Camp Freeland Leslie

Ecology and Conservation, or Eco/Con as it is referred to, is the place the Scouts learn about the natural world around them. The wide array of merit badges offered in this area, are designed to educate Scouts in the ways that millions of individual actors in the natural world interact with each other to create order and balance. Scouts will also learn the ways in which the environment can be protected and conserved. Scouts are encouraged to take as many Eco/Con merit badges as they wish to.

Most of the merit badges do require out of class observation so plan accordingly. The following is a list and description of the merit badges that are offered in Eco/Con.

ASTRONOMY Recommended for older Scouts. Learn about the Earth’s moon, our solar system and beyond. If you want to understand the universe and all the components that make it up, this merit badge is for you.  Scouts must do requirement 5b, 6 and 7b before arriving to camp. Scouts may do requirement 9 before camp, but this requirement will be done at camp. If a Scout does do requirement 9 he must present what he did to the merit badge counselor at camp.

BIRD STUDY Recommended for older Scouts. Study the important contributions that birds make to the environment. Learn about their markings, calls and nesting habits.  A Scout is encouraged to do requirement 5 before camp, but is not required to. The requirement can be worked on and completed at camp but will take extra out of class time.

ENERGY Recommended for all Scouts. Learn the importance of energy. Find out how it works and in what ways you can better conserve it.  A Scout must do requirements 4 and 5 before arriving at camp.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Recommended for all Scouts. Learn about the important contributions individuals have made in the history of environmental science. Do experiments in the effects pollution has on land, air and water. Scouts will also do observation studies to gather information on plants and animals.

FISH & WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT Recommended for older Scouts. Study the effect wildlife has on the environment. Learn how to protect wildlife and safely study them in their natural environment.  Requirement 5 must be done before camp. A Scout must bring his written reports for this requirement to camp so he can discuss the results with the counselor. Requirement 6 can be done prior to camp, but is not required to be.

FISHING Recommended for all Scouts. Practice your fishing skills on beautiful Lake Emrick. Learn how to catch and release, and how to clean and cook a fish. This merit badge may take out of class time in order to catch the required two fish.

FORESTRY Recommended for older Scouts. Learn the important role trees and ground cover play in our environment. Learn about opportunities you can take in the care and maintenance of forests.  Requirement 1 can be done before camp and the notebook brought to camp to be shared with the merit counselor. However, it is not required to be done before camp. It can be worked on at camp, but may require out of class work.

GEOLOGY Recommended for all Scouts. Learn about rock formations and how they create different land features. Read geologic maps, study the effects streams have on the Earth’s surface and discover the role that geologists play.

INSECT STUDY Recommended for older Scouts. Learn the role insects play in the ecosystem. Study the different orders and families of insects and difference between social and solitary insects. This merit badge is offered only upon request. If a Scout is interested in taking this badge he must talk to the Eco/Con director when he gets to camp.  A Scout must do requirement 3, 7 and 10 prior to camp. If a Scout wants to start his collection at camp he can do so. This would take a lot of out of class work. If a Scout has finished his collection he may bring it to camp to complete requirement 5. If he does not want to bring his collection to camp he would have to do requirement 5 prior to coming to camp.

MAMMAL STUDY Recommended for all Scouts. Study the unique contributions mammals make to the environment. Observe what mammals are attracted to what types of natural habitats and perform a project that will benefit a number of mammals.

NATURE Recommended for all Scouts. Have you ever wanted to understand how all the individual animals and plants work together to create out environment? Learn about the food chain and importance every animal and plant has.

REPTILE & AMPHIBIAN STUDY Recommended for all Scouts. Learn the important and unique role reptiles and amphibians have in the natural world. Study the differences among them and how their unique design enables them to perform specific functions.
Requirement 8 must be completed before arriving at camp. A Scout must bring to camp the reports of his observations.

SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION Recommended for older Scouts. Study different types of soil and where these types are. Learn about the effects water has on soil and the damage soil erosion can have on the environment.

WEATHER Recommended for older Scouts. What is weather? Study the effects of weather and how modern technology predicts weather conditions. Learn about clouds, high and low pressure systems and cold or warm fronts.

The Ecology/Conservation area also has staff-led and self-directed hikes available. Ask the area staff about these hiking opportunities. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy the natural beauty of Camp Freeland Leslie.