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Champions for Nature

Cub Scouts · Adventure, Elective

Printable worksheet (PDF)

Champions for Nature helps you learn what animals need to survive and why some are in danger. You'll pick one animal, become an expert on it, and then help protect nature with a service project. Small actions really can help.

Why it's worth it

Some animals, like the bald eagle, came back from the edge because people paid attention and acted. In this adventure you'll choose one threatened or endangered animal, find out what's hurting it, and learn who is helping. Then you'll do a service project, because protecting wild places starts close to home.

Start this week

  1. Walk around your yard or a park and spot one example each of food, water, shelter, and space for animals.
  2. Make a list of three threatened or endangered animals you'd like to learn about, and pick a favorite.
  3. Ask your den leader what conservation projects the den could join this season.

Requirements · 6

Every official requirement and part, numbered to match Scouting America, in plain language. Sign off against the official wording (opens in a new tab).

  1. Requirement 1

    Discover the four parts of a habitat: food, water, shelter, and space

    Tip: Look around your yard or a park for the four parts of a habitat: food, water, shelter, and space.

    For example: In a park, food might be acorns and berries, water a pond or creek, shelter a hollow tree or brush pile, and space the open woods squirrels need to find enough to eat.

  2. Requirement 2

    Choose a threatened or endangered animal to use for requirements 3, 4, and 5

    Tip: Pick a threatened or endangered animal you find interesting, maybe one from your own state.

  3. Requirement 3

    Identify what makes an animal count as threatened or endangered

    Tip: Learn what the words threatened and endangered mean and how animals get on those lists.

  4. Requirement 4

    Explore what caused your animal to become threatened or endangered

    Tip: Find out what hurt your animal, like losing its home or pollution.

    For example: For the monarch butterfly, you might learn that its caterpillars only eat milkweed, and milkweed has disappeared from many fields and roadsides. Make a poster showing what's happened.

  5. Requirement 5

    Research what is being done now to protect your animal

    Tip: Look for groups, zoos, or parks working to help your animal and what they are doing.

    For example: Find out who's helping your animal: zoos raising young ones, parks protecting habitat, or people planting the food it needs. Share one thing a family could do to help.

  6. Requirement 6

    Take part in a conservation service project

    Tip: Join a cleanup, plant native flowers, or help at a nature center with your den.

    For example: Your den could plant native flowers at a school, pull invasive plants with a park crew, or pick up litter along a creek where animals drink.

Places to visit

Ask an adult to set it up, and go with your family, den, patrol, or crew.

  • A zoo or aquarium with a conservation program

    Keepers can tell you how they help endangered animals, sometimes the very one you chose.

    How: Have your adult check the website for keeper talks or education programs, and ask if a den can schedule one.

  • A national wildlife refuge or nature preserve

    Refuges protect habitat for rare animals, and staff can show you what that looks like on the ground.

    How: Have your adult call the visitor center and ask about volunteer days or ranger talks for youth groups.

Talk about it together

  • Why did you choose your animal?
  • What surprised you about why it became endangered?
  • What can kids do to help animals like yours?
  • How did your service project help the animals that live near you?
  • What's something your family could change to help nature?

Helpful reads

For leaders & parents

  • Visit a zoo or nature center where staff can talk about endangered species.
  • Partner with a local park or conservation group for the service project.

People & places that can help

Pairs well with

Counts toward

More Webelos adventures

Tips, examples, and questions are ideas from experienced leaders, not extra requirements. Your unit leader or counselor decides when a requirement is complete.