Black Star
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Baden Powell always said that one of the most interesting things you can do is explore the world. You don't even have to travel to a far country. Baden Powell taught us that the best and easiest way to explore is to keep our eyes and ears open and notice what's going on around us. If you are interested in learning about nature, here's a good place to start. Black Star Activities will introduce Cubs to the natural world and how it works.


Outcomes

Black Star activities develop a Cub's knowledge and skills of the natural world and understanding how it works.1


Requirements

To earn the Black Star, choose and do any five (5) of the A Requirements and any two (2) of the B Requirements. These activities can be done by yourself, or with your six, pack, family or friends.

A. Requirements (any 5)

  • A1 Care for a lawn or garden for a month.
  • A2 Without harming nature, mount and label a display of natural things, such as leaves, weeds, rocks, or seeds and tell about your collection.
  • A3 Grow a plant indoors and describe how it grew.
  • A4 Grow a sugar or salt crystal on a string.
  • A5 Plant a tree or shrub, describe how trees grow and why they are important to nature.
  • A6 Point out or describe some sources of pollution in your neighbourhood and describe possible solutions.
  • A7 Make a rain gauge and use it to record rain or snowfall for a month.
  • A8 Make and set up a bird bath, bird house, or bird feeding station, and look after it for a season.
  • A9 Show how to use and take care of common garden tools.
  • A10 Using the water cycle, show the route water takes to your home or show how acid rain is formed and how it affects nature.
  • A11 Point out the North Star and three constellations.

B. Requirements (any 2)

  • B1 Visit a natural area of your choice and point out some different ways the local plants and animals depend on one another for life.
  • B2 Go on a ramble and identify six different kinds of birds, or keep a record of birds using a bird bath or bird feeder for a season. Know which birds are protected in your area.
  • B3 Visit one of the following places: conservation area, weather station, fish hatchery, observatory, tree farm, fire ranger tower, farm, greenhouse, park, zoo, forestry station, dam. Learn about how this place helps the environment.

Black Star is the cornerstone of the The Natural World section of the Cub program.

Associated Award

Associated Badges


Program Suggestions

  • Click the link of a requirements to get a special page, including any croos-badge link, program suggestions and comments from other Scouters.

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