1. Care for a lawn or garden for a month
2. Without harming nature, mount and label a display of natural things, such as leaves, weeds, rocks, or seeds and tell about your collection
3. Grow a plant indoors and describe how it grew
4. Grow a sugar or salt crystal on a string
5. Plant a tree or shrub, describe how trees grow and why they are important to nature
6. Point out or describe some sources of pollution in your neighbourhood and describe possible solutions
7. Make a rain gauge and use it to record rain or snowfall for a month
8. Make and set up a bird bath, bird house, or bird feeding station, and look after it for a season
9. Show how to use and take care of common garden tools
10. Using the water cycle, show the route water takes to your home or show how acid rain is formed and how it affects nature
11. Point out the North Star and three constellations

1. Visit a natural area of your choice and point out some different ways the local plants and animals depend on one another for life
2. Go on a ramble and identify six different kinds of birds, or keep a record of birds using a bird bath or bird feeder for a season. Know which birds are protected in your area
3. Visit one of the following places: conservation area, weather station, fish hatchery, observatory, tree farm, fire ranger tower, farm, greenhouse, park, zoo, forestry station, dam. Learn about how this place helps the environment.

Badge Requirements

1. Teach another Cub how to use the pointer stars of the Big Dipper to find Polaris, the North Star.
2. Show how to orient and read a seasonal star map. Be able to find five constellations of your choice.
3. Learn and tell a story related to a constellation or an aboriginal legend regarding the night sky.
4. Know and describe 3 sky features:
   1. Milky Way
   2. Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights
   3. Comets
   4. Meteors
   5. Planets
   6. Stars
   7. Satellites
   8. Eclipses 
5. Know the phases of the moon and the moon's role in causing ocean tides.

Program Resources
http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/cubscouts/

Printable PDF of Badge Requirements (Scouts Canada)
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Badge Requirements

1. Show the proper use of a spade, fork, and rake and how to care for them.
2. Prepare, plant and look after for three months, one of the following:
   
   1. A garden at least 1.5 square meters in size
   2. A window box at least 60 cm x 25 cm. in size
   3. Two or more perennial plants in pots
   4. A plant terrarium
3. Identify and name from life any three of the following:
   1. Six garden flowers
   2. Six garden vegetables
   3. Four common weeds
   4. Three common friends of the garden
   5. Three common pests of the garden
4. Choose and do any two of the following:
   1. Grow a bulb
   2. Grow a tree seed
   3. Start a vegetable from seed on blotter or paper towelling
   4. Grow a plant from seedlings
   5. Grow a plant from the tops of turnips, carrots, radishes, parsnips or beets

Program Resources

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Badge Requirements

Complete any six of the following:

1. Find different kinds of seeds that travel by "helicopter", "parachute", "sling shot", as a "hitchhiker", or by "animal express". Discuss how seeds are dispersed.
2. With the help of an adult, dye a piece of cloth or T-shirt using plants to make the colour.
3. Make a plaster cast or take a picture of an animal track.
4. Show at least three different ways animals camouflage themselves.
5. Show at least three different ways animals survive the Canadian winter.
6. Show at least three examples of how plants and animals protect themselves from weather or predators.
7. Take a hike through an urban community to look for nature.
8. Observe any wild animal and report on what you learned from its behaviour.
9. Find examples in books or real life and tell how plants and animals attract or repel others using colour and smell.
10. Describe or draw some ways animals capture or eat food.

Program Resources

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Badge Requirements

Complete any five of the following:

1. Recognize, point out (from life rather than a book where possible), and describe some of the habits of six animals.
2. Recognize, point out (from life where possible), and describe some of the habits of six birds.
3. Recognize and imitate three bird calls.
4. Recognize and point out from life six spring, six summer, or six autumn wild flowers.
5. Recognize, observe and report the habits of six insects.
6. Recognize and point out from life six trees or shrubs and describe some of their uses.
7. Recognize and point out four features of the night sky such as stars, constellations, planets, etc.
8. Describe the signs for different types of weather.
9. Recognize and point out six different kinds of rocks or minerals.
10. Recognize four different animal tracks or animal signs.

Program Resources

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Badge Requirements 

Complete any three in each of the categories:

A. Reduce

1. Look in your home or in a store for products that could be sold with less packaging.
2. With the help of an adult, check the tire pressure in a car to see if the tires are properly inflated to improve gas consumption.
3. Bring your own non-disposable mug and eating utensils to use at camp or bring a garbage-free lunch to school regularly.
4. Make a list or draw how you and your family could reduce the amount of electricity used at home. For one week keep track of how you saved energy. Record what you did and how many times you did it.
5. Keep a record of four different ways that you saved water at your house in a week.
6. Describe what you and your family did to reduce the amount of heat needed to keep your house warm. 
7. Choose two items that you or your family bought this week that you could have done without. Commit to not buying those items for the next month. 

B. Reuse

1. Choose something that you currently throw away and come up with a new idea on how to reuse it safely.
2. Explain and show new uses for old plastic containers.
3. Explain and show new uses for old jars and cans.
4. Make a project from old lumber or Christmas trees.
5. Describe and show new uses for different kinds of paper, greeting cards, bags and cardboard boxes.
6. Repair and donate old toys to somebody.
7. With help from an adult, collect old clothes, furniture or books and donate them.
8. Make a list of all the things you didn't need to buy during one week because you reused items you already had. Explain how reusing items reduces the amount of energy needed to make new things.

C. Recycle

1. Build a composter and either use it yourself or give it to a friend.
2. Help publicize a home toxic waste collection day in your community, such as for collecting old paints, garden chemicals, oil,etc.
3. Tell or show your pack three products that are made with recycled materials. Explain how using recycled materials helps to reduce climate change.
4. Participate in a recycling project such as a bottle or paper drive.
5. Visit or learn about a company or industry that is involved in recycling or collecting recyclable materials.
6. Make a list of products that display the recycling symbol.
7. Using old paper products, make your own recycled paper.
8. Help organize or participate in a recycling program.
9. Learn which items in your house can be returned when you are done with them (examples include computer parts, batteries, tires etc.). Identify one item (from this list) you were planning to throw out and with an adult, bring it somewhere to be recycled.

Program Resources
 

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This is the top level award for the Natural World Activity Area. This award provides an opportunity for Cubs who are keenly interested in the natural world to focus their attention and energies.

Award Requirements

1. Earn the Black Star
2. Earn the World Conservation Badge or World Scout Environmental Award
3. Earn one other Natural World related badge
4. Learn about and, if possible, visit a Provincial or National Park or Wilderness Area. Create a report or display that highlights the reasons why the park is there and some problems facing the park
5. Participate in a conservation project which improves a local park, sanctuary, refuge or other wilderness area
6. Help show other Cubs some aspect of nature study of your choice

Program Resources

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The World Scout Environment Award is an international award, which means that Scouts in other countries are also working to earn it, even though they may be working on slightly different requirements. All Scouts around the world will wear the badge on the uniform to demonstrate Scouting’s concern for, and active stewardship of, the environment.

The World Scout Environment Award badge shows Antarctica - the only collectively managed continent in the world and one of the most at risk from climate change - at its center. The other landforms create a “world” image - not showing any one particular continent or country, as Scouts are encouraged to look beyond their own borders and think of the world. The colours of blue, green and white are commonly associated with nature and the purple of World Scouting is blended with these. The Sun which brings life to our world is reflected in the water.

Award Requirements

Clean Water and Clean Air

1. Creatively record your activities for the World Scout Environment Award. Begin with a drawing, sketch or photo of your favourite outdoor place. Continue with a description of your outdoor place and explain why it is special to you.
2. Do one of the following:
   1. Make a waterscope, dip net, or handscreen. Explore an aquatic habitat such as a marsh, bog, wetland, seashore, lake, stream or snowfield.
      • What is the source of water in this area?
      • How many different kinds of animals can you find? What makes them different?
      • How do aquatic animals differ from those that live on land?
   2. Go for a walk and think about sources of clean air. How do they make the air clean? How can you tell if the air is clean? (hint: use your senses) Why is clean air important? What can you, your family and pack do to help keep the air clean?
   3. Discover how nature keeps water and air clean. Do one or both of the following:
      1. Natural water filter
         • Collect an outdoor water sample, at least 250 ml.
         • Using half the water, try to clean it through a natural filter, like soil or sand, placed in the bottom of a paper cone.
         • Then try to clean the other half of the water with a human-designed filter, like cheesecloth, paper towel, or coffee filter
         • Which does a better job? How can you tell if water is clean?
      2. Air particle collectors
         • Make air particle collectors by fastening a piece of tape sticky-side-up onto cardboard squares.
         • Place the collectors in different locations (indoors, by trees, near a road, buildings), some facing the wind, and some away from the wind. Don’t forget to protect them from rain if necessary. In your journal keep track of where you put them.
         • Wait several days then examine your collectors. Are there particles stuck to them? How many? Which particles seem unnatural? Why? Which location had the most particles?
   4. If the water flows away or the air blows away, your environment may seem cleaner. Where did it go? Is the air and water clean everywhere?
3. With your Cub Scout pack, discuss the different kinds of soil, water and air pollution that exist. How do these forms of pollution affect your health and the environment? What can be done to stop or limit them?

Natural Habitat

1. Go on a hike in or around a terrestrial (land-based) habitat such as a field, marsh, woodland, beach, prairie or tundra. Use your journal to record by writing, drawing or photos:
   1. What animals live there? What kinds of plants live there? What is the ground or soil like?
   2. Which plants and animals provide food for other animals?
   3. What kind of animal and insect homes are there? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of home you find?
2. Make a viewfinder. Use it to do one or both of the following activities:
   1. Use the viewfinder frame to help you find interesting “pictures” that might be worth taking the time to paint, draw or photograph. Look around for several minutes testing different views. Zoom in and out and turn the viewfinder to reach the best composition that highlights a particular detail or snapshot of nature.
   2. Using the viewfinder frame, focus on a patch of ground outdoors. Use that space to create a microhabitat for a small imaginary creature (you can use a pebble, pinecone, twig, etc.). Be able to identify the food, water, shelter, range, and enemies of your creature and give other Cub Scouts a guided tour of your microhabitat.

Harmful Substances

1. Complete the Climate Change Badge.
2. Complete the Recycling Badge.

Environmental Practices

1. Know and explain the seven principles of Leave No Trace (LNT).
2. Do at least one Leave No Trace activity with your pack.* (Green Star #7, p.75, Camping Badge #6, p.77)
3. Do two of the following:
   1. Take a short walk in the neighbourhood around your Cub Scout meeting place. How many kinds of surfaces did you travel on (sidewalk, grass, gravel, schoolyard, etc.)? What makes a surface durable? Which ones were durable? What are other durable surfaces?
   2. What are three ways you can use the LNT principles at home? At school? At Cub Scouts? Draw a picture or write some ideas in your journal.
   3. Plan a hike, either in your neighbourhood or a wilderness area. Now that you know about the LNT principles, what will you do differently on this hike? Where will you go? What will you take? What will you wear? Why?
   4. “Take nothing but pictures, leave with nothing but memories.” This is a good quote about leaving no trace. Make a photo album, scrapbook, sketchbook or describe in your journal about an outdoor area you have visited. Share it with your pack.

Be Prepared to Respond

1. Complete your Emergency Preparedness Badge.

Environmental Project

1. Find out about, and participate in, a local environmental project you could help with (e.g. community garden, Earth Day activities, litter clean up, Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, yellow fish storm drain marking, Scoutrees, etc.).
2. Describe, draw or photograph the environment before, and after, your project is done. How does what you do help the community? Canada? The world?

What Have You Learned?

1. When you have finished all the requirements for this award, write or draw at least three things you learned about our environment, our world, and what you can do to help. Share them with your pack.

Program Resources

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Phase In Period (January 2011 to September 2011)
As part of the phase in period Scouters should note these points of interest:

1. The WSE Award is to be worn in the same place as the previous World Conservation Award
2. Any youth who has already begun earning the World Conservation Award may complete the requirements of such (does not have to switch)
3. If upon completion of the World Conservation requirements the badge is not available, the WSE Award badge should be used

The World Conservation Badge concentrates on the basic understanding that in nature, all life requires food, water, shelter and space to survive. These three badges (Observer, Naturalist, and World Conservation) show how nature is like a giant spider web; everything is connected. A pull or tug on one part of the web eventually affects the rest of the web. Nature is indeed our "web of life."

Award Requirements

Complete any six of the following:

1. Go on a hike in or around two different habitats such as a field, marsh, bog, woodlands, seashore, prairie or tundra. In each habitat discover the following:
   1. What animals live there
   2. What kinds of plants live there
   3. What the ground or soil is like
   4. What the sources of water are for this area. Compare the two habitats and discuss why some plants and animals live in one place and not the other
   5. Explain how if the temperature got hotter or colder than usual because of climate change the habitat might change.
2. Visit a habitat and discover what kinds of plants and animals are there that provide food for other animals. How does food encourage or limit what animals live in the area?
3. Visit a habitat and discover what kinds of animal and insect homes are there. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of home you find.
4. Visit a habitat and look for signs of water. How does water affect where and what kinds of plants and animals live there?
5. Find out what it means to be an endangered species. Choose one endangered species and make a poster or a presentation to your pack on how it has been hurt by a lack of food, water, shelter, space or other causes. What can people do to help this endangered species survive? How could changes in the average temperature because of climate change make it more difficult for this species to survive?
6. Do a project that improves food, water, shelter or space for wildlife. Some ideas are:
   1. build and install bird houses or feeders
   2. clean up a stream or creek
   3. plant trees or shrubs that have fruit for animals to eat
   4. remove trash or stop erosion so more; plants and animals can use the area
7. Discuss the different kinds of soil, water and air pollution that exist. How do these forms of pollution affect your health and the environment, and what can be done to stop or limit pollution sources?
8. Write some rules for good behavior while in the outdoors and share these with your six or pack
9. Explain how climate change affects the natural environment and take one action, such as using a bike instead of a car, using less electricity at home or recycling, that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions which cause climate change.

Program Resources
 

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