Boy Scouts of America

Quick Concept for Our Natural World

Grabbing Your Group’s Attention (20 minutes)

Your group will be going on a nature scavenger hunt. Rather than collecting objects, they will be listing ideas on paper. The hunt will help participants discover how much they have in common with the natural world and how the natural world influences their survival. This activity sets the stage for learning and embracing Leave No Trace.

  • Begin the activity by conducting one of the following:
  • An excursion to an outdoor setting such as a park, canyon, river, or desert
  • An excursion to a natural setting via a slide show, color photographs, or posters
  • A mind excursion where participants imagine their favorite natural setting
  • A mind excursion where participants close their eyes while you describe a natural setting

The Activity

Give each participant a piece of paper and a pencil. Have participants make three columns with the headings “Things in Nature,” “Things We Have in Common,” and “How It Helps Me.”

Have participants observe their environment physically if they are outdoors, or mentally if they are indoors. They must find objects in nature and tell what they have in common with each object. Make sure they consider less-noticeable things such as air, soil, and sun. Here’s an example:

The Discussion

Have participants share one or more of their connections. Help them to discover that this personal connection is where a commitment to land stewardship begins. Land stewardship is the goal of Leave No Trace. Outline for them what they will be learning about Leave No Trace in the future.

Things in Nature Things We Have in Common How It Helps Me
TREE
 We both have an outer layer to protect us (bark/skin). A tree gives me oxygen.
SOIL
 We both contain minerals. Soil helps grow my food.
ANT
 We both need shelter. Ants loosen the soil.

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.