 | For one month wildlife-woodlore theme |
| Advance preparation necessary |
| Advance Junior Leader training necessary |
| Equipment: nature collections; plaster of paris |
First Week
Troop Meeting: Exhibit of animal signs collected by Junior leaders on training hike - casts of tracks, old nests; bits of fur and feathers; owl pellets; shells; antlers; chewed nuts, seeds or acorns; snake skins; shells; photos or sketches of dens; burrows or runs; woodpecker holes in bark; explanation of what signs are; where and how to find them; how to collect them, etc. Announce treasure hunt as feature of Patrol activities for month.
Patrol Meetings: Hikes around town to collect animal signs for treasure hunt. Take collections to Troop meeting. Score as follows: One point for each sign. Two points for each sign identified correctly. Three points for each sign different from any other collected by other Patrols. Five points for each sign different from all others, and identified correctly. Mount all "signs" on boards or composition board, and use to start a Troop nature museum.
Second Week
Troop Meeting: Exhibit as many as possible leaves, twigs and wood specimens of trees and shrubs from neighborhood, collected by Junior leaders on training hike, and explained at meetings by SPL or invited expert.
Patrol Meetings: Collect leaves, twigs of as many trees and shrubs as possible. Label correctly and take to next Troop meeting for scoring in treasure hunt. Score same as for animal signs. Then mount specimens and keep for next week's activity.
Third Week
Troop Meeting: Use tree and shrub specimens collected last week to make up exhibit of uses of those plants. Spread specimens on table or floor and surround them with products made from them, or pictures or sketches. In some cases write their uses on card, and place by specimens. For example, Cedar, uses: tinder, shingles, food and shelter for wildlife, pencils. Multiflora rose, uses: hedge, windbreak, soil control, shelter for wildlife. Explanation by SPL or expert.
Patrol Meetings: Patrols make up exhibit of uses of trees and shrubs for Troop meeting. Score same as for animal signs.
Fourth Week
Troop Meeting: Exhibit of edible plants - greens, roots, shoots, bark and fruits, found in neighborhood. Group according to how cooked. See Handbook for Boys, pages 179, 188, 189, 201, 221, 329-330. Explanation by SPL or expert.
Patrol Meetings: Collect edible plants and make exhibit for treasure hunt, judging and scoring at Troop meeting. Scoring same as for animal signs. At next Troop meeting tally up score, and announce winner. Keep all exhibits for Troop nature museum.
