Exploration
Description
Discover the history and importance of various kinds of exploration by earning the Exploration Merit Badge. Scouts will study real-life explorers who made their mark either in the wild or in a scientific lab, then plan, prepare and go on an expedition that could be nearby or far away.
Prerequisites
Requirement 4: Real-Life Exploration (Choose ONE)
- Option A (Explorer): Research a living explorer. Bring a short written report or printed slide presentation detailing their objectives and the achievements of one expedition.
- Option B (Expedition): Research an actual scientific expedition (like the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover). Bring notes explaining the mission objectives, major discoveries, and how it answered important scientific questions.
- Option C (Lab Exploration): Research exploration in a laboratory setting. Write down a few bullet points comparing how lab research is similar to field research.
Requirement 5: Exploration in Lab and Field (Choose ONE)
- Option A: With parent permission, visit an exploration website (e.g., The Explorers Club, National Geographic, or the Smithsonian). Write down the name of the organization and a short paragraph summarizing the specific types of exploration they fund or support.
- Option B: Visit (virtually or in person) a local science lab, observatory, or medical research facility. Write down what kind of exploration happens there.
Requirements 7 & 8: Prepare and Go on an Expedition
- Req 7 (Preparation): Plan an expedition to an area the Scout has never been to before. They must use the steps from Requirement 6 to create an equipment list, choose a team, and complete the Scouting America SAFE Checklist. Bring this completed planning paperwork to class.
- Req 8 (The Expedition): Conduct the actual expedition planned in Requirement 7. Write and bring the required 1-to-3-page post-expedition report covering findings, observations, photos, and a conclusion.
Requirement 9: Career Opportunities (Choose ONE)
- Option A (Career): Research a career related to exploration (e.g., oceanographer, aerospace engineer, research scientist). Bring notes detailing the required education/training, job prospects, typical salary, and daily duties.
- Option B (Hobby): Research an exploration-related hobby (e.g., scuba diving, amateur astronomy, orienteering). Bring notes on the expenses involved, necessary training, and local clubs or organizations that support it.