Bear Champions for Nature Adventure

Adventure Type: Outdoor, environmental awareness, hands-on
Number of Requirements: 5
Typical Time to Complete: 2–3 meetings, or 1–2 outings plus a project
Parent Involvement: Helpful for outings, supervision, project support
Preparation Needed: Low to moderate, higher if scheduling tours or projects
Activity Level: Low to high, varies by activity
Indoor or Outdoor: Both
Special Requirements: Possible travel, permission forms for outings
Supplies Snapshot: Paper, markers, soil samples, jars, simple craft items, outdoor gear, cleanup or planting supplies

The Bear Champions for Nature adventure helps Bear Scouts learn about the world around them. They look at soil, water, air, and plants. They begin to see how nature works and why it matters.

Scouts also learn how their choices affect the environment. Simple actions can make a difference. This adventure helps them understand how to care for the outdoors in everyday life.

Along the way, they take part in hands-on activities. These projects teach teamwork and responsibility. Scouts see that they can help protect nature in their own community.

Printable requirements for the Bear Champions for Nature Adventure

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

Printable checkoff sheet for the Bear Badge (for den or individual use)

Wastewater

Discover what happens to the wastewater in your community.   

Keep this simple and visual. Scouts do best when they can see a process step by step. Focus on where water goes after it leaves their home. You do not need a full tour to teach this well.

Easy Option: Have Scouts draw a simple picture showing water going from a house to a treatment plant and back to nature. See Where Does Wastewater Go?

More options:

• Water Conservation Charades: Cub Scouts will learn ways of conserving water by playing charades. 
• Water Management Facility Tour: Cub Scouts tour their local ​​water management facility. 

Soil

Investigate soil. 

Let Scouts touch and explore. Avoid long explanations. Give them time to compare different types of soil. This works best with hands-on time and simple observations like color and texture.

Easy Option: Bring in three soil samples and let Scouts sort them by look and feel. See Soil Investigation.

More resources:

• Aqua Pollution Adventure: Cub Scouts demonstrate how pollution can enter our groundwater. 
• DIY Composter: Cub Scouts will build their own composter. 
• Soil Sample Cupcakes: For a snack which ties in with these examples, check out this creative recipe.

Air Pollution

Investigate air pollution. 

Make this concrete since air is hard to see. Use simple examples like cars or smoke. Help Scouts think about how to keep air clean. Keep activities short and focused.

Easy Option: Put a little petroleum jelly on a card, leave it outside, and check later for dirt. See Air Pollution Investigation.

More ideas:

• Acid Rain Investigation: Cub Scouts conduct an acid rain experiment. 
• Human Air Pollution Detectors: In this activity, Cub Scouts will be “indoor pollution detectors” to investigate air pollution. 

Conservation Project

Participate in a conservation project.

Choose something simple and doable in one meeting if possible. Scouts should feel like they helped right away. Keep the project local so they can see the impact.

Easy Option: Do a quick trash pickup around your meeting area or a nearby park.

More options:

• Building Bird or Bat Houses: Help scouts build bird or bat houses and place them in appropriate locations.
• Bears Plant Trees: Cub Scouts plant trees for a local organization.
• Planting Native Plants: Cub Scouts will add native plants to a garden for the chartered partner, school, or other community location.

The Bear Champions for Nature adventure is a key activity for Bear Cub Scouts, who are typically third graders. This adventure teaches them about the natural world and how to care for it. It’s designed to spark a love for the outdoors and a commitment to environmental stewardship.

In this adventure, scouts tackle five main requirements. They start by discovering natural resources, which helps them appreciate the materials provided by the earth that support life and civilization. Next, they learn about wastewater and what happens to it after it goes down the drain, gaining insight into community sanitation and water conservation.

The adventure continues as scouts investigate soil and air pollution. They get their hands dirty examining different types of soil and learn what makes healthy soil important for plants and wildlife. When they explore air pollution, scouts understand the impact of clean air on health and the environment. These activities make the abstract concept of air quality tangible and relevant.

Lastly, participating in a conservation project empowers Bear Cub Scouts to apply what they’ve learned. Whether they’re planting trees, cleaning up a local park, or building birdhouses, scouts take active steps to improve their local environment. This hands-on involvement builds teamwork and leadership skills.

The Bear Champions for Nature adventure not only educates Bear Cub Scouts about environmental issues but also encourages them to become proactive in preserving and protecting nature. This fosters a sense of responsibility and pride in making positive changes in their community and the wider world.