Dive in, make a real difference – because small actions add up!

West Yorkshire Scouts (County) have created the Protect the Planet Award, an action packed award that educates and connects you with nature and the world around us. We could all be a little kinder to the world and this badge is a vital opportunity to give back to the environment.

The Essentials

How it works:.
There are six themes to choose from. To earn the award, your section just needs to complete any four out of the six.

Each theme has loads of ideas to pick from, and you can choose the ones that work best for your group.

How to earn the badge:
Once you’ve done four of the six themes, send in some photos or a write-up using the Protect the Planet Award form online. Then you’ll get your badge and can wear it with pride!

Resource Book:
Look at the award requirements more closely through the Protect the Planet Award Resources booklet

Out and About

This one’s all about exploring your local area.

Get Walking:

  • Walk a section of a local long-distance route
  • Design a walk in your locality and create a leaflet for others to follow
    your route.
  • Complete the same short walk in two different seasons and take
    pictures of the differences you find
  • Go on a night hike

Buses and Trains:

  • Go on a journey which uses public transport
  • Use timetables
  • Produce a map of the local area plotting on transport links

Train travel can be tricky – check out TrainEd for help building confidence and learning how to travel safely and sustainably.

On your bike:

  • Hold a bike skill evening
  • Complete a ride on a bike trail (Suggestions: Spen Valley Greenway, Calder Valley Greenway, Aire Valley Tow Path, York Greenway, High Peak Trail)

Helpful links:
Bikeability.org.uk – Cycle training for children – learn basic skills to going on advanced journeys
Sustrans.org.uk – Purchase cycle maps for your local area

Wild About Wildlife

Let’s give nature a helping hand.

Encouraging wildlife:

Discover local wildife:

  • Visit a wildlife centre or nature reserve
  • Invite a wildlife expert to your meeting
  • Photograph wildlife, flora and fauna
  • Go on a bug hunt

You’ll find loads of simple how-to guides from the RSPB and Woodland Trust.

Water Wise

Learn how important water is – and how to protect it.

Water Aid:

  • Create and complete a water obstacle Course
  • Make pipe lines (team building challenge)
  • Play the river Blindness game
  • Create a water filtering system
  • Rise money for a water charity

Life in the water:

  • Have a go at pond dipping – Bradley Wood offer this as an
    activity!
  • Visit a rock pool and explore the wildlife you find

Saving water:

  • Water trading post
  • Spend a penny challenge
  • Water treatment obstacle course

Try activities from Yorkshire Water, WaterAid, or check out Scout badge ideas linked to water.


One World, One Planet

Think big – and see how our actions affect the whole planet.

Find out about Fair Trade Issues:

  • Play Nets and fishermen
  • Play the Training Shoe factory / Banana game
  • Play a trading post game
  • Visit a supermarket and explore the Fairtrade options they sell

Game Suggestions – Team building games that will challenge young people while having fun!

Support endangered animals:

  • Raise money for a wildlife charity or a local animal sanctuary e.g. RSPB, RSPCA, Worldwide Fund for Nature
  • Adopt an animal
  • Arrange a visit to find out about animals
  • Pets at home, Ponderosa, Cannon Hall, Yorkshire Wildlife
    Park, Chester Zoo, Knowsley safari Park, The Deep.

Food for Thought

Get growing, get cooking – and think about what we eat.

Grow fruit or vegetables

  • In your HQ grounds, in planters, on an allotment, in a care
    home/hospice grounds

Visit a Children’s farm:

  • Cannon Hall, Swithens Farm, Wigfield Farm, Meanwood Valley
    Urban Farm

Meal Challenges:

  • Take part in a ‘Where does my food come from?’ quiz
  • Cook a meat free meal
  • Cook a meal with only British ingredients
  • Evaluate meat – vegetarian meat-free alternatives
  • Plan a meal , purchase the food and prepare it – but how many
    food miles have the ingredients used ? Who has the least ? How
    much waste packaging have you created ?

Want ideas? Scouts has plenty of meat-free recipes to try out.

Recycle and Reuse

Get creative and help reduce waste!

Set up a collection scheme:

  • Milk bottle tops, batteries, old phones, printer cartridges, plastic
    packaging or pens

Clear an area of litter:

  • This could be local woodland, stream or park.
  • Local councils or litter-free groups can help with litter pickers
    and bags.

Set up an exchange scheme:

  • Have a bring-and-buy sale
  • Set up a uniform bank
  • Hold a swap a toy or book night

Make something using waste materials:

  • Litter monster/Scarecrow
  • Create Ecobricks

Look at recycling schemes or help make eco-bricks. Your local council or community group might be able to help with kit for litter picks.