The Identification Challenge
We have a challenge going out to all scouts working towards their Second Class and First Class requirements. When you complete this challenge you will also have completed one of the requirements for each rank. If you do even one of these you might have already completed some work on the photography merit badge if you are so interested. So are you ready?For Second Class, requirement #5 it says; Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of wild animals (Birds, mammals, reptiles, fish or mollusks) found in our community. So not a big deal, except how do we show evidence? Well one way it to take a picture. Another is to record the sounds that a animal makes. Here is what counts, a actual picture of the animal, it's foot prints, remains of it being present in a area (deer for example will each the tips of new shoots), a audio recording of the sounds of the animal, etc. Have a camera use it, you don't but your parents do, ask permission and go out and get some pictures. For audio bring in a recording. Now the trick is you just can't show us 10 items without telling us what they are. So be prepared to identify the animal. Things that do NOT count: Dogs, Cats, any kind of pet (caged mouse, hamster, gerbil, etc) Horses, Goats, Chickens, Cows, or any other kind of farm animal. Remember it has to be a wild animal.
For First Class, requirement #6 it says; Identify or show evidence of at least 10 kinds of native plants in your community. So again not a big deal. For plant identification a picture and/or sample is best. But remember you can't take something from somebody's property without asking permission first. Also do not do damage to the plant in any way. So collecting a leaf is ok but not a whole branch, if the plant sheds bark that shed bark works but you can't rip it off the tree. The trick to this one is that it has to be native. Things that do not count: pictures and/or samples of things in your mom or dad's flower bed, store purchased items, etc. You of course will need to identify them for us so be prepared.
Lastly Mr Skrotzki is the Merit Badge counselor for photography so anybody who enjoys doing this challenge should think about checking out the requirements for this merit badge and talk to him so we can get a group together and start working on it (first meeting is May 20th).
