Conservation Scoutcraft Badge

The Conservation Scoutcraft Badge helps you learn how to care for the environment. You’ll find out how things like pollution, soil erosion, and water use affect nature and what you can do to help. Through fun and useful activities, you’ll take action to protect animals, plants, and natural places at home, at Scouts, and in your community.

Badge Requirements

Conservation

1. Reduce Your Environmental Footprint
   Measure your personal environmental footprint at home and during Scout activities.
   1. Using the provided worksheet (annexure 1), identify at least three areas where you can reduce your impact.
   2. Discuss with your examiner at least three actions you will take over one month to reduce your environmental footprint and explain how they help the environment.
2. Explore the Water Cycle and Water Conservation
   1. Draw and label a diagram of the complete water cycle.
      Include and explain the following terms: precipitation; run-off; groundwater; water table; evaporation; transpiration.
   2. List at least three ways you and your family can save water in your home.
      Put these into practice over a month and share your results with your Patrol.
3. Recognise and Control Types of Pollution
   Show that you understand the causes and effects of five major types of pollution and suggest one control method for each:
   1. Air pollution
   2. Litter pollution
   3. Noise pollution
   4. Soil pollution
   5. Water pollution
4. Understand and Combat Soil Erosion
   1. Explain what soil erosion is and why it is harmful.
      Include both wind and water erosion.
   2. Demonstrate at least one method of preventing or controlling soil erosion using a model, small experiment, or real-life application (e.g. planting ground cover, placing barriers, or using mulch).Know the dangers of soil erosion by wind and water. Demonstrate how soil erosion can be combated.
5. Identify and Manage Alien Invasive Plants
   1. Explain what alien invasive plants are, why they are a problem, and what can be done to stop their spread.
   2. Identify four alien invasive plants in your area (with help from a field guide or app), and describe how to control or remove them.
6. Take Action for Biological Conservation
   Complete any TWO of the following activities that help protect or support wildlife and plants in your area:
   1. Upload ten photographs or observations of wild animals or naturally occurring plants to www.inaturalist.org and explain how this helps conservation.
   2. Make five plaster casts or drawings of animal tracks, bird footprints, or leaf prints you've found in nature.
   3. Start a worm farm or compost heap to turn food scraps and garden waste into healthy soil for use in your garden at home.
   4. Build a brush pile using natural materials (like sticks and leaves) to provide shelter and nesting spots for small wildlife.
   5. Make a mini-greenhouse using recycled materials to grow seedlings that can later be planted in your garden or a natural area.
   6. Create a bird bath or pond, observe which birds visit, and keep a record by identifying and noting them each day for a week.
   7. Plant a bird or butterfly café using at least two indigenous flowering or fruiting plants that attract local birds or butterflies.
7. Get Involved in a Conservation Project
   Take part in or lead a conservation project (on your own, or with your Patrol/Troop) that lasts at least two hours.
   Choose ONE of the following:
   1. A water conservation project, such as fixing leaks, building a rainwater tank, or checking how water is used at Scouts or home.
   2. A project to prevent or reduce soil erosion in a small area using erosion control methods.
   3. Plant two or more indigenous trees at your Scout hall, school, or home and maintain them.
   4. Organise or participate in a litter cleanup at a local river, park, beach, vacant plot, picnic area, or roadside.
   5. Remove alien vegetation from your Scout meeting place / camping grounds or other area in or around your community.
   6. Start and run a recycling system at home or at Scouts for at least a month.
   7. Give a demonstration to your Patrol on how solar energy can be used e.g. a solar cooker, water heater, or a haybox oven.

Safe From Harm: Whilst completing the requirements for this badge, Scouts must not be placed in hazardous or dangerous situations under any circumstances. All activities must comply with SCOUTS South Africa Safe from Harm framework and be supervised by responsible adults. Participation should offer meaningful learning or service experiences while ensuring the Scout's safety and well-being at all times.

Badge Requirements in printable PDF format

• Conservation Scoutcraft Badge (PDF)

Next Steps - Where This Badge Leads

Completion of this badge is required for the following Scoutcraft and/or Interest Badges:

• Environmental Awareness Scout Interest Badge

Last Update

June 2025

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