Fish and Wildlife Management Merit Badge Activity Planner

Patrol Leader Merit Badge Planning Guide for the Fish and Wildlife Management Merit Badge

*** Activities for the Youth Lead Patrol ***

Exploring Fish and Wildlife Management can be a fascinating youth adventure when done right. Here are a few tips to help the patrol leader get started.

• Scouts may never add or subtract from the actual merit badge requirements
• This Planner is only a suggestion of different ideas to make working this Merit Badge both fun and easy.
• While doing the Worksheet is not a requirement for earning this badge, in many cases it can help you learn key concepts and track your progress.

A. Make Your Plan

1. Merit Badge Activity Planning Tips - 14 tips for a successful patrol activity. Read carefully before you start your plan!
2. Share Your Plan - Meet ahead of time with your patrol, scout leaders, parents and especially with the Merit Badge Counselor. Make changes to the plan as needed.
3. Prepare Activity Flyer - Keep your fellow scouts informed - events, activities, pre-requisites and more.

Patrol Activity	GREAT	Awesome MB to work as a patrol / Max Size 12 scouts
Virtual Field Trip	GREAT	Scrapbook options available
Family Activity	FAIR
Service Activity	GREAT	Wildlife Habitat Conservation Project
S.T.E.M. Activity	GREAT	Environmental Science
Field Trip	GREAT	Three cool outdoor field trip activities
Duty-to-God	POOR	N/A
MB Day	FAIR	Require significant time on three outdoor observation activities
Overnighter	GREAT	Great Outdoor STEM activity
Summer Camp	GREAT	Three cool outdoor field trip activities

Online Resources

• Fish and Wildlife Management Merit Badge Requirements: BoyScoutTrial.com lists all requirements, additional resources, activity worksheet, etc.
• Fish and Wildlife Management Merit Badge File Store: Online resources
• Fish and Wildlife Management Merit Badge Worksheets: Worksheets are optional - but highly preferred by many MBC. When you find that many requirements say "discuss" - the worksheet can help you gather your thoughts beforehand.
• Fish and Wildlife Management Merit Badge Booklet: Everything thing you need to know about Fish and Wildlife Management is right here. Get this study guide from either Amazon or your Troop Library, Merit Badge Counselor or Scoutmaster to Learn More About this Subject.
• Wildlife @ Simple-Wikipedia: Get the basics quickly.

B. Introduction Meeting

File:Fishing103.jpg

Most merit badge activities do best to have a "introduction" meeting where the patrol can discuss how to get started and to plan out their field trips. Send out the activity flyer in advance to use as an meeting agenda. Your scouts will then know what to expect.

C. Homework / Prerequisites

Assign one or more requirements that the scout can do at home, perhaps as a family activity.

D. Study Hall Patrol Night

While some scouts may be adept at self-study, others may do better in a small group setting and taking notes on worksheets. Make an agenda. You can facilitate discussion by asking them why each of the principles introduced here would be relevant. Schedule one or more patrol meetings to work this merit badge.

Pre-Open Gathering Activity

A gathering activity before the official meeting start is a great way to set a fun theme for the meeting.

• Game - identify different types of fish or wildlife game
• Exhibit - different species of fish or wildlife game
• Exhibit - local endangered or extinct wildlife species

MBC Discussion Group

• Req #1: Discussion - Meaning of Conservation
• Req #2: Discussion - Problems threatening wildlife
• Req #3: Discussion - Practical ways to serve
• Req #4: Discussion - Five major conservation practices
• Req #8: Discussion - Careers in Fish and Wildlife Management

Discussion Resources:

• Fish & Wildlife Management Merit Badge - Slideshare Powerpoint Presentation.

E. Field Trip

Three key outdoor projects make up a big part of this merit badge:

Req #5: Habitat Project

Do one the following project and record the results/observations:

• Make two artificial nests
• Make bird feeders
• Backyard wildlife habitat
• Make a wildlife blind on a nature trail

Req #6: Wildlife Project

Do one the following project and record the results/observations:

• Observe 25 species of wildlife
• List endangered species of the area (virtual project)
• Make a wildlife scrapebook

Req #7: Gamefish Project

Do one the following project and record the results/observations:

• Track age of 5 fish
• Do a creel census
• Examine stomach contents of 3 fish
• Make a freshwater aquarium

F. Extra Credit

While none of these are actual requirements for this merit badge - they are terrific opportunities to show Scout Spirit, Do a Good Turn Daily and to have FUN!

1. Activity Reflection: Use this meeting for scouts to ask questions and to reflect on what they gained personally from this adventure. You can also have a discussion on what future opportunities are here.
2. Court of Honor Exhibit: Pictures, handiwork and other memorabilia from this adventure will make for a great presentation at the next Scout Troop Court of Honor.

Related Merit Badges

Sometimes it is easier by doing two or more merit badges together as a joint activity:

• Nature
• Environmental Science
• Photography

Complete Angler Award

Complete the following 3 merit badges and you might qualify for BSA's Complete Angler:

• Fly-Fishing
• Fishing
• Fish and Wildlife Management
• BSA Angler Award -

Your last step is to successfully complete one or more of the following projects:

1. Teach a Fishing or Fly Fishing merit badge skill to your troop, crew or team as part of a unit program activity.
2. Help instruct Cub Scouts on fishing skills or fishery management as part of a Cub Scout meeting or outing.
3. Participate in a local fishing derby or tournament, either a Scouting or Community event.
4. Complete a conservation project that will benefit a local fishery.

BSA Fishing Guide

• The Scouting Guide to Basic Fishing (2019-Paperback): An Officially-Licensed Book of the Boy Scouts of America: 200 Essential Skills for Selecting Tackle, Tying Knots, Casting, and Catching Fish. Current Scouts, Scout alumni, and anyone interested in the outdoors are provided with a step-by-step guide that masterfully breaks down the art of fishing with diagrams, vivid photographs, and lessons on everything the beginner needs to know.

Fishing @ BoysLife

• Fishing.BoysLife.org - has a great online section on Scouts BSA Fishing:
  • Videos by Experts
  • How to tie common fishing knots
  • Expert advice on the best baits, locations and fishing techniques for catching bass, trout, panfish, catfish and other species of fish.
  • Review of Essential Fishing Gear to Get Started
  • Make homemade scout fishing lures.
  • What is "BuzzBaits"?
• Ice Fishing @ BSA Campe Oh-Da-Ko-Ta - NPAA and FAF Support Scout Ice Fishing at Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta, Burlington, WI - includes a safety briefing on hypothermia, ice thickness, and behavior while on the lake ice.

BSA Hiking Guide

• The Scouting Guide to Basic Hiking (2020-Paperback): An Officially-Licensed Book of the Boy Scouts of America: 200 Essential Skills for the Great Outdoors. Current Scouts, Scout alumni, and readers interested in the outdoors are provided with time-tested advice on hiking and backpacking in the wilderness.