AUSTRALIAN CUB SCOUT
GOLD BOOMERANG REQUIREMENTS

Part 11 – The Natural Environment

(The World Around Us)

Recycling
Find out what new things are made from three different sorts of waste, which are recycled. There are lots to choose from, with glass bottles, cardboard, & pet bottles being three of the most common, but see what else the cubs can come up with.

 

Explain the concept of the 3R’s:
  • Reduce – use less and throw away less
  • Reuse – reuse bags, jars, paper etc instead of throwing them away
  • Recycle – send materials for collection and to be converted into new products

 

Pollution
Help to clean up litter in your local area Participation in the local efforts for Clean-Up Australia Day is a good way of doing this!

 

Show an understanding of the “Greenhouse Effect”, including what causes it and what can you do to help reduce it. The greenhouse effect describes the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, for example) trap energy from the sun. Without these gases, heat would escape back into space and Earth’s average temperature would be about 60ºF colder. Because of how they warm our world, these gases are referred to as greenhouse gases.
The greenhouse effect is important. Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth would not be warm enough for humans to live. But if the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it could make the Earth warmer than usual. Even a little extra warming may cause problems for humans, plants, and animals, such as the melting of glaciers and polar ice, thus potentially flooding shorelines or even entire countries.
Climate change may be a big problem, but there are many little things we can do to make a difference. If we try, most of us can do our part to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that we put into the atmosphere. Many greenhouse gases come from things we do every day. As we have learned, these greenhouse gases trap energy in the atmosphere and make the Earth warmer.
 
Driving a car or using electricity is not wrong. We just have to be smart about it.Some people use less energy by carpooling. For example, four people can ride together in one car instead of driving four cars to work. Here are some additional ways you can help make the planet a better place!
 
Read
Learning about the environment is very important. There are many good books that will help you learn. To get started, ask a teacher or a librarian for some suggestions. You also can look at the Links page to find other good web sites with information about the environment and climate change.
 
Save Electricity
Whenever we use electricity, we help put greenhouse gases into the air. By turning off lights, the television, and the computer when you are through with them, you can help a lot.
 
Bike, Bus, and Walk
You can save energy by sometimes taking the bus, riding a bike, or walking.
 
Plant Trees
Planting trees is fun and a great way to reduce greenhouse gases. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air.

 

State three other forms of air pollution, how they affect people and what can be done to reduce them. When people think about air pollution other than greenhouse gas, they usually think about smog, acid rain, CFC's, and other forms of outdoor air pollution. However, air pollution also can exist inside homes and other buildings. Cigarette smoke is one that most will easily think of.

 

Habitat Destruction
Discuss how we can conserve our local environment including water, land, air, forests, and mineral and fossil fuels. With luck, this is a topic that will have been well covered at school, and it will be easy for the cub to talk with you about this. If not, there is plenty of information in the media on a regular basis on this topic, and lots available on the internet as well.

 

 

© 2008 Ian Moggs - rights are given for copying and printing for personal use or use in cub-scout or similar groups.