Geologist
Viking Council

At first thought, geology may seem too specialized a science for Webelos to study. But since Scouting is essentially an outdoor program, knowledge of basic geology is valuable to the Scout. Just about everything on earth, including living things, have a relationship to geology in one way or another. The Geologist activity badge is designed to increase the boys' awareness in the outdoors.

Career/Speakers

Geologist, Soil and Water Conservation worker, water treatment plant operator, inspector for air and water purity, jeweler, oil driller, miner, rock collection sales, travel guide, assayer.

Activities

Building Materials

Invite a housing contractor to come to your den meeting. Ask them to bring building materials such as slate, brick, limestone, marble, cement, etc. Where do they purchase these supplies? Where do they come from originally?

Clubs

Visit a rock collectors club meeting. View the rocks on display. How did the people get interested in this hobby?

Other sources of assistance for this activity badge could be the college science department, museum, large industry concerned with mining or oil production, high school science teacher, or local rock shops.

Rock Creature

Gather smooth flat stones. Wash them in detergent and dry completely. Plan the creature you will make and paint the rocks before assembling. Use acrylic paints.
Use contact cement to glue the rocks together. Saturate a small piece of cotton with glue and place it between the edges of the rocks' or use hot glue. Decorate with yarn, etc.

Genealogy of your Rock Creature

Choose from the following classifications and print onto a fancy looking certificate to keep with your rock creature.

Make Your Own Fossils

The paleontologist uses this technique in reconstructing the shells of long-dead animals. Casts are especially useful in working with fossil footprints
Materials needed: small cardboard box, clay, plaster and water, small snail or clam shell.

1. Cover the bottom of the box with modeling clay to a depth of several inches. This represents the soft mud found on the ancient sea floor.
2. Press the shell firmly into the clay. Lift out carefully so a clear imprint remains, making a mold.
3. Mix a small amount of plaster with water in paper cup. Stir with a spoon until thick, and then pour over the mold.
4. After the plaster has dried, carefully remove it from the mold. This is now a cast of the original shell.
5. Compare the original shell with the plaster cast. Notice that even some of the more delicate markings have been preserved. Compare your cast to some real fossilized stones.

Pack Meeting
Audience Vote

Play this following quiz game, allowing the audience to vote on the correct answer. Emphasize that learning new information can be fun.

Weather Rocks

Collect a quantity of "weather" rocks to pass out to every family at the pack meeting. Photocopy the following directions and sandwich between layers of clear contact paper. Give one with each rock. Make a big deal out of this wonderful present your den is giving away.

For best results, place your weather rock outside:
If you rock is wet…it's raining.
If your rock is white…it's snowing.
If your rock is moving…it's really windy.
If your rock is stiff…it's freezing.
If your rock is gone…sorry, you've been ripped off!

Award Ceremony

Webelos leader has several large rocks on the table, and pretends to hammer and chisel each one to remove the award.
Call each Webelos forward to receive it. Continue chiseling until all awards are presented.