Sea Base - Merit Badges - Fish and Wildlife Merit Badge

 

Are you going on the Sea Base high adventure Florida Keys, Bahamas, St. Thomas trip thinking, I'll bet I could do most of the requirements for the the Fishing, Swimming, Sailing and Fish and Wildlife Merit Badge?  You are RIGHT!  Here's what you could get signed off most of the requirements for 3 or 4 merit badges!

• ���� Fishing
• ⚓ Small Boat Sailing
• ���� Swimming
• ���� Fish & Wildlife Management

Be sure to get your Blue Cards and a counselor assigned BEFORE you leave for Sea Base! Then document completion of anything you do on the trip.  Be prepared to show your counselor photos, if he or she is not there with you, whenever possible, to demonstrate you competency and completion  of requirements.

Fish and Wildlife Merit Badge

You can find and print to bring with you,

• Fish and Wildlife merit badge on Scouting.org
• the full, free PDF of the Fish and Wildlife Merit Badge pamphlet here.  and
• the Fish and Wildlife Merit Badge workbook here.

✅ Requirements you can likely complete at Sea Base

Many of the requirements below are almost exactly what you’ll be doing all week, anyway, so this is a perfect merit badge to work on at Sea Base.

Below is a summary and checklist. See the pamphlet or workbook above for details. Learn, during the trip, about those you must later explain to you counselor.

This is only a checklist and  a summary of requirements - you must see the BSA pamphlet or workbook for the detailed requirements!

���� Sea Base tie-in

These 3 meritbadges badge work especially well at Sea Base because you will be learning or doing many of the requirements there anyway!:

• Req 3 → reef & marine species ID
• Req 5 → snorkeling observations
• Req 6 → aquatic ecosystems (perfect match)

Less likely to be able to do at Sea Base is:

• Req 7 → conservation project (bit is usually done before/after, such as at summer camp)

���� Fishing

Req	Description	Done	Initials
1a	Explain hazards of fishing and prevention/response
1b	Explain prevention/treatment of injuries (cuts, hooks, heat, etc.)
1c	Explain how to safely remove a hook
1d	Explain five safe fishing practices
2	Explain fishing laws and regulations
3	Identify and explain fishing equipment
4	Demonstrate fishing knots
5	Explain types of bait and lures
6	Identify 10 fish and describe habitat/behavior
7	Demonstrate casting and fishing techniques
8	Catch at least one fish
9	Clean and cook a fish (if allowed)
10	Discuss ethical fishing and conservation
11	Discuss fishing-related careers or knowledge

⚓ Small Boat Sailing

Req	Description	Done	Initials
1	Explain hazards and safety precautions
2	Successfully complete BSA swimmer test
3	Demonstrate proper use of PFD
4a–e	Explain boat parts, rules, weather, and float plan
5	Demonstrate launching and landing
6a–j	Demonstrate sailing skills (maneuvers, rescue, control)
7a–c	Demonstrate knots and line handling
8	Discuss navigation rules and right-of-way
9	Identify sailing terminology and points of sail

���� Fish & Wildlife Management����

Req	Description	Done	Initials
1	Describe conservation and management purposes
2	Discuss major wildlife resources in region
3a	List and describe 10 wildlife species and habitats
3b	Discuss importance of wildlife management
4a	Explain how populations are managed
4b	Explain role of predators, habitat, and humans
5a	Observe wildlife in a natural habitat
5b	Record and describe observations
6	Explain importance of aquatic ecosystems
7a	Participate in a conservation project
7b	Explain how the project improves habitat

���� Swimming

If you haven't already got the Swimming Merit Badge. This one is usually done at summer camp, so it should be your lowest priority

Req	Description	Done	Initials
1	Explain safe swimming practices
2	Explain prevention/treatment of water injuries
3	Demonstrate water rescues (reach/throw)
4	Complete swim test (150 yd + 50 yd + float)
5–6	Demonstrate swimming strokes
7	Demonstrate survival floating/resting strokes
8	Demonstrate additional safety/rescue skills