the diameter of each tree at 4 feet above the ground.)
- (2) Identify and map all trees and shrubs in a 10-by-10-foot plot within each of the larger areas.
- (3) Identify and map all plants (wildflowers, ferns, grasses, mosses, etc.) of a 4-by-4-foot plot within the 10-by-10-foot plot.

(4) Herbarium Visit

(a) Write ahead and arrange to visit an herbarium at a university, park, or botanical garden; OR, visit an herbarium website (with your parent’s permission).
(b) Tell how the specimens are arranged and how they are used by researchers. If possible, observe voucher specimens of a plant that is rare in your state.
(c) Tell how a voucher specimen is mounted and prepared for permanent storage. Tell how specimens should be handled so that they will not be damaged.
(d) Tell about the tools and references used by botanists in an herbarium.

(5) Plant Conservation Organization Visit

(a) Write ahead and arrange to visit a private conservation organization or government agency that is concerned with protecting rare plants and natural areas.
(b) Tell about the activities of the organization in studying and protecting rare plants and natural areas.
(c) If possible, visit a nature preserve managed by the organization. Tell about land management activities such as controlled burning, or measures to eradicate invasive (nonnative) plants or other threats to the plants that are native to the area.