Arrow of Light Champions for Nature Adventure

Adventure Type: Elective
Number of Requirements: 6
Typical Time to Complete: 1–2 meetings, plus a conservation service project
Parent Involvement: Help with travel or the service project as needed
Preparation Needed: Gather local food examples, choose a mapping activity, arrange a service project
Activity Level: Low to moderate
Indoor or Outdoor: Both
Special Requirements: Participate in a conservation service project
Supplies Snapshot: Food labels or examples, map, paper, pencils, project supplies

In the Arrow of Light Champions for Nature Adventure, Cub Scouts explore how food choices affect their community and the environment. They identify foods grown or processed in their state and learn why people may choose to buy local food.

Scouts also look at why some communities have limited access to fresh food. Then they find practical ways to waste less food at home and in their community.

The adventure ends with a conservation service project. It gives Scouts a chance to put what they’ve learned into action and care for a place in their community.

Printable requirements for the Arrow of Light Champions for Nature Adventure

Checkoff sheet to keep track of your den's progress for the Arrow of Light Champions for Nature Adventure

Printable checkoff sheet for the Arrow of Light Rank (for den or individual use)

Requirement 2: Benefits of Local Food

Determine the benefits of purchasing food that is locally grown or processed.

Ask Scouts to think about who benefits when someone buys food grown or processed nearby. A farmers market visit or a conversation with a local grower can make the discussion more concrete.

Easy option: Compare a local food with a similar food from another state, then discuss reasons someone might choose either one.

More options:

• Food for Miles and Miles: Cub Scouts calculate miles food traveled from source to table.
• Food Miles Fruit Salad: Cub Scouts calculate the miles that fruit has traveled for their fruit salad.

Requirement 3: Food Deserts

Explore the concept of a food desert.

Use a map to help Scouts see how far some people must travel to buy fresh, affordable food. Ask them to consider what shopping would be like without a car and what might help a community with few grocery stores.

Easy option: Map grocery stores near two different neighborhoods and compare the travel distances.

More resources:

• Am I in a Food Desert? Cub Scouts determine if they live in a food desert.
• Digital Food Desert: Cub Scouts find nearby food deserts.

Requirement 4: Food Oasis

Explore the concept of a food oasis.

Help Scouts explore what makes fresh, affordable food easy to find in a community. Have them look for grocery stores, farmers markets, and community gardens on a local map, then discuss how people can reach those places.

Easy option: Mark nearby food sources on a map and ask Scouts which areas have several choices.

More ideas:

• Am I in a Food Oasis? Cub Scouts determine if they live in a food oasis.
• Digital Food Oasis: Cub Scouts find a nearby food oasis.

Requirement 5: Reducing Food Waste

Learn how individuals can reduce food waste.

Ask Scouts to notice which foods often get thrown away at home and why. Discuss simple habits they can try, such as storing food properly, using leftovers, and planning meals around what they already have.

Easy option: Have each Scout choose one way to waste less food and try it at home for a week.

More resources:

• Food Preservation: Cub Scouts preserve food to reduce waste.
• Meal Planning: Cub Scouts plan a meal that minimizes food waste.
• Top Leftover Chef: Cub Scouts will learn how they can reduce food waste.

Requirement 6: Conservation Project

Participate in a conservation service project.

Choose a project that meets a real need and fits your den’s time and abilities. A park cleanup or workday at a community garden gives Scouts a clear task and a chance to see what their service accomplished.

Easy option: Arrange a short litter cleanup at a park or other approved public space. See Trash Pickup Service Project.

More ideas:

• Community Garden Service Project: Cub Scouts assist with a local community garden.
• Pumpkin Drive: Cub Scouts collect leftover pumpkins and deliver them to a local farm or animal rescue.
• WOSM Earth Tribe: Explore the World Organization for the Scouting Movement’s conservation efforts.

The Arrow of Light Champions for Nature adventure is a fun and educational journey for AOL Scouts. It focuses on understanding how our food choices impact the environment and community. Scouts explore where their food comes from, why local foods are beneficial, and the importance of food sustainability.

In this adventure, Scouts tackle several activities. They start by identifying foods grown or processed in their state, which helps them appreciate local agriculture. They then learn the advantages of buying local foods, such as supporting local farmers and reducing transportation emissions.

The adventure also introduces Scouts to the concepts of food deserts and food oases, enhancing their understanding of food availability in different communities. They learn how some areas lack access to fresh food, while others have abundant healthy options.

Scouts are also taught how to reduce food waste. They learn practical ways to keep food from going to waste, like proper food storage and creative uses for leftovers. These skills are not only good for the environment but also for saving money at home.

The final part of the adventure involves participating in a conservation service project. This could be anything from planting a community garden to helping clean a local park. These projects teach Scouts the importance of taking care of our environment and give them a sense of pride in contributing positively to their community.

The Arrow of Light Champions for Nature adventure is a program that helps Scouts learn about environmental stewardship through the lens of food sustainability. It’s an engaging way to teach valuable life lessons that will serve Scouts well into the future.