Project Build – Bat Box

Before the meeting:

1. Print Bat House instructions, one for each Cub Scout.
2. Purchase or gather necessary tools and materials based on the list from requirement 4. This may include contacting families to bring tools.
3. Cut the boards to size and sand the edges smooth.
4. Pre-drill pilot holes for nails or screws.
5. Set up meeting space for each Cub Scout to have a designated work area with plenty of room to move about and a safe distance away from one another.

During the meeting:

1. Review appropriate tool safety with Cub Scouts.
2. Distribute Bat House instructions.
3. To build the bat house:
   • Cut out all the bat house boards.
   • Use your pocketknife to scribe shallow grooves (less than 1⁄16 inch deep) across the inside of the back sheet of plywood, about ¼- to ½-inch apart. The grooves help bats grip the plywood.
   • Run a bead of caulk onto the contact surfaces of the interior frame and spacer blocks, and then screw them in place on the back of the front panel. All surfaces that are in contact with each other should be caulked before screwing them together. Caulking acts as a gasket, sealing out water.
   • Drill ½-inch vent holes in the front panel. In cold climates, you need only three or four vent holes.
   • Stain the interior of the bat house, including the plywood, frame, and spacer blocks. Allow the stain to dry.
   • Caulk and screw the back panel to the frame and spacer blocks. Be sure to drill pilot holes to avoid splitting.
   • Caulk and screw on the roof. A drop of caulking in each screw pilot hole will help waterproof the bat house and keep the inside dry.
   • . Paint the exterior with primer, then apply two coats of paint. Use black paint for colder climates and gray paint for warmer climates. Attach the bat house to a building or other structure. Face it south or east, about 10- to 12-feet off the ground.

After the meeting:

1. Find a place to hang the bat house.