Merit Badges for Pecos Packer / Hiker

taken from Boy Scout Requirements 1995-97
items in red should be completed prior to or after camp
Preferred Merit Badges are first;  plan for no more than three.

BACKPACKING

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illness that could occur while backpacking, including hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, frostbite, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, snakebites, blisters, and hyperventilation.

2.  Do the following:
    (a) List 10 items which are essential to be carried on any overnight backpacking trek and explain why each item is necessary
    (b) Describe 10 ways you can limit the weight and bulk to be carried in your pack without jeopardizing your health or safety.

3.  Do the following:
    (a) Define the limits on the number of backpackers who should be in a backpacking crew.
    (b) Explain the reason for the upper and lower limit in a backpacking crew.

4.  Tell environmental considerations that are important for backpackers and describe five ways to lesson their impact on the environment.  Describe proper methods for disposing of solid and liquid wastes.

5.  Demonstrate two ways to purify water and tell why water purification is essential.

6.  Demonstrate that you can read topographical maps.  While on a hike, use a map and compass to establish your position on the terrain at random times and places.

7.  Tell how to prepare properly for an deal with inclement weather while on a backpacking trek.

8.  Do the following:
    (a) Explain the advantages and disadvantages of three different types of backpacking stoves using at least three different types of fuel.
    (b) Demonstrate that you know hoe to operate a backpacking stove safely and to handle liquid fuel safely.
    (c) Prepare at least three meals using a stove and fuel can carry in a backpack.

9.  Do the following:
    (a) Plan a patrol backpacking hike.
    (b)  Properly pack your own gear and your share of the crew equipment and food.  Protect it against inclement weather.  Show that your pack allows you to get quickly to items you may need on the trail and provides for comfort, balance, and neatness.  Show how to use effectively a pack frame and hip strap to distribute weight on your body.
    (c) Conduct a prehike inspection of the patrol and its equipment.
    (d) Carrying your pack, complete a hike of at least 2 miles.

10.  Take three backpacking treks. Each must consist of at least 3 days duration with two different overnight campsites, and each must cover at least 15 miles.  Carry everything you will need throughout the trek.

11.  Do the following:
    (a)  In addition, assist in planning and take a backpacking trek of at least 5 days with at least three different campsites, covering at least 30 miles.  Your written plan submitted to your counselor must include route, food, and menus, equipment and emergency notification.  Prepare light-weight, reasonable priced trail menus.   Carry everything you need throughout the entire trek.
    (b)  On returning, tell what you did to get in shape for this trek and how you might do it different.
 

HIKING

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while hiking, including  hypothermia, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, frostbite, dehydration, sunburn, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.

2. Explain and show, where possible, the main points of good hiking practices.

3.  Make a written plan for a 10-mile hike. Include map routes, a clothing and equipment list, and a list of things for a trail lunch.

4. Take five hikesof 10 continuous miles each, on 5 days.

5. Take a hike of 20 continuous miles in one day.

6. Within a month of the last hike and after taking all six hikes, make a short report of each of the six hikes. Give dates, route covered, weather, and any interesting things you saw.
 
 

WILDERNESS SURVIVAL

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses likely to could occur in backcountry outings, including  hypothermia, hyperthermia,  heatstroke, heat exhaustion, frostbite, dehydration, sunburn, stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.

2. From memory, describe the priority for survival in a backcountry or wilderness location.

3. Describe ways to:
    (a) avoid panic
    (b) maintain a high level of morale when lost

4. Tell what you would do to survive in the following environments:
    (a) Cold and snowy
    (b) Wet (forest)
    (c) Hot and dry (desert)
    (d) Windy (mountains or plains)
    (e) Water (ocean or lake)

5. Make up a small survival kit and be able to explain how each item in it is useful.

6. Show that you can start fires using three methods other than matches.

7. Do the following:
    (a) Tell five different ways of attracting attention when lost.
    (b) Show how to use a signal mirror to attract attention when lost.
    (c) From memory, describe five international ground-to-air signals and tell what they mean

8. Show that you can find and improvise a natural shelter minimizing the damage to the environment.

9. Spend a night in your shelter.

10. Explain how to protect yourself against insects, reptiles, rodents, and bears.

11. Show three ways to purify water.

12. Show that you know the proper clothing to be worn in your area on an overnight in extremely hot weather and extremely cold weather.

13. Explain why it usually is not wise to eat edible wild plants or wildlife in a wilderness survival situation.
 

50-MILER AWARD

1. Make complete and satisfactory plans for the trip, including the possibilities of advancement.

2. Cover the wilderness trail or canoe or boat tout of not less than 50 consecutive miles; take a minimum of 5 consecutive days to complete the trip without the aid of motors. (In some areas pack animals may be used.)

3. During the time on the trail or waterway, complete a minimum of 10 hours each of group work on projects to improve the trail, springs, campsite, portage, or wilderness area.  If, after checking with recognized authorities, it is not possible to complete 10 hours each of group work on the trail, a similar project may be done in the unit's home area. (There should be no unauthorized cutting of brush or timber.)

4. Unit or tour leader must then file the 50-Miler Award application with local council service center.  This application gives additional details about planning the trip.
 

FORESTRY

1. Prepare a field notebook, make a collection, and identify 15 species of trees or wild shrubs in a local forested area.  Include a written description of:
    (a) Identifying characteristics of leaf, twig, and fruit samples
    (b) The habitat in which these trees or shrubs are found
    (c) Chief ways each tree or shrub is used by humans or wildlife
    (d) The forest' successional stage, what its history has been, and what its future is

2. Do ONE of the following:
    (a) collect and identify wood samples of 10 species of trees.  List several ways each species of wood can be used.
    (b) Find and examine several stumps or logs that show variations in growth rate in their ring patterns.  Prepare a field notebook describing their location and discuss possible reasons for the variations.

3. Be able to do the following:
    (a) Describe contributions forests make to
        - Our economy in the form of products
        - Our social well-being
        - Soil protection and increased fertility
        - Clean air
        - Wildlife
        - Recreation
    (b) Tell which watershed or other source your community relies on for its water supply.

4. Be able to describe what forest management  means, including:
    (a) Multiple-use management
    (b) Even-aged and uneven-aged management and the silvicultural systems associated with each type
    (c) Intermediate cuttings
    (d) How prescribed burning and related forest management practices are used

5.  Do ONE of the following:
    (a) Visit a managed public or private forest area with its manager or someone familiar with it.  Write a brief report describing:
        - The type of forest
        - The management objectives
        - The forestry techniques used to achieve the objectives
    (b) Take a trip to a logging operation or wood-using industrial plant and write a brief report describing:
        - The species of and size of trees being harvested or used
        - Where the trees are going to or coming from
        - What products are made from the trees or at the plant
        - How the products are made
        - How the products are used
        - How waste materials from the logging operation or plant are disposed of or utilized

6.  Be able to do the following:
    (a) Describe the damages to forest that result from:
        - Wildfire
        - Insects
        - Tree disease
        - Overgrazing
        - Improper harvest
    (b) Tell what can be done to reduce these damages.
    (c) Tell what you should do if you discover a forest fire and how to control it.

7.  Do ONE of the following:
    (a) Assist in carrying out a project that meets one or more of these objectives: timber stand improvement, watershed improvement, wildlife habitat improvement, recreation area improvement, or range improvement.
    (b) Take part in a forest fire prevention campaign in cooperation with your local fire warden, forester or counselor.
    (c) Visit with one or more local foresters and write a brief report including education, qualification, career opportunities, and objective relating to forestry.
 

 WEATHER

1. Define meteorology. Explain how the weather affects farmers, sailors, aviators, and the outdoors construction industry.  Tell why weather forecasts are important to each of these groups.

2. Name five dangerous weather-related conditions. Give the safety rules for each when outdoors and explain the difference between a severe weather watch and warning.  Discuss the safety rules with your family.

3.  Draw cross sections of a cold front and a warm front showing the location and movements of the cold and warm air, the frontal slope, the location and types of clouds associated with the front, and the location of rain.  Tell the differences between a cold front and a warm front.

4. Tell what causes wind, why it rains, and how lightning and hail are formed.  Explain the difference between high and low pressure systems in the atmosphere and tell which is related to good and poor weather.

5.  Identify and describe clouds in the low, middle, and upper levels of the atmosphere.  Relate these to specific types of weather.

6. Draw a diagram of the water cycle and label its major processes. Explain the water cycle to your counselor.

7. Define acid rain. Identify which human activities pollute the atmosphere as well as the effects such pollution can have on people.

8.  Do ONE of the following:
    (a) Make one of the following instruments: wind vane, anemometer, rain gauge, hygrometer.  Keep a daily log for 1 week using information from this instrument as well as from other sources such as local radio and televisions stations or NOAA Weather Radio.  The following information should be recorded at the same time every day: wind direction and speed, temperature, precipitation, and type of clouds.  Be sure to make a note of any morning dew or frost.  In the log, also list the weather forecasts from radio or television at the same time each day and show how the weather really turned out.
    (b) Visit a National Weather Service office of talk with a local radio or television weathercaster, private meteorologist, local agricultural  Extension service officer, or university meteorology instructor.  Find out what type of weather is most dangerous or damaging to your community.  Determine how severe weather and flood warnings reach the homes in your community.

9. Do ONE of the following:
    (a) Give a talk of more than 5 minutes to your unit explaining the camping safety rules in the event of lightning, flash floods, and tornadoes.  Before your talk, show your outline to your counselor for approval.
    (b) Read several articles about acid rain and give a prepared talk of more than 5 minutes to your unit.  Before your talk, show your outline to your counselor for approval.

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