Merit Badge Outline For

Fish and Wildlife Management

Introduction

Your challenge as a summer camp merit badge counselor is to see that the Scouts who attend your session have the best opportunity to learn about fish and wildlife management. It is important that they have a positive experience. This lesson plan is designed to help you plan a logical, high-quality program. You may have to use a slightly different approach in presenting the material based on your camp resources and facilities. Sign off Scouts as they complete their requirements.

Resources

Be sure to utilize all the resources available to you. There are many state and federal agencies that can provide you with materials and displays and can make presentations at your camp. Make sure you don’t wait until the last minute to ask for help. These agencies need time to arrange for personnel and materials. Review the resource information located in the back of the Fish and Wildlife Management merit badge pamphlet.


DAY	ACTIVITY		DESCRIPTION

1	Greet Scouts	A.	Examine all merit badge cards for the Scoutmaster's signature. Make a roster of the Scouts.
	Review	B.	Review the information the Scouts need to know for requirement 1. Share with the Scouts any legislation or information that has affected the fish and wildlife management of your Scout camp.
	Discuss	C.	Discuss with the Scouts the agencies that are responsible for fish and wildlife management in your state. Explain the difference between their authority and responsibilities. Discuss their management practices. Review the hunting, fishing, and trapping laws in your state. These are items in requirement 4.
	Hike	D.	Take a short nature hike around your area or on a nature trail. Identify at least three plants useful as wildlife food. Show three other plants useful as cover for wildlife. Remind the Scouts that they will have to identify them once again later in the week. This will assist the Scouts with completing requirement 6.
	On Hike	E.	While on the nature hike, point out several conservation projects that need to be done in camp. The Scouts are to plan and execute the project, but you can make some suggestions based on the abilities of the Scouts. Also encourage each Scout to pick two different locations in your camp. Each Scout needs to spend six hours in each of the sites he selects. At the end of the week, they will share with you the differences in the two locations, describing the vegetation and wildlife.

2	Review	A.	Review briefly some of the items you did in day 1. Review with the Scouts how humans must work to manage wildlife. Involve the Scouts in the discussion of how man interacts with wildlife. This could be done as you take a nature hike and have planned stops where the Scouts could see how this interaction takes place. This will assist the Scouts in the completion of requirement 3.
	Hike	B.	At each of these stops you can also share with the Scouts five management methods that are used in your state or area. Let the Scouts brainstorm with you on additional methods that might be used. They might have some very useful ideas the state could use. This will also help them complete requirement 4.
	Hike	C.	Guide the group in making plans for their conservation project. Make sure the planned project can be accomplished while the Scouts are in camp. Work with them to make sure all Scouts are actively involved. Also make sure you have the necessary equipment to do the project.
	Review	D.	Alert the Scouts that requirements 1, 2, 3, and 5 will be reviewed and a verbal evaluation will take place. Remind them to continue observing in their two locations.

3	Review	A.	Ask if the Scouts have any questions about requirements 1, 2, 3, and 5.
	Hike	B.	Start a hike along the nature trail and ask questions that relate to requirements 1–5. Make sure that everyone participates in the quiz. The way this quiz is handled is determined by you. It is important that each Scout be aware of the information needed to pass the requirements.
	Work	C.	If time permits, have the Scouts begin work on their conservation project.

4	Work	A.	Gather the necessary tools and continue work on the conservation project. While the Scouts are working, have them share with you the items they have observed in the two locations at camp.
4	Note	B.	This is the time to make sure that all the Scouts are proceeding on schedule. If it looks like anyone is having a problem completing the merit badge, the Scoutmaster should be notified.

5	Wrap up	A.	Wrap up all the requirements. Prepare the merit badge cards for the proper signatures. If any Scout does not complete all requirements, make sure that his records properly indicate the requirements that he has completed and that the Scout knows why he did not complete the badge requirements.
5		B.	Submit necessary records to the camp program director.

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