Scoutmaster

Green Hour

The National Wildlife Federation website Green Hour advocates

"...giving our children a "Green Hour" a day -- a bit of time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world -- we can set them on the path toward physical, mental, and emotional well-being. .. Each week we publish a fresh issue full of activities and information to help guide the exploration and focus on fun."

I like the idea (however planning an hour of 'unstructured play' seems a contradiction in terms) of intentional nature study.

Here's a couple of examples that, with a little adaptation, can become part of a hike or camp out or Troop program:

Issue #91: Nature Table

What is it about kids and collecting things? Baseball cards, action figures, rocks. You name it, and they seem to collect it. Giving in to this natural drive to collect, I've let the kids start a small nature table in the family room. We started out with a shoe box, but delicate items like dried leaves and seed pods were getting crushed, so a table seemed to be a better solution.

We have a few rules. No more than 10 items each on the table at one time. If you collect an 11th, you have to take one of your other items back outside for someone else to find and treasure. Items larger than Dad's hand count as two. This system seemed fair to all, and the kids loved tracing his hand as the official measurement tool for our little museum.

Rocks, Leaves. Seed pods. A piece of bark. Pine cones. Simple things that are safe and easy to collect and have in the house. My daughter has made labels for each of the items, and a "Nature Museum" sign proudly hangs on the wall. They both delight in showing their friends what they have collected, and are always anxious to go out and find more "inventory."

A drawer in the table is now the home for our nature journal. We keep a couple of magnifying glasses and our binoculars and field guides there as well. It's become a one-stop-shop for all our nature discovery needs, and is fast becoming this mom's favorite part of the family room.

Hands-On Fun

No room for a Nature Table? No problem. You can make a nature shelf, tackle box, or even use a hanging cosmetic or shoe organizer to save space. Limit the size of your child's collectibles. Rotate out the inventory so it does not grow beyond your space.

Issue #54: Treasure Hunt

X marks the spot, and today the whole family is out looking for treasure! After reading a book about buried treasure to the kids, my husband got the bright idea that we should go on a family treasure hunt. Arrgghh -- a family of pirates are we, matey!

So, that’s exactly what we’re doing today. Each of the kids has made a colorful map -- featuring different nature paths at our favorite local park -- as the basis for our treasure hunt. They've also made a bunch of clues, written on slips of paper, to be hidden.

At the local dollar store, I’d purchased some stickers, magnifying glasses, and a few other trinkets to serve as the treasure, all of which fits neatly into some small boxes I had lying around the house. Instant treasure chests.

We've divided into teams and have hidden our treasures in the leaf litter alongside the trails, and have left clues under rocks and tied to tree branches along the way. Next, the kids will swap maps (and parents, so we can't tell them where to find the clues we’ve just helped to hide) and the true adventure can begin.

Oh, the fun we all will have! The kids are so excited that they’re already asking when the next treasure hunt will be and if they can bring their friends.

Identifying Trees

If, when in the forest, we know the names of the trees we are more at home.

My well-worn Golden Guide to Trees is a reliable source of information for tree identification. I have a couple of other guides but reach for the Golden Guide first because I find it easier to identify things from illustrations rather than photographs.

The guide features over 730 species of trees grouped in 76 families. Each species description includes characteristics-tree shape, bark, leaf, flower, fruit and twig-for quick identification. As with any guide one must learn how to use it properly. Become familiar with the family descriptions and nomenclature featured in the front of the book and you will be a tree expert in no time.

The Golden Guides have been around for decades and remain popular for their clarity, simplicity and utility.
Available at  Amazon

Understanding Toxicodendron Radicans

Toxicodendron Radicans distribution map
Poison ivy (toxicodendron radicans) is the most common of the urushiol producing plants in the eastern U.S. Contact with urushiol oil is the substance that causes an allergic rash in 90% of the population.

Even a tiny amount (1 nanogram, a billionth of a gram) of sticky, resin-like urushiol oil will case a skin reaction. 1/4 ounce of the potent oil would be enough to cause a rash on the entire population of the earth!

Poison Ivy Facts:

• One must come into direct contact with urushiol oil to get the rash.
• Urushiol oil can be spread in smoke from burning plants and debris from lawnmowers or trimmers.
• Urushiol oil is still present in dead plants or vines and remains active for five or more years.
• Scratching the rash will not spread the rash (unless the oil is still on the skin)
• Fluid from the blisters will not spread the rash.
• Sensitvity to urushiol oil can develop at any time.
• Depending on individual reactions to urushiol oil can appear in hours or days.

The only sure way to avoid poison ivy rash is avoiding contact with urushiol oil directly from the plant or indirectly from clothing, tools, or gear that comes into contact with the oil.

Within fifteen minutes of exposure ururshiol oil bonds with the skin and a rash is likely. A long rinsing wash with cold water is an effective way to remove the oil. Warm water opens the pores allowing more oil to bond with the skin and soap may spread the oil more effectively.

If a rash develops there are many home remedies and commercial cures that provide some measure of relief.  Check out the information available at the Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac Information Center.

Toxicodendron Radicans profile from the U.S.D.A.

The "Big Here" Quiz

Scouts learn about themselves and the wider world. It can be pictured as concentric circles from their spiritual and/or philosophical selves to their families, their patrol, their school, their community, nation and world. These relationships function within an environment, natural or man-made, that contains and supports all of us.

Our actions effect the environment almost as much as it shapes us. Understanding the glorious complexities of these interactions is a life's work. Knowledge breeds a vision of interdependence, responsibility and the promise of a bright future.

Kevin Kelly at Cool Tools posted "The Big Here Quiz":

You live in the big here. Wherever you live, your tiny spot is deeply intertwined within a larger place, embedded fractal-like into a whole system called a watershed, which is itself integrated with other watersheds into a tightly interdependent biome. ... What do you know about the dynamics of this larger system around you?

There are thirty questions in the quiz that will lead to information that correlates with that of many of the merit badges offered to Scouts. Thirty questions that are like so many signposts pointing down roads of inquiry - each one a voyage of discovery.

Kelly has set up a matrix of answers and ideas from readers linked to each question.

Here are five of my favorites from the quiz:

3) Trace the water you drink from rainfall to your tap.
9) Before your tribe lived here, what did the previous inhabitants eat and how did they sustain themselves? 10) Name five native edible plants in your neighborhood and the season(s) they are available.
11) From what direction do storms generally come?
27) Where does your electric power come from and how is it generated?

The Big Here Quiz at Cool Tools

Astronomy and Scouts - Tools

Observing the night sky requires nothing more than looking up. Like most hobbies one can spend as much time and money as one wants on astronomy. I can assure you that you don't need a lot of expensive equipment to enjoy observing. Here are a few simple tools that can enhance the activity;

Binoculars For Astronomy - an article at Sky &Telescope The first time you spot the Andromeda galaxy, glimpse the moons of Jupiter, or stare deep into the infinite milky way are profound moments. All of this is possible with a very simple, inexpensive ($20.00 at most) set of binoculars. Most of us have one pair hanging around somewhere. The next time you are out under the night sky try your binoculars - you'll be amazed!

Planispheres Available in many sizes and styles a planisphere is a great aid in locating and identifying objects in the night sky. Skymaps has a good selection available. Planispheres are designed for specific latitude zones. When you buy a planisphere you must select one that is appropriate for your latitude.

Astronomy Grade Green Laser Pointer The clearly visible beam of light at night makes this pointer an ideal way to point out stars to a group of Scouts. During the day the green dot is bight even in direct sunlight - handy for pointing out distant locations or features on a nature hike. I suppose that it would make an effective signaling device as well.

Night Sky: A Guide To Field Identification
A thorough, simple and accessible guide to the night sky that won't bog you down. Find information about the planets, stars, constellations and other sky objects with a minimum of fuss.
Available at Amazon

Associated resources at Scoutmaster:
Astronomy and Scouts
Astronomy and Scouts - Web Resources
Rods, Cones and Wint-O-Green Lifesavers

Astronomy and Scouts- Web Resources

Astronomers have created some great online tools for observers of all skill levels. Here are a very few elected web resources that will prove invaluable in building astronomy into your troop program.

Sky and Telescope is the granddaddy of astronomy websites. I have found the following tools to be very useful in preparing for our weekend observing sessions:

Sky Tour Podcasts
A narrated tour of the sky for a given month and year. A wonderful, hands-free way to gain some knowledge - just plug in and look up!

Interactive Sky Chart
Create a custom naked-eye map of the whole sky for any place on Earth, at any time of day or night, on any date from 1600 to 2400. Requires free registration.

This Week's Sky at a Glance
A brief rundown of observable objects and events- very useful and interesting.

Earth & Sky
A two or three minute daily science radio broadcast that includes plenty of observing hints as well as other non-astronomical information. Get their podcast feed and listen to daily installments on the web.

The Earth & Sky Skywatch Center features  printable charts and information to enhance your observations.

Skymaps.com
The generous folks at Skymaps create a free down loadable sky map every month - a fantastic resource for setting up your observing sessions. They also offer poster sized maps, books and other observer's tools.

Associated resources at Scoutmaster:
Astronomy and Scouts
Astronomy and Scouts - Tools
Rods, Cones and Wint-O-Green Lifesavers

Astronomy and Scouts

Any active Scout Troop will spend many nights under clear skies away from city lights - ideal conditions for observing the stars. We try to include an observing session on our weekend camp outs. Can you locate the north star? What three stars make up the summer triangle? Have you ever seen a meteor shower?
With a rudimentary understanding of astronomy and a few good sources of information any Scouter can lead an observing session.

For the next several days I'll do my best to point you to some excellent resources and ideas for building astronomy into your Troop's program. Here's some basics to get things rolling -

1.Studying the requirements for Astronomy Merit Badge is a great introduction to astronomy for anyone.

2.Scouts will retain just so much information - and will benefit from having it repeated several times. Our observing session begins with a brief overview of the sky- a few stars and major constellations - perhaps half a dozen things total for a maximum of three or four minutes. Then the Scouts are given the opportunity to repeat the the tour themselves. One volunteers to begin and repeats the information until he makes a mistake, the Scout who spots the mistake then gets to take over until he completes the tour or makes a mistake himself.

3. An invaluable tool is a green laser pointer. As you may imagine once they see this tool Scouts are very interested in trying it out themselves. They can do so (under close supervision) in repeating the tour as outlined above. Using the pointer is a huge incentive for Scouts to pay close attention. Besides all this the pointer is a great aid in assuring that everyone is actually looking at the same stars or constellations.

Associated resources at Scoutmaster:
Astronomy and Scouts - Tools
Astronomy and Scouts - Web Resources
Rods, Cones and Wint-O-Green Lifesavers

IC-UC Quick Sight

How many times have you wanted to point something out during a hike or camp out and something like this happened:
"Look at that elk over there!"
"Over where?"
"Right next to the big tree."
"That big pine tree?"
"No, no the tree near the creek."
"What creek?"
"Never mind, it's gone."

From the IC-UC website:
The IC-UC is a two person hand held spotting sight that allows one person to direct a second persons line of sight to a particular location.  This is accomplished by using two separate sights that converge on the same position and can be completed in seconds. The IC-UC was designed to be used at distances from 30 yards out to as far as the eye can see and is a directional aid for binoculars and spotting scopes.  It's primary use is to direct your partners eye to the location of the wildlife you have spotted.  From a bird perched in a tree to the largest of big game, their locations can be easily pointed out with the IC-UC.  No more waving your arms and trying in vain to explain the wildlife's location to your partner. Every second counts when spotting or attempting to identify wildlife, they very often don't wait for everyone to get a look at them.  Now you can speed up the location process in a way that before now was not possible.

If you don't have an uber-cool green laser pointer to point things out this would do the trick.

Available from IC-UC
Via The Goat

Astronomy Grade Laser Pointer

(picture from Cool Tools)

Cool Tools featured green laser pointers a few months ago. Mine arrived a few weeks ago and it is, indeed, a cool tool.

The clearly visible beam of light at night makes this pointer an ideal way to point out stars to a group of Scouts. During the day the green dot is bight even in direct sunlight - handy for pointing out distant locations or features on a nature hike. I suppose that it would make an effective signaling device as well.

At several times the brightness of a common red laser pointer this is a serious tool that can seriously compromise the safety of pilots or drivers if misused - be prudent.

After doing a little reading and shopping I ordered a laser from Amazon other than the one recommended by Cool Tools. It has performed well so far. My choice at Amazon

Weather Underground

Scoutmasters may think that the most reliable predictor of foul weather is their Troop's camping schedule; as soon as the cars are loaded on a Friday night the sky darkens and the wind picks up.

Access to the finest weather observing and forecasting technology is now available all over the web.  My choice is The Weather Underground a rich collection of useful information presented in a simple, clear manner;

Daily forecasts and Radar Maps
Looking at an animated radar map is, for me at least, more helpful than reading a forecast alone.

Trip Planner
Especially helpful when planning several months away from the date or far from home. Past weather conditions are analyzed to create a prediction of precipitation and temperature for any given date.

Astronomy Charts
A simple sky chart that shows the locations of the constellations, stars and planets for a given location and time.