Forestry Merit Badge

The Forestry merit badge helps Scouts learn about trees and forests. It teaches why forests are important and how to take care of them. Scouts learn about the different types of trees and how they grow. They also discover how forests affect the environment and how people use forest resources.

Scouts working on the Forestry merit badge spend time outdoors. They may visit a forest or study trees in their community. This hands-on learning makes it more fun and helps them understand the lessons. Scouts also get to explore careers in forestry and how people work to protect forests.

Earning the Forestry merit badge helps Scouts build new skills. They learn how to identify trees and understand their role in ecosystems. They also learn about forest management and the importance of conservation. These skills can be useful in school, other Scouting activities, or future jobs.

The Forestry merit badge is a great way to connect with nature. It encourages Scouts to think about how they can help care for the environment. By completing this merit badge, Scouts gain knowledge that can make a positive difference for forests and the world.

Download the Forestry Merit Badge Requirements

Forestry Merit Badge Workbook / Worksheet

Forestry Merit Badge Check Off Sheet

Checklist for All Merit Badges

Help with Answers for Forestry Merit Badge Requirements

Find specific helps for some of the Forestry merit badge requirements listed below. Some of these resources will just give the answers. Others will provide engaging ways for older Scouts to introduce these concepts to new Scouts.

• Requirement 1: Field Observation
• Requirement 2: Examples
• Requirement 3: Forests
• Requirement 4: Management
• Requirement 5: Visit
• Requirement 6: Inventory
• Requirement 7: Forest Health
• Requirement 8: Careers
• More Resources

Exploring Trees, Shrubs, and Vines for the Forestry Merit Badge

When completing the Forestry merit badge, you’ll need to explore a forested area to observe and learn about trees, shrubs, and vines. You will collect samples, identify species, and write down what you discover. Here are some tips and background information to help you with this part of the requirement.

Characteristics to Look For

When you study a tree, shrub, or vine, pay attention to these features:

• Leaves: Look at the shape, size, and texture of the leaves. Are they flat, needle-like, or scale-like? Do they have smooth edges or jagged ones?
• Twigs: Notice the color and texture of the twig. Are there buds, thorns, or scars where leaves fell off?
• Cones or Fruits: Look for cones (common in pine trees) or fruits (like berries or nuts). What size, shape, and color are they? These are clues to the species.

Use these characteristics to identify the species. Many field guides or smartphone apps can help.

Understanding the Habitat

A habitat is the natural home where plants and animals live. When you explore the forest, notice where the tree, shrub, or vine is growing. Some species like wet areas near streams, while others prefer dry, sunny spots. Look at the soil. Is it sandy, rocky, or rich and moist? These clues tell you what kind of habitat the plant needs to survive.

Native or Nonnative?

Write down whether the plant is native (original to the area) or introduced (brought from somewhere else). If it’s introduced, research if it’s invasive. Invasive plants grow quickly and crowd out native species, which can harm the habitat.

By completing this part of the Forestry merit badge, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the natural world. It’s also a great way to practice observation and note-taking skills while spending time outdoors.

The Role of Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in Nature

Each tree, shrub, or vine plays an important part in its environment. These plants provide essential resources for both wildlife and humans. Understanding these roles is a key part of the Forestry merit badge.

How Wildlife Uses Plants

• Food: Many trees, shrubs, and vines produce seeds, fruits, or nuts that feed birds, squirrels, deer, and other animals. For example, acorns from oak trees are a major food source for animals like deer and turkeys. Berries from shrubs provide energy for birds, especially during migration.
• Shelter: Plants offer shelter from predators and weather. Dense shrubs can hide small mammals, while birds may roost in tree branches. Hollow trees or fallen logs give larger animals like raccoons or owls a safe place to live.
• Nesting: Birds often build nests in tree branches or vines. Some species, like orioles, even weave their nests from vines or grass growing nearby.

How Humans Use Plants

• Building Materials: Trees like pine, oak, and maple are often harvested for lumber to build houses, furniture, and other structures.
• Paper and Other Products: Paper is made from wood pulp, usually from fast-growing trees like pine or spruce. Other tree products include latex for rubber, cork for sealing bottles, and even oils used in perfumes and cleaning products.
• Food and Drinks: Fruit trees and vines provide apples, cherries, and grapes. Maple trees produce sap, which can be boiled down to make syrup. Nuts like walnuts and pecans come from specific trees. Shrubs, such as elderberries or blueberries, provide berries used in jams and baked goods.
• Medicines: Many traditional and modern medicines come from trees and shrubs. For example, the bark of the willow tree was the source of aspirin.
• Landscaping and Shade: Trees and shrubs are planted for beauty, shade, and to help control soil erosion.

By learning about how plants support wildlife and people, you’ll see how important forests are to the planet. The Forestry merit badge helps you appreciate these connections and understand why protecting forests is so important.

Hands-On Forestry: Exploring Wood, Growth Rings, and Tree Damage

The Forestry merit badge includes options for learning about trees in different ways. Each option teaches you something important about trees and forests. Here’s some background information and advice for completing these tasks.

Collect and Identify Wood Samples

If you choose to collect wood samples, find 10 types of trees in your area. Look for fallen branches or check with local foresters before cutting anything. Make sure to label each sample. You can sand the wood to see the grain better.

In your notebook, list how each type of wood is used. Some woods are good for building, like making furniture or houses. Others are used for paper, musical instruments, or even firewood. This task helps you understand why different types of wood are valuable.

Study Growth Rings

Tree rings show how a tree grows each year. To complete this option, find three stumps, logs, or core samples (a small section of the tree taken with a special tool). In your notebook, describe where each example comes from, including:

• Elevation: The height above sea level.
• Aspect: The direction the slope faces, such as north or south.
• Slope: How steep the ground is.
• Position on Slope: Whether the tree grew at the top, middle, or bottom of the slope.

Tree rings can be wide or narrow. Wide rings usually mean good growing conditions, like plenty of sunlight and rain. Narrow rings may mean drought, poor soil, or competition with other trees for sunlight. Rings can also show damage, like scars from fires or insect attacks.

Identify Tree Damage

If you choose to study tree damage, look for two types of damage caused by animals, insects, or diseases. For example, animals might chew bark, or insects could leave holes in wood. Diseases might show as cankers (dead areas on bark) or unusual growths.

In your notebook, write how the damage happened and how it affects the tree. Damage can weaken the tree, slow its growth, or make it more likely to die. Some insects or diseases can spread quickly and hurt many trees in an area. Understanding damage is important for managing forests and protecting trees.

By completing one of these tasks, you’ll gain hands-on experience with trees and forests. The Forestry merit badge helps Scouts build skills and learn more about the natural world around them.

How Forests Benefit People and the Environment

The Forestry merit badge helps Scouts understand how forests support the world we live in. Forests provide many benefits, including resources for people and habitats for wildlife. They also protect the environment in ways you might not see right away. Here’s how forests are important.

Products for the Economy

Forests give us materials we use every day. Wood is used to build homes, make furniture, and produce paper. Some trees provide fruit, nuts, or sap for food. Forest plants can also be used for medicines. Forest-related industries create jobs and contribute to local and global economies.

Recreation and Social Well-Being

Forests are places for fun and relaxation. People enjoy hiking, camping, birdwatching, and other outdoor activities in forests. Spending time in nature helps reduce stress and promotes health and happiness. Forests also provide opportunities for education and scientific study.

Soil Protection and Water Quality

Forests protect soil from erosion by keeping it in place with their roots. They also add nutrients to the soil when leaves and branches decompose. Healthy forests help create fertile soil for plants and crops. Forests also act as natural water filters, cleaning rainwater before it reaches streams and rivers.

Clean Air and Carbon Cycling

Trees take in carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air and release oxygen, which we need to breathe. Forests store carbon in their trunks, branches, and roots, helping to reduce the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere. This process is called carbon sequestration. Forests play a key role in fighting climate change.

Habitats for Wildlife and Fisheries

Forests are home to many animals, birds, and insects. Trees provide food, shelter, and nesting areas. Forests near streams and rivers create habitats for fish and other aquatic species. Protecting forests helps maintain biodiversity, which is the variety of life in an area.

Support for Threatened and Endangered Species

Some plants and animals only live in forests. When forests are damaged or destroyed, these species may lose their homes and become endangered. Protecting forests helps save these species from extinction and keeps ecosystems healthy.

The Forestry merit badge teaches Scouts how to value and protect forests. By understanding these benefits, you can help ensure forests continue to support people and the environment for years to come.

Understanding Your Community’s Water Source

The Forestry merit badge helps Scouts learn how forests and water are connected. One of the requirements is to learn about the source of your community’s water. Your water might come from a nearby watershed, rivers, reservoirs, or underground sources. Here’s some background information to help you complete this requirement.

What is a Watershed?

A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a single river, lake, or other body of water. Rain and snowmelt flow downhill, collecting in streams and rivers. Watersheds often include forests, which help filter the water and keep it clean. For example, a city near a mountain range might rely on the watershed from those mountains for its water supply.

Examples of Water Sources

• Surface Water: Many communities get water from lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. These are open bodies of water that collect rainfall and snowmelt. Cities near large rivers, like the Mississippi or Colorado, often use them as their main water source.
• Groundwater: Some places use wells to access groundwater, which is stored in aquifers. An aquifer is an underground layer of rock or sand that holds water. Groundwater is common in areas without large rivers or lakes.
• Snowpack: In some areas, melting snow in the spring provides much of the year’s water supply. This is common in regions near mountains, where snow acts as a natural reservoir.
• Desalination and Other Methods: In coastal areas with limited fresh water, some communities rely on desalination, which removes salt from seawater.

Why Forests Matter for Water Supplies

Forests help keep water sources clean. When rain falls in a forest, the soil and plants act like a filter, removing dirt and pollution before the water flows into streams or rivers. Forests also reduce flooding by slowing down runoff. Protecting forests near watersheds is important for maintaining healthy water supplies.

How to Learn About Your Community’s Water Source

To find out where your water comes from, you can:

• Look up information from your local water utility or city website.
• Ask a local forester or environmental group.
• Check maps to see which rivers, lakes, or reservoirs are nearby.

By completing this requirement for the Forestry merit badge, you’ll better understand the importance of forests in providing clean water. This knowledge can help you make choices that protect both water and forests for the future.

What Forest Management Means

The Forestry merit badge teaches Scouts about forest management, which is the care and use of forests to meet the needs of people and the environment. Forest management helps ensure forests stay healthy and productive for years to come. It involves balancing different uses, keeping forests sustainable, and choosing the right practices to maintain them.

Multiple-Use Management

Multiple-use management means managing forests for more than one purpose at the same time. A forest might be used for:

• Timber production (wood for building or paper)
• Recreation (hiking, camping, or hunting)
• Wildlife habitat (homes for animals and plants)
• Water protection (clean water for communities)

The goal is to balance these uses so the forest benefits everyone without harming the environment.

Sustainable Forest Management

Sustainable forest management means using forests in a way that meets today’s needs without ruining them for future generations. This involves:

• Harvesting trees at a rate that allows the forest to grow back naturally.
• Protecting soil, water, and wildlife while using the forest.
• Planning for the long-term health of the forest.

Sustainability ensures that forests remain a valuable resource for both people and nature.

Even-Aged and Uneven-Aged Management

Forests can be managed to grow trees of similar ages (even-aged) or a mix of ages (uneven-aged). Each has its own silvicultural system, or way of growing and harvesting trees.

• Even-Aged Management: This method involves growing trees of the same age. Clear-cutting (removing all trees from an area) or shelterwood cutting (leaving some trees for shade and protection) are common systems. It is often used for species that grow well in full sunlight.
• Uneven-Aged Management: Trees of different ages are grown together. Foresters might use selective cutting, where only certain trees are removed. This approach creates a more natural look and is good for wildlife habitats.

Intermediate Cuttings

Intermediate cuttings are done while a forest is still growing. These cuttings improve the health of the forest by:

• Removing weak or sick trees.
• Giving healthy trees more space to grow.
• Allowing sunlight to reach smaller trees and plants.

This helps the forest grow stronger and more productive over time.

Prescribed Burning and Related Practices

Prescribed burning is when foresters set controlled fires to manage a forest. These burns clear out dead leaves and branches, prevent larger wildfires, and create space for new plants to grow. Other practices, like planting trees or thinning overcrowded areas, also help keep forests healthy.

Forest management is an important part of the Forestry merit badge because it teaches how to care for forests wisely. By understanding these techniques, Scouts learn how forests can be used and protected for the benefit of everyone.

Exploring Forest Management, Logging, and Fire Prevention

The Forestry merit badge gives Scouts the chance to see forestry in action. You can visit a managed forest, logging operation, or manufacturing plant, or help with a fire prevention campaign. Each option teaches important lessons about how forests are cared for and used. Here’s what to know about completing this requirement.

Visiting a Managed Forest

A managed forest is one that is actively cared for to meet specific goals. These goals might include timber production, wildlife habitat, recreation, or conservation. During your visit, ask the forester or manager about:

• The type of forest (natural or planted) and the tree species it contains.
• The management objectives, such as improving wildlife habitat or producing lumber.
• The techniques used to meet these objectives, like thinning overcrowded trees, planting new ones, or using prescribed burns.

Write a report about what you learn, including how the management helps keep the forest healthy and productive.

Visiting a Logging Operation or Wood-Using Plant

A logging operation is where trees are harvested, and a wood-using plant processes them into products. During your visit, focus on:

• Tree species and sizes: What kinds of trees are being cut? Are they large mature trees or smaller ones?
• Forest origin: Is the forest natural, or was it planted by people?
• Successional stage: Is the forest young, middle-aged, or mature? What will it look like in the future?
• Land ownership: Are the trees coming from private property, public land, or a company-owned forest?
• Products: What is made from the trees, like lumber, paper, or furniture?
• Waste materials: How are leftover branches, sawdust, and bark used? Many operations recycle waste into mulch, pellets, or energy.

Write a report about how the operation works, where the trees come from, and what happens to them.

Taking Part in a Fire Prevention Campaign

Wildfires can destroy forests, homes, and habitats. Helping with a forest-fire prevention campaign is another way to meet this requirement. Work with a fire warden, forestry agency, or counselor to:

• Educate others about wildfire risks, like unattended campfires or dry conditions.
• Share tips on how to prevent wildfires, such as clearing brush from around homes.
• Hand out materials or help organize events to raise awareness.

In your report, explain what the campaign involved, your role, and how it helps reduce the risk of wildfires.

Completing this requirement for the Forestry merit badge shows how forests are managed and protected. It helps Scouts understand the work that goes into keeping forests healthy and productive while balancing the needs of people and nature.

Identifying Hazardous Trees for Safety

The Forestry merit badge teaches Scouts how to evaluate trees that might be dangerous to people or structures. This task involves creating a list of potentially hazardous trees in a specific area and suggesting solutions to make the area safer. Here’s how to approach this requirement.

What is a Hazardous Tree?

A hazardous tree is one that could fall or drop branches, causing harm to people or property. Trees can become hazardous for several reasons, such as:

• Dead or dying branches.
• Rot or decay in the trunk or roots.
• A leaning trunk, especially if the lean is new or worsening.
• Cracked or split trunks or branches.
• Damage from storms, insects, or disease.

These conditions weaken the tree and increase the risk of it falling.

Steps to Complete the Task

1. Choose a Location: This might be a campsite, park, neighborhood, or other area where trees could pose a hazard.
2. Look for Problems: Walk through the area and look for trees with visible damage or signs of weakness. Focus on areas near trails, roads, playgrounds, or buildings.
3. Make a List: For each hazardous tree, write down:
   • The location (e.g., by a trail, campsite, or building).
   • The species, if you can identify it.
   • The hazardous condition, such as dead branches or a leaning trunk.
   • A suggested remedy, like trimming dead branches or removing the tree.

What to Do with Your List

Share your list with the proper authority, like a park ranger, camp director, or city parks department. They can evaluate your suggestions and take action to address the hazards.

Hazardous trees can cause serious accidents if not managed. By completing this requirement for the Forestry merit badge, you’re learning how to identify risks and help keep outdoor spaces safe for everyone. You’re also gaining skills in observation and problem-solving that are useful in many areas of life.

Challenges to Forest Health and How to Address Them

Forests face many threats that can harm their health and productivity. The Forestry merit badge teaches Scouts about these challenges and how to manage or reduce their impact. Below are some common threats to forests and ways to address them.

Wildfire

Wildfires can destroy large areas of forest, killing trees, wildlife, and plants. While some wildfires are natural and help forests by clearing out old growth and allowing new plants to grow, uncontrolled wildfires can cause severe damage.

Solutions: Prescribed burning and clearing underbrush reduce the fuel for wildfires. Educating people about fire safety helps prevent accidental fires.

Absence of Fire

When fire is completely removed from a forest ecosystem, dead plants and debris build up, increasing the risk of severe wildfires. Some tree species, like pine, depend on fire to release seeds and grow.

Solutions: Controlled or prescribed burns can mimic natural fires without the danger of uncontrolled spread.

Destructive Insects

Insects like bark beetles or emerald ash borers can damage or kill trees by eating leaves, bark, or wood. These insects often spread quickly and weaken entire forests.

Solutions: Monitoring forests for early signs of infestation is key. Removing infected trees and using natural predators or safe treatments can stop the spread.

Loss of Pollinating Insects

Pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, are essential for trees and plants that rely on pollination to reproduce. Without pollinators, some species cannot grow.

Solutions: Planting flowers and reducing pesticide use can help support pollinator populations. Protecting natural habitats for pollinators is also important.

Tree Diseases

Diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses can spread through forests, killing trees and reducing biodiversity.

Solutions: Removing diseased trees, using resistant tree species, and promoting proper spacing between trees can reduce the risk of spreading disease.

Air Pollution

Pollution from factories, cars, and other sources can harm trees by damaging leaves and reducing their ability to grow. Acid rain, caused by air pollution, can weaken forests over time.

Solutions: Reducing pollution by using cleaner energy sources and promoting policies that protect air quality can help forests thrive.

Overgrazing

When livestock graze too much in forested areas, they damage plants, compact soil, and make it hard for new trees to grow.

Solutions: Rotating grazing areas and fencing off young forests allow trees to recover and grow.

Deer or Other Wildlife Overpopulation

Too many deer or other animals can overbrowse, eating young plants and trees before they have a chance to mature. This reduces the forest’s ability to regenerate.

Solutions: Managing wildlife populations through controlled hunting or relocation can balance the ecosystem.

Improper Harvest

Harvesting too many trees, or removing trees without considering long-term effects, can damage soil, water, and wildlife habitats.

Solutions: Sustainable forestry practices, such as selective cutting and replanting, help forests remain healthy and productive.

Urbanization

Expanding cities and roads can destroy forests, fragment habitats, and reduce the space available for plants and animals.

Solutions: Planning urban development carefully, protecting green spaces, and planting trees in urban areas can reduce the impact.

By understanding these challenges and how to address them, Scouts working on the Forestry merit badge learn how to protect forests for future generations. Healthy forests are vital for people, wildlife, and the planet.

What to Do if You Discover a Forest Fire

Learning how to respond to a forest fire is an important part of the Forestry merit badge. Acting quickly and safely can make a big difference in protecting people, wildlife, and forests. Here’s what you should do and how professional crews handle fires.

What to Do if You See a Forest Fire

1. Stay Safe: Never try to fight a forest fire yourself. Keep a safe distance from the flames and smoke, as they can spread quickly.
2. Call for Help: Report the fire immediately by dialing 911 or contacting your state or local wildfire control agency. Give clear details about the location of the fire, what you see, and how big it appears to be.
3. Follow Instructions: If you are near the fire, follow directions from firefighters or authorities. Be prepared to leave the area if asked.

How Professional Firefighting Crews Control Forest Fires

Professional crews use specialized tools and techniques to contain and put out forest fires. Common methods include:

• Firebreaks: Firefighters create barriers by clearing vegetation and soil to stop the fire from spreading. These are called firebreaks or control lines.
• Water and Fire Retardant: Crews use hoses, helicopters, and planes to drop water or fire retardant on the fire. Retardant slows the fire’s spread.
• Backburning: This involves setting controlled fires to remove vegetation ahead of the wildfire, starving it of fuel.
• Hand Tools and Machinery: Firefighters use axes, shovels, and bulldozers to clear brush and contain the fire.

Knowing what to do in case of a forest fire and understanding how professionals fight fires helps Scouts appreciate the importance of wildfire prevention and safety. By completing this part of the Forestry merit badge, you’re learning valuable skills to protect forests and communities.

What It Means to Be a Forester

Earning the Forestry merit badge introduces Scouts to the important work of foresters. Foresters manage and care for forests, balancing the needs of people, wildlife, and the environment. This career offers a variety of opportunities for those who love nature and want to make a difference.

Education and Qualifications

To become a forester, most people earn a bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related field, such as environmental science or natural resource management. These programs include courses in:

• Tree identification and forest ecology.
• Forest management techniques.
• Wildlife biology and soil science.
• Mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Some states require foresters to be licensed or certified. Certifications, like those offered by the Society of American Foresters (SAF), show that a forester has met specific professional standards.

Career Opportunities

Foresters work in a variety of roles, including:

• Public Agencies: Managing national forests, parks, and wildlife areas.
• Private Companies: Overseeing timber production, tree farming, or land conservation for businesses.
• Consulting: Helping landowners manage their forests sustainably.
• Research and Education: Studying forest ecosystems or teaching the next generation of foresters.

There are also opportunities to specialize in areas like wildfire management, urban forestry, or forest restoration.

Duties of a Forester

A forester’s job involves many responsibilities, including:

• Planning and supervising tree harvesting to ensure sustainable timber production.
• Conducting surveys to measure tree growth and health.
• Managing forests to improve wildlife habitats and protect water quality.
• Preventing and responding to wildfires through planning and prescribed burns.
• Advising landowners on how to care for their forests.

Foresters often work outdoors, hiking through forests and collecting data. They also spend time in offices, creating management plans and analyzing information.

Learning about forestry careers as part of the Forestry merit badge helps Scouts understand the important role foresters play in protecting and using forests wisely. It’s a career for people who enjoy problem-solving, working outdoors, and making a positive impact on the environment.

Nature and Environment Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA Troops

The Nature and Environment troop program feature helps Scouts learn about plants, wildlife, and how humans affect nature. It includes activities like hikes, conservation projects, and hands-on learning about ecosystems. Scouts can explore topics such as tree identification, animal habitats, and protecting natural resources. This program encourages outdoor fun while teaching ways to care for the environment.

Working on the Forestry merit badge fits well with this feature, as it teaches skills like forest management and understanding the role of trees in ecosystems. The Nature and Environment program is a great way for Scouts to connect with nature and practice stewardship.

What is the Forestry merit badge about?

The Forestry merit badge teaches Scouts how forests grow, how they are managed, and why they are important. You learn about tree species, forest health, and how forests help the environment and people.

What are some of the activities I need to do?

You will identify trees, collect samples, study tree growth rings, or find examples of tree damage. You might also work on a wildfire prevention campaign or visit a forester to learn about their job.

How long does it take to complete the Forestry merit badge?

The time depends on how quickly you can visit required sites, complete hands-on tasks, and write reports. Plan for several weeks to gather information and meet with your counselor.

Do I need any special equipment for the Forestry merit badge?

You might need a notebook for field observations, a guide to tree identification, and tools like a ruler or magnifying glass to study samples. Comfortable outdoor clothing and shoes are also important.

What can I learn from earning the Forestry merit badge?

You will learn how to identify trees, understand how forests are managed, and see how forests support wildlife, people, and the environment. You will also discover ways to protect forests for the future.

Is the Forestry merit badge hard to earn?

It takes effort, but it’s not hard if you follow the requirements step by step. The hands-on activities and visits make it fun and interesting.

Why is the Forestry merit badge important?

The Forestry merit badge helps Scouts understand how forests are cared for and why they matter. It teaches conservation, environmental responsibility, and skills you can use in Scouting and beyond.

Can I earn the Forestry merit badge as part of a group?

Yes, you can work on parts of the Forestry merit badge with other Scouts, especially for activities like tree identification or forest visits. You will still need to complete your own notebook and reports.

Do I have to work with a Forestry merit badge counselor?

Yes, a merit badge counselor guides you through the Forestry merit badge. They approve your work and answer your questions.

The Forestry merit badge is a chance for Scouts to learn about trees, forests, and the ways they support life on Earth. It combines hands-on activities, outdoor exploration, and problem-solving. By earning this badge, Scouts gain skills in tree identification, forest management, and understanding environmental challenges.

One of the highlights of the Forestry merit badge is exploring forests. Scouts might visit a managed forest, logging operation, or even a manufacturing plant. These visits show how forests provide resources like timber, clean air, and water while also serving as homes for wildlife.

The Forestry merit badge also focuses on forest health. Scouts learn about problems like wildfires, insects, and diseases, as well as solutions to keep forests thriving. Activities like studying tree rings, identifying hazards, or helping with fire prevention make this badge fun and educational.

Earning the Forestry merit badge teaches valuable lessons about conservation and the role of forests in our lives. It’s a great way for Scouts to connect with nature and think about how to protect it for the future.