Soil and Water Conservation

Soil and Water Conservation merit badge requirements

1. Do the following:

   a. Tell what soil is. Tell how it is formed.

   b. Describe three kinds of soil. Tell how they are different.

   c. Name the three main plant nutrients in fertile soil. Tell how they can be put back when used up.

2. Do the following:

   a. Define soil erosion.

   b. Tell why soil conservation is important. Tell how it affects you.

   c. Name three kinds of soil erosion. Describe each.

   d. Take pictures of or draw two kinds of soil erosion.

3. Do the following:

   a. Tell what is meant by "conservation practices".

   b. Describe the effect of three kinds of erosion-control practices.

   c. Take pictures of or draw three kinds of erosion-control practices.

4. Do the following:

   a. Explain what a watershed is.

   b. Outline the smallest watershed that you can find on a contour map.

   c. Outline, as far as the map will allow, the next larger watershed which also has the smaller one in it.

   d. Explain what a river basin is. Tell why all people living in a river basin should be concerned about land and water use in the basin.

5. Do the following:

   a. Make a drawing to show the hydrologic cycle.

   b. Demonstrate at least two of the following actions of water in relation to the soil: percolation, capillary action, precipitation, evaporation, transpiration.

   c. Explain how removal of vegetation will affect the way water runs off a watershed.

   d. Tell how uses of forest, range, and farmland affect usable water supply.

   e. Explain how industrial use affects water supply.

6. Do the following:

   a. Tell what is meant by water pollution.

   b. Describe common sources of water pollution and explain the effects of each.

   c. Tell what is meant by "primary water treatment," "secondary waste treatment," and "biochemical oxygen demand."

   d. Make a drawing showing the principles of complete waste treatment.

7. Do TWO of the following:

   a. Make a trip to two of the following places. Write a report of more than 500 words about the soil and water and energy conservation practices you saw.

   1. An agricultural experiment.

   2. A managed forest or a woodlot, range, or pasture.

   3. A wildlife refuge or a fish or game management area.

   4. A conservation-managed farm or ranch.

   5. A managed watershed.

   6. A waste-treatment plant.

   7. A public drinking water treatment plant.

   8. An industry water-use installation.

   9. A desalinization plant.

   b. Plant 100 trees, bushes and/or vines for a good purpose.

   c. Seed an area of at least one-fifth acre for some worthwhile conservation purposes, using suitable grasses or legumes alone or in a mixture.

   d. Study a soil survey report. Describe the things in it. Using tracing paper and pen, trace over any of the soil maps, and outline an area with three or more different kinds of soil. List each kind of soil by full name and map symbol.

   e. Make a list of places in your neighborhood, camps, school ground, or park having erosion, sedimentation, or pollution problems. Describe how these could be corrected through individual or group action.

   f. Carry out any other soil and water conservation project approved by your merit badge counselor.

The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: Boy Scout Requirements, 2016 Edition (BSA Supply SKU #621535)

A FREE workbook for Soil and Water Conservation is available here! with the maps, charts, links, diagrams, and checklists you need! Or click here to print just the Soil and Water Conservation requirements.

meritbadge.org has PDF and DOC versions of Boy Scout merit badge workbooks, Webelos workbooks, and Cub Scout workbooks.

• Per the BSA: "You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject." Pamphlets (books) are at local Scout Shops and online at ScoutStuff.org.
• "Get a signed Merit Badge application from your Scoutmaster." An online, printable Word doc file version is available.

• Boy Scout Merit Badges: Bird Study - Environmental Science - Fish and Wildlife Management - Forestry - Gardening - Geology - Insect Study - Mammal Study - Nature - Oceanography - Plant Science - Reptile and Amphibian Study - Soil and Water Conservation - Sustainability
• Boy Scout awards: Conservation Good Turn Award - Leave No Trace Award - William T. Hornaday award - World Conservation Award
• Venturing: Ranger Award electives: Ecology - Plants and Wildlife; Awards: Conservation Good Turn Award - Leave No Trace Award - William T. Hornaday award - World Conservation Award
• World Conservation Award
• Wolf Scout
  • Paws on the Path, Grow Something, Requirements 1 and 2 from Spirit of the Water
• Bear Scout
  • Fur, Feathers, and Ferns, Bear Goes Fishing, Critter Care, Requirement 3 from Baloo the Builder
• Webelos Scouts (Including Webelos II's earning the Arrow of Light award)
  • Building a Better World, Into the Wild, Into the Woods, Earth Rocks, Adventures in Science
• Cub Scout awards: Conservation Good Turn Award - Leave No Trace Award - World Conservation Award

• An Introduction to Merit Badges – how to get started, who chooses the counselor, etc.
• Merit Badge Worksheets & Requirements – with the revision dates, diagrams, charts, checklists, logs, and links you need.
• Merit Badge Application – offers online resources to let you print "Blue Cards," etc.
• Merit Badge FAQ – answers dozens of questions like: Who can be a counselor? Can requirements be added or removed?
• Merit Badges Requiring Prior Approval – Certain requirements need prior approval. Most do not. Here is the list.
• Also see: List of how many boys have earned each Merit Badge – Merit Badge policies – Merit badges required for the Eagle Scout rank – Merit Badge Days
• Additionally: List of Merit Badges by Field of Study – Merit Badge Pamphlets & Libraries
• Merit Badge Counselors must complete Youth Protection Training, file an Adult Application (and Merit Badge Counselor Information Form); and be approved by the local council. (See the Guide for Merit Badge Counselors for additional details.)