Requirements
When doing any of the activities near or on the water, make sure that you check Safety Wise and take all the necessary precautions before beginning this badge. Do six of the following:
1. Go on a hike with your troop and follow a local creek or stream. Where does the stream drain? What does it pick up along the way? What happens when it rains? How does the stream change? What insects, birds, and plants or aquatic life did you observe? Use a United States Geological Survey map or draw your own to illustrate your local watershed.
2. The river has inspired much art and literature. Read about Mark Twain or another author/artist inspired by a river. Express how a body of water makes you feel though prose, poetry, photography, or art.
3. Choose 1 bird, animal, fish or amphibian, located near a river in your area. Learn about the habitat and how they depend on the river for survival.
4. Leave no Trace – Contact your local USGS, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife or other government agency to obtain information regarding Leave No Trace. Practice these skills on a hike or overnight camping trip.
5. Do something fun on the river, like swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, water skiing, etc.
6. Visit a lock and dam or other water facility. Find out how they affect the river or other body of water.
7. Participate in a shoreline clean-up project or neighborhood river clean-up day.
8. Work with your troop to organize a Storm Drain Stenciling Project in your neighborhood. Produce and distribute a flyer or door hanger for local households to make them aware of your project and to remind them that storm drains dump directly into you local body of water.
9. Go on a hike and identify 5 water birds.
10. Match the following: Animal-baby-group
Adult ____ Alligator____ ____ Clam ____ ____ Crane ____ ____ Dolphin____ ____ Eagle____ ____ Fish____ ____ Frog____ ____ Mallard____ ____ Otter____ ____ Salmon____ ____ Seal____ ____ Swan____ ____ Toad____ ____ Trout____ ____ Turtle____ ____ Whale ____
Baby a. calf b. chick c. whelp or pup d. tadpole, polliwog, froglet e. hatchling f. fry g. Eaglet, fledgling h. Larva i. Pup j. Pup or calf k. Duckling l. Fry or fingerling m. Parr, smolt, grilse n. Cygnet or flapper o. Tadpole p. hatchling
Group a. bed b. family, raft or romp c. herd, pod, rookery or harem d. congregation, pod e. gam, grind, herd, pod or school f. herd, sedge, siege g. knot h. aerie or convocation i. bevy, game, herd, team j. draft, school, shoal, run k. hoover l. school, shoal m. flush, sord n. army, knot o. herd, pod, school p. bale