Program Guide

The Preserve offers a wide selection of programs for Scouts to earn badges & beltloops for Cub & Boy Scouts.

To download click on 2012 Scout Badge Program Guide

Tiger Programs: (program length approx 2 hours)

How Do We Affect our Environment?

As they hike the .75-mile James Randall Roe Trail, Tiger cubs will learn about the effects of pollution and human activity on our environment. We will cover the three R’s—reduce, recycle, and reuse back at the Learning Shed and talk about simple ways they can help keep our environment clean.  We will also visit our composting area where they will learn the different types and benefits of composting.

Electives 34 and 47

Let’s Go Outdoors!

At the Learning Shed, Tiger cubs will learn about animals native to Georgia.  We will use the tree ID posts to learn about native trees and make rubbings of their bark while we hike the .75-mile James Randall Roe Trail. Discussion on the trail will include weather and seasons. Back at the Learning Shed, we will make a pinecone bird feeder for the scouts to take home.

Requirements 5F, 5D, and 5G; Electives 31 and 32

Tiger groups only are allowed to have one adult per Scout admitted at no charge.

Wolf Programs: (program length approx 3 hours)

Your Living World

Wolves will start out at the Learning Shed where we will discuss our environment, different types of pollution, and ways we can show respect for our resources by reducing our use of resources, recycling what we can, and re-using items.  We’ll discuss the benefits of composting, water conservation, and a natural indicator of good air quality.  Participants will hike the 1.6 mile John & Ann Collins Trail.

Requirements 7A, 7B, 7C, 7F, and 10C

Birds of a Feather

This program is all about birds…well, mostly! Wolf cubs are encouraged to bring binoculars as we explore the bird life around the Preserve lake and while we hike the 1.6 mile John & Ann Collins Trail.  We will keep a list of the birds we see and use field guides to identify those we do not immediately recognize.  While on the trail, we will also discuss poisonous plants.  Back at the Learning Shed, we will make a pine cone bird feeder that the wolf cubs can take home and hang in their yards for further bird fun!

Electives 13A, 13D, 13E, 13F, and 18H; Requirement 10C

Bear Programs: (program length approx 3 hours)

Sharing your world with Wildlife

This program is all about our nature preserve and the animals that live here.  Bear cubs will hike the 1.6-mile John & Ann Collins Trail around the lake as we look for evidence of the birds and other animals that live at the Pettit Preserve.  We will talk about what animals need to survive and what happens when their needs are not met. Each Bear Cub will have the opportunity to make a small poster at the learning shed about their favorite animal of the day and will make a bagel bird feeder to take home. 3-hour program.

Requirements 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 12B

Break it down and Build it Up!

Bear cubs will break it down as we discuss different kinds of soils and erosion at the Learning Shed.  We’ll then hit the .75-mile James Randall Roe Trail for an up close look at our own soils and how we deal with erosion.  Back at the Learning Shed, we’ll build it up with nature crafts including solar prints, animal tracks, seed collection, leaf collection, and water scopes (as time permits)

Electives 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E, 15B, and 15D

Webelos Programs: (program length approx 3 hours)

Forester

Webelos will cover enough requirements for the Forester activity badge in this program to earn their Forester badge.  At the Learning Shed, we will discuss different forests of North America, forest layers, our native trees, forest plants, and much more.  After our discussion, we’ll hike the 1.6-mile John & Ann Collins Trail and continue our forest and tree discussions using our tree ID posts.

Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, 9

Naturalist

Respecting wildlife and learning about those in our local habitats is the focus of this program for Webelos.  We will discuss birds, fly ways, venomous/poisonous plants and animals, our aquatic ecosystem, food chains, and much more at the Learning Shed and on the 1.6-mile John & Ann Collins Trail. Webelos will complete the requirements to earn their Naturalist activity badge.

Requirements 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11

All Cub Scouts: (program length approx 2.5 – 3 hours)

Belt Loop Bonanza

Cub scouts of all ages can come and earn the Wildlife Conservation Belt Loop and the Hiking Belt Loop. We’ll talk about natural resources, food chains and endangered species.  Then we’ll discuss safe hiking and take a 1.6-mile hike on the John & Ann Collins Trail. Come on out and bring the whole pack!

Boy Scouts: (program length approx 4 hours)

Nature Merit Badge *

Boy scouts will start at the Learning Shed where discussion will include the dependency of plants and animals on each other and an example of a protected plant and animal of our region.  We’ll also cover a land and water food chain.  After that, we’ll hike the 1.6 mile John & Ann Collins Trail where we will identify any birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles that we encounter.  We will also identify trees and plants along the trail as we hike.

Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4a1, 4b1, 4c1, 2, 3, 4g

Mammal Study Merit Badge*

Our program will start at the Learning Shed where we will define “animal”, “vertebrate”, “invertebrate”, and “mammal”.  We will discuss classification and the traits that make a mammal a mammal.  Examples of specific mammals and their own classification will be given.  Scouts will have the opportunity to choose one non-game animal that they would like to learn about and write a short history on.  We will then trace at least two food chains involving two different mammals.  Time permitting, we will hike the 1.6 mile John and Ann Collins trail and look for traces of mammals at the preserve.

Requirements 1, 2, 3c, 4g

*Scouts will need to complete other activities on their own to complete the badge requirements such as extended experiments/observations, etc.

To register for any program, please fill out the Scout Program Registration Form and mail

With Basic Program Fee to:

Pettit Preserve, P.O. Box 2843, Cartersville GA 30120

Click here for a Scout Program Registration Form which includes fee information