WEBELOS

Forester
Viking Council

A forester deals with the care and growing of trees. A Webelos working on the Forester activity badge will learn how to recognize different species of trees by their shape, foliage, bark and types of wood. He will learn how they live and grow.
America is a land of trees. Thousands of products come from trees, from rayon clothing to books. One very important value of trees is aesthetic. Think what beauty would be missing without trees.

Careers/Speakers

Forest ranger, greenhouse operator, forester, tree surgeon, forest fire fighter, lumberjack, Fish and Game warden, park ranger, Department of Natural Resources employee, Bonsai club member, Environmental Protection Agency employee.

Activities

Service Project

Ask your local park if your den can plant trees if they provide them. They park will designate where to plant them.

Adopt a Tree

For a long-term project, adopt a tree in the back yard where you meet. Measure its girth, estimate its height if it cannot be measured, record its buds, what color it turns, when it loses its leaves, bird's nest, etc. Keep the information in a diary. Measure it every month.

BSA OUTDOOR CODE

Close your meeting each week by reading the Outdoor Code. Give a short talk on the meaning of each sentence.

As an American I will do my best to be clean in my outdoor manners.
As an American I will do my best to be considerate in the outdoors.
As an American I will do my best to be conservation-minded.

Directions

Can you walk a straight line? Nine out of ten people will veer sharply to the right if not focusing on a landmark. Now imagine what that means to a person who becomes lost in the woods.
Mark a line about 50 feet long with a flag at both ends. One at a time, blindfold the boys and have them start at the first flag, pointed in the direction of the second. After walking a given distance, tell them to stop and remove their blindfold.
Boys stand in place, moving slightly if a blindfolded boy is coming near. How many veered to the right? Who was closest to the line?

Field Trip

Arrange a trip to a lumber yard. Talk to the salesman about the different woods available for use. How is wood treated for gardens, etc. What are the standard sizes of boards and plywood? How does a contractor know how much wood it takes to build a house?
Visit a local nursery or tree farm, or an orchard in production.
Contact a local tree service and ask if you can watch their crew in action. Watch a tree felling or brush clipping operation. Find out about the safety features used.

Games

Arbor Day Treasures

1. The ranger's map led us safely through the woods.
2. It's fun to tramp in every direction before enjoying a picnic in the woods.
3. Forest Rangers wear white helmets.
4. Will owls hoot in the daylight if they see someone in the forest?
5. Many forest fires are caused by human carelessness, according to Rangers.

(Answers: maple, pine, elm, willow, fir)

Meet a Tree

Work in pairs. Blindfold your partner and lead him through the forest to any tree. Ask the blindfolded Scout to feel the tree so that he can identify it later without his blindfold.

After five minutes, walk him back to the starting place and remove the blindfold. Now the Scout must find the tree he explored.

Tongue Twisters

Six thick saplings of quaking aspen swayed in the thick of the forest.

Five frightfully frightened frogs frantically fled the forest fire.

Ten timid titmice toiled in the tall, tall tree.

Materials found in Baloo's Bugle may be used by Scouters for Scouting activities provided that USSSP, Baloo's Bugle and the original contributors are cited as the source of the material.