CONTENTS Introduction Materials List Hilltop Nature Center Activities Post Oak Nature Trail Trail Activities Wetland Activities Introduction This program help is a guide to the optional pack activities available at the Hilltop Nature Center. There are two main portions: the Hilltop Nature Center and the Post Oak Nature Trail. It is suggested that the nature center activities be done in the morning and the trail be done in the afternoon. However, the sequence can be reversed if you feel that the afternoon heat may become a problem for your boys. Hilltop Nature Center The structures here are designed to go along with the activities described in the nature center section of this guide. Feel free to use the fields surrounding the hilltop for any of the games and activities included in this portion of the program. Whether you do the nature center first or second, it is suggested that the boys hang their bird feeders in the feeding station as soon as they arrive to allow birds time to find them for viewing. Post Oak Nature Trail This trail is approximately two miles round trip. Most of the trail is wooded with a few short sections of grassland. The trail is also fairly flat and follows along side the paved road coming into Cub World. The wetland at the end of the trail is where several of the activities will take place. Be sure to allow plenty of time to spend at this location (1 to 2 hours) and plenty of time to get back before dark. The Outdoor Code As an American I will do my best to Be clean in my outdoor manners, Be careful with fire, Be considerate in the outdoors, And be conservation-minded. John Zink Scout Ranch 1 Indian Nations Council
Materials List Materials for activities Critter Carriers Gatorade bottles, fishing line, string or rope, knife or scissors Dip nets Coat hangers, panty hose or nylon cheese cloth, needle and thread, OR Large green hand nets from the pet store (these will take more abuse). Leaf presses Card stock, paper, foam core or cardboard, thin rope or straps Bird feeders Large Naval Oranges (1 per 2 boys), sharp Knife, spoons (1 for each boy), small paper bowls or cups, twine (approx. 6 feet per boy), scissors, sharp pencil or other instrument for poking holes in orange. Materials to bring to Cub World Bird feeders Bird feed sunflower seeds, thistle, or suet Critter Carriers Leaf presses Dip nets Coat hanger nets OR Large green hand nets from the pet store (these will take more abuse). Crayfish rig Heavy fishing line or string, binder clips, bait (hot dogs or bacon), stick (optional) Track casting Large paper cups (3 per boy), scissors or knife, large paper clips, popsicle sticks, plaster of paris, water The Long Haul 2 large buckets (5gal), 4 small buckets (1gal) Life box Box, bottle of water, bag of soil Birds n Worms Pipe cleaners (half dark colors and half light) Scavenger Hunt Large plastic bags, copies of scavenger list Every Tree for Itself 3 boxes of poker chips (red, white, blue), small bucket or bowl Binoculars As many as you can round up Bird books or posters Hand lens or magnifying glass Water bottle or canteen Sunscreen John Zink Scout Ranch 2 Indian Nations Council
ACTIVITIES Critter Carriers Materials 32 oz Gatorade bottle, 20 lb test fishing line, ¼ inch nylon cord, awl or hot coat hanger Procedure Punch holes in the top 1/3 of the bottle, tie a 6 inch piece of fishing line to the mouth of the bottle and attach the other end through the middle of the lid, tie a 3 foot piece of nylon cord to the bottom half of the bottle and the neck of the bottle for a shoulder strap. Dip Nets Materials Coat hanger with cardboard tube, strong thread, needle, nylon cheese cloth or knee length panty hose, pliers. Procedure Remove cardboard tube from hanger, bend hanger hook into straight handle, bend the rest of the hanger into a circle, use pliers to twist the ends of the circle together, cut hose or cloth into pouch that is 6 to 8 inches deep, fold top of pouch over the circle in the hanger, use the needle and thread to stitch the top of the pouch onto the hanger. Leaf and bark rubbings Materials Green leaves, pieces of bark, several different kinds of paper, writing utensils like crayons, pencils, and chalk. Procedure Lay out materials on a table. Show boys how to lay the paper on top of the leaf or bark and lightly rub the writing utensils over the object to make a picture, encourage the boys to experiment using different leaves, writing utensils and paper. John Zink Scout Ranch 3 Indian Nations Council
Birdfeeders from Oranges Supplies Needed: Large Naval Oranges (1 per 2 boys) Sharp Knife (1 or 2 for adults only!) Spoons (1 for each boy) Small paper bowls or cups. Twine or Heavy String (approx. 6 feet per boy) Scissors Sharp Pencil or other instrument for poking holes in orange 1. ADULTS cut oranges in half using sharp knife. 2. Give each boy an orange half. 3. Boys scoop out inside of orange with spoon. Place in paper bowl or cup. a. Boys can eat the orange as a snack. b. Note: A metal spoon works best for this. Plastic spoons break to easily. 4. With adult assistance, poke 3 holes spaced equally around the top edge of the orange. The holes should be ½ to 1 inch below the top edge. 5. Take 3 pieces of twine or heavy string each approximately 24 long and lay them flat on the table. 6. Tie the 3 pieces together in an overhand knot at one end. See diagram # 1 7. Slip the end of each piece of string thru each of the holes in the orange and tie a knot on the inside. See diagram # 2. 8. Fill the orange with birdseed. (if these are traveling home, place the birdseed in small zip-loc bags) 9. Hang the orange birdfeeder in a tree and watch to see what birds visit. DIAGRAM # 1 DIAGRAM # 2 Tie knot here. More bird feeder ideas can be found in the Cub Scout Leaders The BIG How To Book John Zink Scout Ranch 4 Indian Nations Council
Leaf Press Materials Card stock, paper, foam core or cardboard, ¼ inch nylon rope or straps, scissors or box knife (adults only), duct tape, crayons or markers. Procedure Cut foam core into two 8½ X 11 pieces (one for the front cover and 1 for the back cover). Cut cardboard into six 8½ X 11 pieces. Count out ten pieces of 8½ X 11 cardstock. Then, stack each piece in this order: 1 Foam core 1 Cardboard 2 cardstock 1 Cardboard 2 cardstock Etc ending with 1 Cardboard 1 Foam core Tape left side with one 11 strip of duct tape to form a book. Tie the press tight with two pieces of cord secured with a square knot. When collecting leaves in the field, open the press like a book and press the leaves between the sheets of cardstock. Finally, decorate the leaf press with crayons and markers. Nature Center Activities Hang bird feeders Hang the bird feeders 1 st thing in the morning for birds to find. Use a variety of feeders and feed to attract different kinds of birds. Hang feeders on posts at the feeding station. Track casting Instructions for making track castings can be found in the Cub Scout Leaders The BIG How To Book Where to find tacks? Natural tracks from feeding station or mud road near by Planted tracks If your pack brings track stamps, you can use them in the sand pit or any muddy area you can find Bird Watching Use binoculars and bird books or posters View behind bird blinds and be as quiet as possible. Learn how to observe and identify different kinds of birds John Zink Scout Ranch 5 Indian Nations Council
Post Oak Nature Trail Nature Hike Introduction go over hiking rules and gather equipment or the afternoon activities: water bottles, scavenger materials, dip nets, crayfish rigs, bug catchers, leaf presses. Also go over rules of collecting do not touch poison ivy, do not put anything in your mouth, take only leaves for your collection, and do not throw anything you pick-up. Leave No Trace Leave No Trace is a program designed to remind us to respect the rights of other users of the outdoors as well as future generations. BSA is committed to Leave No Trace, which is a nationally recognized outdoor skills and ethics awareness program. Its seven principles are guidelines to follow at all times: 1. Plan ahead and prepare. 2. Camp and travel on durable surfaces. 3. Dispose of waste properly: Pack it in, pack it out. 4. Leave what you find. 5. Minimize the effect of campfires and campfire use. 6. Respect wildlife. 7. Be considerate of and respect others. For more information, see the Cub Scout Leader Book or check out the Leave No Trace Web site at www.lnt.org Scavenger Hunt Hand out bags and lists (see next page) at beginning of trail. Boys collect items in pairs as they walk the trail. Conclude at before you get to the wetland. Scatter all items on the way back. Interpretive signs Stop and read the signs along the trail. Wetland Bird watching Approach wetland quietly. Position group behind viewing blinds and observe any possible wildlife at the wetland. While waiting, go over the benefits of wetlands and describe the area. Critter catching Fill the bug catchers with water to observe any critters the boys catch. Collect around cattails and other shoreline vegetation. Return all critters before departing. John Zink Scout Ranch 6 Indian Nations Council
Return trip Bug catching Use the bug catchers to temporarily collect any critters that you find. Leaf collection Place the leaves found on the trail in your leaf press. These are the only items that should be taken home. Scavenger Hunt List Search with your partner for each item on this list. Put only one of each in your bag. When you have found all the items, show them to your den leader. Watch out for poison ivy, it has three green leaves in the shape of a triangle. Something yellow Something green Something hard Something smooth Something soft Something blue Something pointy Something round Something that is not alive Something that smells sweat A leaf that is not a leaf John Zink Scout Ranch 7 Indian Nations Council