Prerequsitites for the Forestry Merit Badge

All requirements for the Forestry merit badge are listed at this link: http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Forestry. Your prerequisite for this badge is to start the first requirement and complete as much as possible. We will be identifying several tree species at the Farm but we may not get to all 15 you will need:

1.    Prepare a field notebook, make a collection, and identify 15 species of trees, wild shrubs, or vines in a local forested area. Write a description in which you identify and discuss the following:

• The characteristics of leaf, twig, cone, or fruiting bodies
• The habitat in which these trees, shrubs or vines are found.
• The important ways each tree, shrub, or vine is used by humans or wildlife and whether the species is native or was introduced to the area. If it is not native, explain whether it is considered invasive or potentially invasive.

 

The field notebook can be a spiral or composition notebook that would be used in school or you can get a true water-proof field notebook (pricy). You should begin your collection and identification of 15 tree species in that notebook and bring it to the camp with you. There is a very good description of this requirement in the merit badge workbook at http://meritbadge.org/wiki/images/c/cf/Forestry.pdf. Should you have questions, please feel free to contact Norm Bedwell at chapmantrain@gmail.com or home phone 919 331-8055, office 919 531-1066 or cell 919 285-5864.