Fishing

Fly Fishing blends precision casting, aquatic entomology, fly tying artistry, and river conservation. You will learn cold-water safety and hook extraction, balance a fly rod-line-leader outfit, tie 5 essential rigging knots (arbor, nail, loop-to-loop, surgeon's, improved clinch), tie and fish with artificial flies (dry, wet, nymph, streamer, popper, saltwater), demonstrate 30-foot overhead and roll casts, match the hatch, practice Leave No Trace catch-and-release ethics, review local game regulations, catch a wild fish on a fly, and clean and cook a fish.

Fire Safety covers the science of fire, proactive prevention, and rapid response in homes, public facilities, and the backcountry. You will explore the chemistry of the fire tetrahedron and heat transfer, practice extinguisher classes and techniques, master burn injury first aid and alarm maintenance, conduct a home safety audit and family fire drill, handle flammable liquids, practice campfire safety and Leave No Trace, teach a fire skill using the EDGE method, study wildland fires, and tour a fire station or research fire service careers.

Fish and Wildlife Management explores the science of conserving animal populations and preserving aquatic and terrestrial habitats. You will study state conservation practices and ecological threats, build nest boxes, bird feeders, or wildlife blinds, observe and catalog 25 native species, conduct a fishery survey or set up a native aquarium, and research career paths in wildlife biology and natural resources management.

Camping is the big one — twenty nights under the sky, and a long list of skills to go with them. Most of this badge cannot be done at a table: you plan the trek, pack the pack, pitch the tent, cook the meal, and log the nights as you go. Start the night log early and keep it honest; it is the part Scouts most often wish they had written down at the time.