Today the world is facing many more environmental challenges than when Scouting started; therefore it is crucial to keep the environment central to Scouting and to ensure that Scouts are a positive force for change.

Every year, Scouts across Australia organise and participate in a huge number of environmental activities including erosion prevention works, energy and water saving projects, wildlife monitoring projects, tree plantings and environmental training courses. Many Scout Groups are also involved with national events such as Clean Up Australia Day.

‘A Scout cares for the environment’ will be familiar to all involved in Scouting, as an integral part of our Scout Law and Promise.

Environmental education, an appreciation of nature and the great outdoors, forms an important part of the Scouting program.

The Queensland Branch Environment Education Team assist Youth members to achieve Scouting badges and Leaders to achieve knowledge and skills in running activities to include environmental themes in their programs.

• Pond dipping, to find aquatic animals and any pollution
• Conserving natural resources with a game ‘Don’t waste a drop’
• Informative talk on caring for the environment – Joey Scouts Care and Share including an activity based on water, energy, food
• Bushwalk to include activities; ‘Save the Frogs’; Hunt the colours in nature’; leaf collecting to make a print
• Discussion on -why do we need clean air and clean water?
• Craft to introduce the concept of how frogs can move, do they ‘hop’ or ‘jump’ – by making a jumping frog and using them to test the theory.

• Pond dipping and creature survey
• Bushwalk to discover some of the native species of plants and animals in differing habitats
• ‘Story of Eprapah Creek’; discussion on healthy water, healthy body
• Ways to make a smaller impact on the environment
• Climate change chatter-box

• An aquatic survey for biodiversity; water quality in natural systems (healthy waterways)
• bushwalk including vegetation types; ‘Story of Eprapah Creek’
• Pressures on waterways (pesticides)
• Weed-bust non-native (introduced) weeds
• Tread lightly on the planet (to reduce personal consumption)
• Climate decisions relay game

• Bio-diversity survey in fresh water environment, water quality (indicator of suitability for the growing of crops and for fresh water bio-diversity)
• Walk through various habitats and observe vegetation types
• An introduction to Revegetation Project – role of trees and weed bust
• My carbon Footprint (contribute to sustainability by reducing your environmental footprint)
• Opportunity to evaluate the day’s activities.