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Poison ivy vine on a tree.Poison ivy is the first plant any Scout should learn to identify. The plant grows in much of the United States--except the far West, in high altitudes and in deserts--and is highly toxic to most people. The plant's oil causes a very nasty and itchy rash.
The old adage "leaves of three, leave them be" is helpful to remind Scouts how to recognize poison ivy. The plant always has three leaves per stem, no matter what variety. Poison ivy leaves can have smooth or notched edges. It grows along the ground and also comes in tree-climbing vines. -
Learn to identify wild flowers like this Prairie Nymph.Scouts should learn to identify plants that are native to their area. This include both dangerous poisonous plants that are unique to their region and harmless plants like wildflowers and trees.
Take advantage of state conservation and parks departments that offer youth classes on plant identification. Guide books on plant identification can be found in your local library to use as a teaching aid to learn about plants on your own. Scout leaders can also find local resources, such as where to find a naturalist who can visit a meeting, by calling their organization's council. -
2001 Junior Girl Scout Badge BookScouts can make their own Plant ID book and use it as part of a fun outdoor activity. Books can be made from a spiral notebook with a roll of tape attached to the spine with a loop of twine.
Scouts units can go on a nature walk to collect plant specimens and then tape them to the pages of their book. They can also draw sketches of plants in the book and write their observations about the plant's environment.
Always check to make sure it's OK to collect plant samples with the property owner on private land, or by contacting the park rangers when using public land. Never collect samples of poisonous plants. -
Spring Beauty wildflower.Scouts of all ages can learn plant identification while earning merit badges or meeting rank requirements. Plant identification is part of the Bear's Nature Craft Elective, the Webelos' Naturalist Activity Pin, the Boy Scout Plant Science Merit Badge, the Brownie Plants Try-It Badge and the Junior's Earth Connections Badge.
Check your Scout manual for particular badges, patches and requirements that apply to your scout group's level. -
Make learning plant identification fun for younger Scouts by playing plant-themed games.
Plant Bingo: make up Bingo Cards with clear drawings of plant leaves or flowers for the Scouts. The leader draws plant names from a bowl instead of calling out numbers and letters. Scouts would need to know what the plants look like in order to mark off their cards.
Nature Quest: take Scouts on a nature hike and challenge them to find 10 different plants and trees. Give them each a note pad to write down their findings. Make it more challenging by giving them a list of plants to find. The first Scout to find 10 different plants could receive a prize.
Flash Cards: make plant flash cards by printing clear photos or drawings of plants on large sheets of paper. Have the Scouts sit in a circle and challenge them to call out the name of the plant on the flash cards.
