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The Environment Award

 

 

To gain the Award, the members has to complete one requirement from each of the following six Sections: 

A.  CONSERVATION
B.  ENVIRONMENT
C.  EXPEDITION 
D.  NATURE
E.  POLLUTION
F.  SPECIAL PROJECT

Rover Scouts may also gain the Award by completing additional requirements complementary to the six Sections listed above.

 

  1. The Malta Environment Scout Award (MESA) should be considered as a progressive Award, with Cub Scouts, Scouts and Venture Scouts all being expected to reach the required standards according to the ability of the individual. This is to be carried out without diminishing the challenge aspect and at the same time, taking into consideration the effort and perseverance with which each requirement is tackled.

  2. To gain the Award, the Cub Scout, Scout or Venture Scout, has to complete one requirement from each of the relative Sections: A, B, C, D, E and F referred to below. Rover Scouts may also gain the Award by completing the requirements applicable to their section.

  3. Cub Scouts may start working for the 'Scout' MESA on reaching the age of 101/2 years, while Scouts may start working for the 'Venture Scout' MESA on reaching the age of 14 1/2 years.

  4. The 'Cub Scout' MESA gained may continue to be worn by the holder on joining the Scout Troop up to the time the 'Scout' MESA is gained, when the 'Scout' MESA will then be worn instead. Similarly, the 'Scout' MESA will continue to be worn by the holder on joining the Venture Scout Unit up to the time the 'Venture Scout' MESA is gained, when the 'Venture Scout' MESA will then be worn instead.

  5. Requirements for the MESA should, as far as possible, be undertaken collectively by small groups rather than by individuals.

  6. Requirements for the MESA, other than the ones presented here, may be allowed by the Section Leader, after consultation with the Sixers' Council, the Patrol Leaders' Council, or the Venture Scout Executive Committee, as appropriate and after approval by the District Commissioner.

  7. Consultations with experts are to be fully approved, as long as these are made known to the Section Leaders beforehand.

  8. Where studies, projects or activities are to be carried out in the field, the Section Leaders are to ensure that permission has been obtained beforehand and that these activities are carried out under qualified supervision.

  9. Studies, reports and presentations should be well illustrated with pictures, photographs and sketches, together with notes of interesting observations. However, live specimens should definitely not be picked or collected.

  10. The MESA is awarded by the Cub Scout Leader on the recommendation of the Sixers' Council; the Scout Leader on the recommendation of the Patrol Leaders' Council; or the Venture Scout Leader on the recommendation of the Venture Scout Executive Committee.

  11. The MESA is worn on the right hand sleeve of the Scout Uniform, below the President's Award (if gained) and to the right of the St John's Ambulance Award or equivalent (if gained). 

Usefull link: www.environment.gov.mt

  

 

CUB SCOUTS MESA

particular conditions and requirements

A. CONSERVATION:

  1. Set up a conservation information trail through your camping ground and have all visitors walk the trail.

  2. Find out about an animal, bird, plant, fish, etc., which is in danger of extinction and what can be done to save it.

  3. Make an exhibition board showing a campaign for a better environment e.g. clean water, save the turtle, pictures of threatened animals or plants, etc.

  4. Make a collection of photographs / postcards of public buildings / monuments in your locality, learn something about their history and then talk to the members of your Pack about them.

B. ENVIRONMENT:

  1. Adopt a young tree or a group of newly planted trees and look after them properly to help them survive.

  2. Arrange to collect litter from around your streets, school or meeting place and dispose of it diligently and in an appropriate place.

  3. While being an example to others, help regularly with the upkeep of flower pots placed in a pubic place e.g., window, balcony, square, etc.

  4. With members of your Pack, take care of the cleanliness and upkeep of a playing field or other public area for a period of three months.

C. EXPEDITION:

  1. Visit a Natural History Museum and make a scrap book about the feeding habits of one of the animals or birds.

  2. While out on a hike, mention six examples of how man has damaged nature and six examples showing how man has improved nature.

  3. While out on a hike in the country, show that you know the country code, the reasons for it and how you are doing your best to keep it.

  4. Visit some wayside chapel, coastal tower or nature spot, learn something about it and then tell about your findings to your friends in the Pack.

D. NATURE:

  1. Keep an illustrated weekly nature diary over a period of one month for one of the following:

    common wild flowers,
    butterflies and moths,
    snails and sea-shells.

  2. Create, cultivate and maintain a garden and compost heap for a period of three months.

  3. Make, set and maintain a bird table, nesting box or bird bath for a period of one month.

  4. Learn about animal tracks by making a collection of plaster casts or make a collection of plaster casts of leaves from trees in your neighbourhood.

E. POLLUTION:

  1. Observe and record the effect of the processes of nature or interference of man in action on a stretch of coastline.

  2. List all the sources of noise pollution that you encounter in an average day and discuss what you can do to remedy the situation.

  3. Find out about health problems caused by smoking tobacco or simply by inhaling tobacco smoke and launch a campaign against smoking.

  4. Carry out an experiment which shows the effects of pollution in the water or in the air and make a chart or display your findings.

F. SPECIAL PROJECT:

  1. Visit a nature reserve and tell your Pack on why it was  necessary to conserve it.

  2. Visit a museum or a historical building, learn all you can about it and make a short report to show to you Pack.

  3. With the assistance of your Pack, buy some trees and plant them at a local old people's home, hospital, community area or simply outside your Group Headquarters.

  4. Organise a drawing competition or exhibition on the theme "life on earth in the 21st century" highlighting the fears, but also showing some hopes for improvement of the situation.

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SCOUTS MESA

particular conditions and requirements

A. CONSERVATION:

  1. Explain the problems of over-grazing and how it gradually leads to deforestation and desert conditions.

  2. Carry out or assist in the conservation or preservation of a stretch of water e.g. pond, stream, shoreline, etc.

  3. Identify all the appliances in your home that consume energy and discuss with your Patrol what you can do to reduce the amount the amount being consumed.

  4. Prepare a check - list of do's and don'ts for hikers and campers so that natural things are neither damaged nor destroyed and give a copy of the list to all the members of your Troop.

B. ENVIRONMENT:

  1. With members of your Troop take part in cleaning up, embellishing and / or improving a public place for a period of three months.

  2. Explain how the government, industries and other agencies are helping people to become aware of conservation and reduce pollution.

  3. Plan and carry out a litter clean up and a campaign to promote cleanliness in your area and install litter containers preferably bearing the SCOUT logo in public places such as parks, beaches and schools.

  4. Study and be able to explain the need for the terracing of sloping ground and the use of trees and hedges as windbreaks, showing also the problems of wind and water erosion and suggesting ways of how these can be controlled.

C. EXPEDITION:

  1. Organise outings which give opportunities to become aware of the richness and the beauty of wildlife in its environs.

  2. Go on a hike accompanied by an expert in indigenous medicinal plants and get him to explain their uses in the past and the world of today.

  3. Survey an area in your locality e.g. valley, bay, hill, etc.; find out how man has damaged nature and present a report to show how this can be avoided. 

  4. Choose a particular bastion and study the building, its formation and general defence, reporting also on the general upkeep from outside and inside.
D. NATURE:

  1. Study one of the following in their natural environment and keep an illustrated weekly diary over a period of two months:
    reptile,
    amphibian,
    bird or mammal,
    tree or shrub.

  2. Take part in a tree planting project and care for the trees for at least three months.

  3. For a period of three months, raise a number of house plants from cuttings and plant together in a suitable container.

  4. Find out about ancient beliefs in our country and culture as related to nature and compare them to the current practice in our country and culture of today.

 

E. POLLUTION:

  1. Find out why so much importance is being put on the use of detergents and household cleansers being 'biodegradable'.

  2. Explain how different types of pollution in soil affect growing plants and describe the safeguards that need to be taken.

  3. Explain the causes of sea and water pollution and what action could be taken to lessen the effects of herbicides, insecticides, sewage, industrial waste, etc.

  4. Explain the pollution caused by motor vehicles and describe how this affects people, plants, buildings and monuments and where possible illustrate your findings.

F. SPECIAL PROJECTS:

  1. Visit a government nursery and get to know about the principles of its management i.e. planting, cultivating, fire precautions, etc.

  2. Make a short study about your village feast and present a scrap-book showing the historical and cultural development of the feast over the years.

  3. Compile a scrap-book about the look-out posts built by the knights and show to what use they are being put at present or could be put to, without damaging their structure.

  4. Make a photographic study of street / corner niches in your particular town or village and make a scrap-book giving details of how they originated, who takes care of them etc.

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VENTURE SCOUTS MESA

particular conditions and requirements

A. CONSERVATION:

  1. Make a report on the urgent need of conservation in our country, highlighting the dangers to Maltese vegetation and the importance of plants to our environment.

  2. By previous arrangement visit an archaeological site or nature reserve and know why conservation is so important; then make a report about it and say why it is thought so necessary to conserve it.

  3. Set up a conservation information centre or exhibition showing the meaning of interdependence and the ecological equilibrium, inviting your parents, friends and the general public, to come and visit the project.

  4. Understand the principles of conservation including why the over exploitation of natural resources made by our industrial society can impoverish the quality of our natural environment and threaten our very existence.

B. ENVIRONMENT:

  1. Take part in an environment impact assessment of a proposed development area in the country and discuss your findings with your Unit.

  2. Study and compile a report upon a selected area from an historical, geographical and social viewpoint and combine all these aspects into a general survey of the area.

  3. Visit the department of environment and find out w hat regulations or legislation exists regarding the location and operations of industries with regard to the environment.

  4. Find out the causes and effects that relationships between countries and continents can have in terms of trade, transfers of technology, pollution , accidents, waste transfers, etc., which all affect the ozone layer and climate change.

C. EXPEDITION:

  1. Organise a three day hike-camp and try to survive without relying on traditional energy resources and other means.

  2. Organise an exchange programme between Scout Groups from both the North and South countries and focus on research about the ozone depletion and greenhouse effects.

  3. Select an area in connection with a particular topic e.g. archaeology, history, etc; visit the sites and after seeking professional advice, present a report to your Unit.

  4. Make a general study of a quarry or group of quarries in a particular area, noting what type of stone is being excavated and to hat use it is being put; then discussing with members of your unit, the effect of such scars on the environment, including the immediate neighbourhood.

D. NATURE:

  1. Find out about the following organisations involved in conservation work in this country and present a dossier on each to your Unit:
    nature society,
    archaeological society,
    ornithological society.

  2. Visit a botanical garden or horticultural experimental station and discover the main spheres of work.

  3. Go on an underwater boat trip or on a diving trip and prepare an illustrated report of your sightings in their natural habitat.

  4. Carry out a study about one aspect of nature e.g. bird, insect, animal, plant and make a report about how people are helping to conserve and / or destroy it.

 

E. POLLUTION:

  1. Find out how industry is helping is helping in the pollution of the air, sea, land around us and what can be done to avoid it.

  2. Analyse samples of our country's sea and water supply, identifying if any industrial pollutants are contained in it and considering their effect on the community.

  3. Campaign against smoking and against vehicles that pollute the atmosphere through bad maintenance: as a health hazard to oneself and others and as a reason to the decay of limestone in our buildings and monuments.

  4. Undertake a survey to show the level of pollution from industrial waste and after identifying the sources, set up a campaign to sensitize people to their various effects.

F. SPECIAL PROJECT:

  1. Visit the government waste recycling plant and get to know about the principles of its management i.e. collection, processing and distribution, etc.

  2. Make a study of either Mdina and is bastions, the Gozo Citadel, or he Grand Harbour fortifications and report in detail why they were built, what use are they being made of today and how they may be utilised further.

  3. Make a study of water conservation methods used in our country and show how the problem of water supply for drinking, agriculture and industry is being tackled.

  4. Help and instruct a small group of Cub Scouts or Scouts in the requirements for gaining their MESA.

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ROVER SCOUTS MESA

particular conditions and requirements

Rover Scouts may gain the MESA by completing the following requirements:

  1. Gain, or have gained, the Venture Scout MESA.

  2. Show practical knowledge in the running of a seminar on the aspect of the local environment
    OR
    participation in an environment seminar overseas.

  3. Take part in a debate about an environment topic, different from 2 above, and follow it up with the presentation of the results to the appropriate authorities for possible action.
    OR
    Organise a course for Cub Scouts, Scouts or Venture Scouts leading to the gaining of relative MESA by the participants. 

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Photos and pictures shown above are reproduced by courtesy of the Environment Protection Directorate of MEPA.

 

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