Nurturing the next generation of nature adventurers
Thursday 7th June 2012
Cub group with their Naturalist Badge (c) Natural History Museum
The Wildlife Trusts have joined forces with the Natural History Museum and The National Trust to inspire a new generation of nature-loving Scouts.
The new Cub Scout Naturalist Activity Badge pack, created by the nature conservation organsiations, aims to help Scout volunteers to deliver exciting programmes in a flexible way.
Available online at www.scouts.org.uk/naturalist the resource pack offers many challenges to bring Cub Scouts closer to nature, whether in an urban or rural setting. The activities will transform Cubs into bug hunters, bird detectives and tree trackers, getting them out into gardens, parks, and nature reserves managed by The Wildlife Trusts and the National Trust.
To earn the Badge, Cubs must complete three tasks from a choice of six, including:
• Surveying a local hedgerow to find out which plants and animals live there
• Making a bird feeder to put in their garden then recording which birds visit the garden
• Taking part in a pond dip to identify the different pond invertebrates.
Nigel Doar, Head of Development for The Wildlife Trusts, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the new Cub Scout Naturalist Activity Badge. Whether people realise it or not, nature is at the roots of our wealth, health and wellbeing, and it’s a source of personal fulfilment, artistic inspiration and spiritual enlightenment. It’s loads of fun, too.
"Cubs working to earn their Naturalist Badge will be able to get outdoors, to get muddy and wet, and create their own adventures exploring the natural world for themselves. If they enjoy nature as Cubs and come to value it, then it will give them a lifetime of pleasure. The more people that recognise the value of nature to them in future, the better for all of us.”
Tagged with: Outdoor learning, Cub Scout, Naturalist Badge, Wildlife Trusts, Wildlife Watch