Boy Scout Guide to Mystic Seaport

1. Making My Family Special

1G - Go See It Activity
Go to a library, historical society, museum, old farm, or historical building, or visit an older person in your community. Discover how family life was the same and how it was different many years ago.

As a tiger scout you can come to the Mystic Seaport and visit the Buckingham - Hall Family Home. Explore the house and stop in and have a discussion with the interpreter about family life in the 1830s.

3. With your family, play a card or board game, or put a jigsaw puzzle together.

There are jigsaw puzzles in the Children's Museum

22. With your family or with your den, have a picnic -- indoors or outdoors.

35. Play a game outdoors with your family or den.

In the summer you can play with hoops and graces and stilts.

36. With your family or your den, go see a play or musical performance in your community.

During the summer there is the play, Tale of a Whaler and you can see a Sea Music (Chantey Show) April - November.

1. KNOW YOUR HOME AND COMMUNITY (Wolf Handbook, Page 60)

f. Visit an important place in your community, such as a historic or government location. Explain why it is important.

10. FAMILY FUN (Wolf Handbook, Page 88)

c. Plan a walk. Go to a park or a wooded area, or visit a zoo or museum with your family.

As a historic museum we qualify as an important place in the community that you visit to complete this part of your Wolf Badge requirement.

1. FOOT POWER (Wolf Handbook, Page 146)

a. Learn to walk on a pair of stilts.

During the spring summer and fall you can play with stilts on the green at certain times of day.

17. Tie it Right (Wolf Handbook, Page 190)

a. Learn to tie an overhand knot and a square knot.
e. Tie two cords together with an overhand knot.

The Discovery Barn has ropes to practice knot tying as well as instructional laminates and the Children's Museum has ropes to practice knot tying as well.

3. What Makes America Special?

d. Find out where places of historical interest are located in or near your town or city. Go and visit one of them with your family or den.

4. TALL TALES (Bear Handbook - Page 42)

a. Tell in your own words what folklore is. List some folklore stories, folk songs, or historical legends from your own state or part of the country.

Come and talk to our staff about stories from 1876. Sea chanteys are also a form of folk song. Catch a chantey show April - November.

5. FAMILY FUN (Bear Handbook - Page 90)

a. Go on a day trip or evening out with members of your family.

18. Jot It Down

f. Write a story about something you have done with your family.

22. TYING IT ALL UP (Bear Handbook - Page 162)
Do five requirements.

f. Make your own rope.

April - November our demonstration staff make rope at a scheduled time everyday. They may be able to help with other portions of this achievement too!

1. SPACE (Bear Handbook, Page 182)

a. Identify two constellations and the North Star in the night sky.
c. Visit a Planetarium.

We have a planetarium on grounds. Attend a show for a nominal fee and learn about the stars. Ask questions and you could fulfill other aspects of this elective.

5. BOATS (Bear Handbook, Page 196)

a. Help an adult rig and sail a real boat. (Wear your PFD.)

During the summer you can rent a boat to help this elective.

9. ART (Bear Handbook, Page 214)

b. Visit an art museum or picture gallery with your den or family.
c. Find a favorite outdoor location and draw or paint it.

We have a picture gallery in the Mallory building. You can find a nice spot and set up to draw or paint.

11. PHOTOGRAPHY (Bear Handbook, Page 222)

b. Take five pictures of the same subject in different kinds of light.

1. Subject in direct sun with direct light.
2. Subject in direct sun with side light.
3. Subject in direct sun with back light.
4. Subject in shade on a sunny day.
5. Subject on a cloudy day.

12. NATURE CRAFTS (Bear Handbook, Page 226)
(This elective is also part of the Cub Scout World Conservation Award.)

c. Collect, press and label ten kinds of leaves.
e. Collect eight kinds of plant seeds and label them.
f. Collect, mount, and label ten kinds of rocks or minerals.

We have all sorts of plants all around. You can even find rocks if you try.

23. MAPS (Bear Handbook, Page 270)

e. Mark a map showing the way to a place you would like to visit that is at least 50 miles from your home.

Showman

17. Attend a play. Describe the story. Tell what you liked about it.

Come see the Tale of a Whaler in the summertime.

Traveler

4. With a parent or guardian, take a trip to a place that interests you. Go by car, bus, boat, train or plane.

5. Figure out what it costs per mile for the trip you took or planned to fulfill requirement 2, 4, 6 or 7. (Don't forget to include getting back to your starting point!)

6. Decide on four nearby trips you would like to take with your parents or guardian. Draw the draw route of each trip on a highway map. Using the map, act as navigator on one of these trips. It should start at your home, be at least 25 miles long, and have six or more turns.

If you live far enough away you can use a trip to Mystic Seaport to fulfill some of the requirements for this badge.

Art - Academic Pin

1. Visit an art museum, gallery, or exhibit. Discuss with an adult the art you saw.

7. Photograph four subjects in one theme, such as landscapes, people, animals, sports, or buildings.

The Mallory Building always has an art exhibit displayed. The exhibit is ocean themed. You can also use our picturesque setting to take some pictures.

Astronomy - Belt Loop

3. Explain the following terms: planet, star, solar system, galaxy, the Milky Way, black hole, red giant, white dwarf, comet, meteor, moon, asteroid, star map, and universe.

Attend a Planetarium show for a small nominal fee, ask questions, and learn about most of the above.

Astronomy - Academic Pin

5. Interview an astronomer. This person may be a professional or an amateur astronomer from a local astronomy club. Report on what you learned to your den or family.

6. Learn about careers that relate to Astronomy. What school subjects will help you get a job in astronomy?

7. Visit a planetarium or a local astronomy club. Give a report on what you learned to your den.

Attend a Planetarium show for a small nominal fee, and/or visit with the Planetarium staff to fulfill some of the requirements for the pin.

Citizenship - Academic Pin

10. Attend a community event or visit a landmark in your community.

The Charles W. Morgan, Emma C. Berry, Sabino and L.A. Dunton are National Historic Landmark vessels.

Heritage - Academic Pin

8. Make an article of clothing, a toy, or a tool that your ancestors used. Show it to your den.

Mystic Seaport offers a seasonal Build a Toy Boat activity.

Music - Belt Loop

2. Listen to four types of music either recorded or live.

There are chantey shows running April - November. This will cover one type of music.

Music - Academic Pin

6. Attend a live musical performance or concert.

Listen to a chantey show; they run April through November.

Science - Belt Loop

3. Visit a museum, a laboratory, an observatory, a zoo, an aquarium, or other facility that employs scientists. Talk to a scientist about his or her work.

The Planetarium staff are scientists.

Art

4. With your parent's permission and your counselor's approval, visit a museum, art exhibit, art gallery, artists' co-op, or artist's workshop. Find out about the art displayed or created there. Discuss what you learn with your counselor.

The Mallory Exhibit Hall houses an art exhibit.

Astronomy

1. Describe the proper clothing and other precautions for safely making observations at night and in cold weather. Tell how to safely observe the Sun, objects near the Sun, and the Moon. Explain first aid for injuries or illnesses such as heat and cold reactions, dehydration, bites and stings, and damage to your eyes that could occur during observation.

2. Explain what light pollution is and how it and air pollution affect astronomy.

4. Do the following:

a. Identify in the sky at least 10 constellations, at least four of which are in the zodiac.

d. Explain what we see when we look at the Milky Way.

5. Do the following:

a. List the names of the five most visible planets. Explain which ones can appear in phases similar to lunar phases and which ones cannot, and explain why.

Attend a Planetarium show for a small nominal fee or have a discussion with our astronomers to help with this badge.

Basketry

2. Do the following:

a. Show your counselor that you are able to identify each of the following types of baskets: plaited, coiled, ribbed, and wicker.

There are many different types of baskets around Mystic Seaport. Try the Buckingham House, the Sailors Reading Room, and Stones Store for starters.

Bird Study

5. Observe and be able to identify at least 20 species of wild birds. Prepare a field notebook, making a separate entry for each species, and record the following information from your field observations and other references.

a. Note the date and time.

b. Note the location and habitat.

c. Describe the bird's main feeding habitat and list two types of food that the bird is likely to eat.

d. Note whether the bird is a migrant or a summer, winter, or year-round resident of your area.

There are many different types of birds that flock to Mystic Seaport. You may not identify 20 while you are here, but you can find many interesting ones!

Citizenship in the Nation

2. Do TWO of the following:

b. Visit a place that is listed as a National Historic Landmark or that is on the National Register of Historic Places. Tell your counselor what you learned about the landmark or site and what you found interesting about it.

We have four National Historic Landmark vessels:
The Charles W. Morgan, Emma C. Berry, Sabino and L.A. Dunton.

Disabilities Awareness

4. Visit TWO of the following locations and take notes about the accessibility to people with disabilities. In your notes, give examples of five things that could be done to improve upon the site and five things about the site that make it friendly to people with disabilities. Discuss your observations with your counselor.

d. A public exhibit or attraction (such as a theater, museum, or park)

You could visit Mystic Seaport and assess our access for people with disabilities.

Insect Study

3. Collect and mount 50 different species.* Include six orders and 18 families of insects. Label each with common and scientific names, where possible.

There are plenty of insects here. Come see how many you can find!

Nature

4. Do all of the requirements in FIVE of the following fields:

a. Birds

1. In the field, identify eight species of birds.

d. insects and Spiders

1. Collect, mount and label 10 species of insects or spider.

Again, there is a lot of wildlife to be seen here. Come see what you can find.

Small Boat Sailing

Earn this Merit Badge in one of our following programs: Conrad Sailing Camp orCommunity Sailing.

Soil and Water Conservation

3. Do the following:

c. Take pictures or draw three kinds of erosion-control practices. Check out our "sea walls."