Plant Science Merit Badge

Important Information:

• This is a drop-off class. Drive in through the outer gate and drop-off at the main brick building.
• Parents/leaders are welcome to wait onsite in our breakroom with free Wi-Fi ,or in one of several outdoor seating areas. Our property is adjacent to Norvin Green State Forest, which has many hiking trails.
• Pre-requisites*MUST be completed prior to the in-person class: #7, #8 option 3d (bring photos or sample); #8 option 3e (SCROLL DOWN FOR PREREQ GUIDE*)
• Scouts MUST bring physical proof of pre-requisite completion to class.
• Scouts MUST bring a signed Blue Card to class for our counselors to sign.
• Scouts MUST wear their uniform & closed-toe shoes.
• Cell phones will be collected at the beginning of each class, to ensure Scouts give their undivided attention to the badge Counselor.

Cancellations requested 2 or more weeks in advance will be refunded at the full price, minus Evenbrite fees. Refunds are not available with less than 2 weeks notice.

Instructors: Badges are taught by our certified Counselors who are experienced educators, have completed the Youth Protection Training, and are Wilderness First Aid certified. They are certified through the Northern NJ, BSA Council. Our current Counselors are: Lauren Lynch, Nicole Vaccaro, Peter Lundell, Chris Campbell

Plant Science Prerequisite Guide*:

-Requirement 7:  Name and tell about careers in agronomy, horticulture, and botany. Write a paragraph about a career in one of these fields that interests you

How to complete this: Research and write out the 3 careers and then a paragraph about the career in Plant Science that interests you the most ahead of class. Bring your write up into class and we’ll everyone's interests as a group.

• Resources: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/jobs-in-plant-science

-Requirement 8 Option 3 part D: After gaining permission, collect, identify, press, mount, and label 10 different plants that are common in your area. Tell why voucher specimens are important for documentation of a field botanist’s discoveries. 

How to complete this:

Items Needed: Newspapers, heavy books/textbooks, 

Optional Items: Note card/index card to write on, clear frame to put in.

1.  Locate a plant you’d like to press, MAKE SURE IT’S NOT A TOXIC PLANT (poison ivy, American burnweed, etc).
2.  Collect the Plant! Keep the roots attached if you want, have fun.
3.  Lay out a piece of newspaper
4.  Put the plant on one side of the newspaper, and fold the otherside over it, like a folder around the plant.
5.  Put the plant inside the paper in the middle of a book, close the book on it. Or put the plant in paper on the cover of a book, and put another book on top of it. (The goal is for the plant to become flat from the weight of the pages or book.)
6.  Check back in a week, the newspaper should be damp, replace it or flip the paper around so the wet side isn’t touching the plant anymore, and repress.
7.  In 2 weeks you should have a pressed plant, you can frame it or mount it onto paper and start your own collection!

-Requirement 8 Option 3 part E: Obtain a list of rare plants of your state. Tell what is being done to protect rare plants and natural areas in your state. Write a paragraph about one of the rare plants in your state. 

How to complete this:

• NJ: https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/natural/heritage/rareplantprofiles.html

NY: https://www.nynhp.org/documents/5/rare-plant-status-lists-2023.pdf