Virtual Gardening Merit Badge

What:The Gardening Merit Badge class is only for Scouts who are able to plant and tend a small garden through to harvest and will be a partial. Participants working on the Gardening Merit Badge will explore gardening techniques, discuss how to properly care for a garden, research local agricultural facilities and nutritional values for various fruits and vegetables.

 Meet your Counselor - Deneen Cloutier has been an avid gardener for many years living in North Easton, MA. Along with her husband and three sons, they have successfully harvested many varieties of vegetables, fruits and berries annually. She is a serious outdoorsman, recently climbing Mt Washington to its summit and is a merit badge counselor for the Narragansett Council.

WHO: Open to all Scouts BSA members.

HOW:  This Merit Badge will be taught in a virtual classroom. The class has a capacity of 18 Scouts. Small classroom size provides all students with the opportunity to share and interact with the counselors and other Scouts. Scouts should be prepared to be challenged and to join the conversation! Participants who do not engage with the class may not receive credit for the badge. Scouts must be prompt for all badge sessions. Late participants may not receive credit for all requirements. Scouts must use a device with video to access this class.

Before beginning work on any merit badge, scouts are to have a discussion with their unit leader regarding the specific badge and counselor.

WHEN: This class will be held virtually over two sessions:

May 19, 2020 5:00PM-7:00PM 

May 26, 2020 5:00PM-7:00PM

Scouts must attend both sessions to complete the offered requirements.

After registering, Scouts will receive a link and login information via email the day of scheduled class. Scouts will also receive instructor details that can be used to connect to the counselor on Scoutbook. This assures that completed requirements are easily recorded. 

PREREQUISITES:  Please note that this badge will be a partial to be completed upon harvest. Participants should be prepared to plant and grow 6 vegetables and 6 flowers from seeds. Weather permitting seeds can be planted directly into the soil outside. The preferred method earlier in the season would be to start plants indoors in peat pots until the danger of frost has passed. For the homework between sessions, participants will need 100 seeds and prepped soil to evaluate the percentage of seeds that germinate. It is recommended that flower seeds are used and can be planted directly into the prepared garden as recommended on the seed packet. Seedlings can be counted after the germination time listed and results recorded Photos of the process would be great, too!

Suggested supplies/prep-work for students: The Gardening Merit Badge class is for Scouts who are ready and able to care for a garden through to harvest Supplies needs are 6 different vegetable seeds/seedlings and 6 different flower seeds/seedlings, basic gardening tools like a trowe and garden gloves. If starting seeds inside, peat pots or pellets and garden soil. A tray or aluminum pan is also recommended for starting seeds indoors. A pack of 100 seeds will be required for testing germination percentages between sessions.

Homework:

Between classes, participants will be asked to test the germination rate of 100 seeds and virtually visit a local agricultural facility and be ready to share results during session 2.