Boy Scouts of America

Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge

Soil and Water Conservation
Merit Badge

Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Hub

Boy Scouts of America
Merit Badge Hub

SoilWaterConserve

Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge Overview

Conservation isn’t just the responsibility of soil and plant scientists, hydrologists, wildlife managers, landowners, and the forest or mine owner alone. It is the duty of every person to learn more about the natural resources on which our lives depend so that we can help make sure that these resources are used intelligently and cared for properly.
Soil-Water-Conserve_merit-badge-overview

Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge Requirements

The requirements will be fed dynamically using the scout book integration 111
1. Do the following:
  • (a) Tell what soil is. Tell how it is formed.
  • (b) Describe three kinds of soil. Tell how they are different.
  • (c) Name the three main plant nutrients in fertile soil. Tell how they can be put back when used up.
2. Do the following:
  • (a) Define soil erosion.
  • (b) Tell why it is important. Tell how it affects you.
  • (c) Name three kinds of soil erosion. Describe each.
  • (d) Take pictures or draw two kinds of soil erosion.
3. Do the following:
  • (a) Tell what is meant by conservation practices.
  • (b) Describe the effect of three kinds of erosion-control practices.
  • (c) Take pictures or draw three kinds of erosion-control practices.
4. Do the following:
  • (a) Explain what a watershed is.
  • (b) Outline the smallest watershed that you can find on a contour map.
  • (c) Then outline on your map, as far as possible, the next larger watershed which also has the smallest in it.
  • (d) Explain what a river basin is. Tell why all people living in a river basin should be concerned about land and water use in it.
  • (e) Explain what an aquifer is and why it can be important to communities.
5. Do the following:
  • (a) Make a drawing to show the hydrologic cycle.
  • (b) Show by demonstration at least two of the following actions of water in relation to soil: percolation, capillary action, precipitation, evaporation, transpiration.
  • (c) Explain how removal of vegetation will affect the way water runs off a watershed.
  • (d) Tell how uses of forest, range, and farmland affect usable water supply.
  • (e) Explain how industrial use affects water supply.
6. Do the following:
  • (a) Tell what is meant by "water pollution."
  • (b) Describe common sources of water pollution and explain the effects of each.
  • (c) Tell what is meant by "primary water treatment," "secondary waste treatment," and "biochemical oxygen demand."
  • (d) Make a drawing showing the principles of complete waste treatment.
7. Do TWO of the following:
  • (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 a 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
  • (b) Plant 100 trees, bushes and/or vines for a good purpose.
  • (c) Seed an area of at least one-fifth acre for some worthwhile conservation purposes, using suitable grasses or legumes alone or in a mixture.
  • (d) Study a soil survey report. Describe the things in it. On tracing paper over any of the soil maps, outline an area with three or more different kinds of soil. List each kind of soil by full name and map symbol.
  • (e) Make a list of places in your neighborhood, camps, school ground, or park that have erosion, sedimentation, or pollution problems. Describe how these could be corrected through individual or group action.
  • (f) Carry out any other soil and water conservation project approved by your merit badge counselor.

Get the Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge Pamphlet

Get the dirt on soil and water! Using this pamphlet to earn the Soil and Water Conservation Merit Badge, you’ll be prepared to spread the word on how to conserve these precious natural resources.

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Discover more about "Soil and Water Conservation"

Scouts serve their communities in many ways. One popular way involves picking up litter, thereby keeping their hometowns, parks and local environments clean. Some of these efforts are global, while others have been part of awards. Every Star Scout seeking to advance to the next rank must contribute six hours of service, at least three of which must be conservation related. But what exactly does “conservation-related” mean? Does it include picking up trash?

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Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.