FCRV Conservation Merit Stripe Program

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RULES TO GOVERN FCRV CONSERVATION MERIT STRIPE AWARDS

Each chapter shall devote a portion of two chapter meetings to educational background or sponsor membership attendance at two organized conservation meetings for each stripe. (Suggestions. films, lectures, discussions, reports, demonstrations, quizzes, or field trips to observe existing projects related to subjects under study.) If there is 100% attendance of the chapter at the first meeting, the second meeting may be eliminated. If the educational meeting immediately precedes or follows the field project and all participants attend both, the second educational meeting is not necessary. The second requirement for earning merit stripes is for the chapter to choose and carry out a field project for each stripe. Chapters may choose one of the suggested field projects (see guidelines) or select a project of their own for each stripe. We would like to place emphasis on chapters selecting their own projects. In this way they may select projects of local interest and ones that will meet local needs. Only individual members (children included) who have participated in at least one educational meeting and the field project for each stripe will be eligible to receive and wear that stripe. Merit Stripes shall be worn horizontally directly below and touching the National Conservation Patch (special order). One merit stripe will be awarded for each complete conservation project. Additional merit stripes may be earned each time a project is completed. The Chapter Conservation Chairman shall keep an accurate record of the participants and send his record with a summary of educational meeting(s) and field project to the State/Provincial Conservation Director in compliance with the eight steps for submitting applications for merit stripes found in these guidelines.

The State/Provincial Conservation Director shall send the approved merit stripe application along with his recommendation to his Regional Conservation Director. The Regional Conservation Director shall review the merit stripe application and recommendation from the State/Provincial Conservation Director and upon approving shall send the merit stripes to the Chapter Conservation Chairman and a copy of his transaction back to the State/Provincial Conservation Director.

FCRV members not affiliated with a local chapter may earn stripes by participating in chapter programs and projects or programs and projects conducted by State/Provincial Area or Zone Conservation Directors and Field Directors.

RULES FOR THE APPLICATION FOR MERIT STRIPES

1. The application shall be made out in triplicate; your copy, State/Provincial Conservation Director's copy, and the original for the Regional Conservation Director. a. If more than one stripe is earned per project, submit a separate application for each different type of stripe earned 2. Chapter name and Chapter Conservation Chairman's name and address. 3. Merit stripe applied for. Number of merit stripes applied for. 4. Dates of the educational meetings, giving the name of the educational speaker, and his conservation position. (EXAMPLE: John Doe. District Conservationist. USDA

5. Dates and Locations of field projects.

6. Summary of Projects. (PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS WHICH CONTAIN NO SUMMARY RESTRICT THE JUDGING OF THE QUALITY OF THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE CONSERVATION AWARD COMPETITION,)

7. Names of the chapter members having met the requirements for the stripe.

8. Both the original and one copy MUST be mailed to your State/Provincial Conservation Directors, who in turn okays the original and forward it to the Regional Conservation Director. The Regional Conservation Director, upon receiving the approved original from the State/Provincial Conservation Director, either further approves or rejects the application. Upon his approval the Regional Conservation Director mails the required amount of Merit Stripes to the Chapter Conservation Chairman and sends a copy of his reply back to the State/Provincial Conservation Director. Should the Regional Conservation Director have reason to reject an application for merit stripes, he will send his reply to the Chapter Conservation Chairman with copies of his letter going to the State/Provincial Conservation Director and a copy to the National Conservation Director.

FCRV CONSERVATION MERIT STRIPES

For assistance in setting up chapter conservation programs, Chapter Conservation Chairmen should check with governmental departments. (Local, State and Federal) other conservation organizations, local conservation areas, etc.

GUIDELINES

1. HIGHWAY AND PARK BEAUTIFICATION: RED STRIPE a) Brush cutting along highways and roads. How many intersections are there in your community that has dangerously concealed (by brush) signs? b) Trees, shrubs, and flowering plants planted along highways and roads. These can be used to screen and hide unsightly areas, dumps, auto junk yards, etc. c) Grass seeding of roadcuts or other barren areas.

2. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION: ORANGE STRIPE a) Construct and maintain wildlife feeding stations, bird feeders, wood duck feeding areas. Construct, install and maintain. Help increase our wildlife. b) Create shelters for small game. Various types are needed everywhere. c) Build brush piles for small game shelters. d) Assist local Conservation Officers with a wildlife census. e) Construct birdhouses, install, and maintain them. (Minimum 4 per family). f) Pond stocking.

3. CONSERVATION EDUCATION: YELLOW STRIPE a) Sponsor a community conservation "Field Trip" to point out specific local conservation problems. b) Help establish and maintain local trails, nature study centers, or nature preserves. c) Enter a float with a conservation theme in a local parade. d) Sponsor a community wide conservation poster contest among local schools. e) Plant trees and flowers in your local community, sponsor a cleanup of the local business district, solicit help from other organizations. Help them. f) Education of the general public and especially of FCRV members regarding any phase of their environment through conservation displays at shows. Set up a booth at local or county wide sport shows, fairs, etc. Sponsor tours of local conservation areas in conjunction with conservation lectures by qualified conservation personnel in charge of areas. Also, tours of industries in relation to their meeting of EPA standards to learn what is being accomplished to protect the local environment. Many industries have extensive conservation programs. EDUCATIONAL TOURS MUST BE CARRIED OUT WITH QUALIFIED CONSERVATION PERSONNEL GIVING LECTURE CONCERNING AREA TO BE TOURED. g) Assist your local schools with a conservation program, donate current books on conservation to school libraries.

4. FORESTRY: GREEN STRIPE a) Plant trees. Many landowners would gladly plant trees, wildlife shrubs, multi flora, etc. except that planting seasons frequently conflicts with spring plantings of crops and other necessary spring chores. b) Wood lot improvement. c) Preservation and planting of wild flowers and shrubs. d) Gypsy moth survey (or survey of any insect which may be harmful under the direction of the Forestry of USDA). e) Forest fire prevention and control. (Clearing fire lanes of downed trees and brush f) Establishing, improving and maintaining hiking and nature trails. g) Study of harmful insects and their control under the direction of qualified forestry personnel.

5. WATER CONSERVATION: BLUE STRIPE a) Adopt a small stream and work to improve its quality. (Fence off an area in which livestock cannot tramp down the banks). Remove snags and debris from stream channel and use it to mulch eroded banks. Plant with grass for waterways. b) Solve a water pollution problem in your local community. Build a retaining pond for acid or sulfur water. Stop a pollution source! c) Clean a stream bank of undesirable materials and brush, and return and maintain the proper flow patterns of the stream. Check for soil erosion and bring this to the attention of the local soil conservation service. d) Study ways each individual family can conserve their water supply. Have each family in the chapter live for one week under a water rationing system, and record their experiences to share with other members of the chapter or with the public. e) Check local conservation groups for current projects and volunteer your help

6. SOIL CONSERVATION: INDIGO STRIPE a) Plant and maintain windbreaks. b) Erosion prevention and control. Work with a local farmer or ask your local soil conservation service about helping with a particular problem. e) Find farm or land areas where you may be able to help with contour and strip farming. d) Learn about soil fertilizing. Begin family compost piles to fertilize your own garden plots

7. AIR CONSERVATION: VIOLET STRIPE a) If field study or projects are not feasible, chapters may cam this for having three meetings on air pollution and control. b) Tour a plant which has met the Federal Emissions Standards. Learn how they have solved their emissions problems. c) Recycling of rubbish or papers and things which normally have been burnt. (Compost piles for leaves, fireplace logs from old papers and magazines).

8. RECYCLING: SILVER STRIPE Educational background meetings should identify: a) Types of litter b) Ways of eliminating once collected c) Types of litter which can be recycled Educational background resources: a) Head of local Sanitation Department - Free b) County Health Department - Free c) Keep America Beautiful. Inc. - May have fee

Study liner and refuse most common to the homes or your chapter members. Have the Director of the Community Sanitation Department give educational talks, giving specifies on types of litter and how it is disposed of once it is collected.

Study ways of recycling in the home or community, the major causes of litter. Use the imagination and ingenuity of the Chapter members to recycle discarded items into an object of value to someone. Always remember many times one man's cast offs can become another man's prized possession. A noted educator Boyd K. Packer coined the phrase "Eat it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."

Remember recycling is an important way to teach chapter members how to make it do, so that some day that knowledge will keep them from doing without.

GUIDELINES FOR RECYCLING PROJECTS:

1. Recycle used scraps into wooden toys; donate these toys to the children's ward of a local hospital or clinic or give to a needy family at Christmas. (Example: pull toys such as ducks, train engine, puzzles, etc.)

2. Recycle cloth scraps into dolls for children or a quilt to be given to some aged person who has difficulty obtaining adequate heat for winter. (Cloth may be obtained free from clothing factories, or old clothing may be -4tilized.)

3. Recycle paper scraps into paper logs. Divide logs among chapter members with fireplaces or wood burning stoves. Utilize on chapter campouts for campfires or donate to some aged, disabled or needy family in need of adequate heating for the winter if they have a stove or fireplace.

4. Recycle dead tree limbs and trees from National forest lands (with permission) into fuel for winter months. Utilize this fuel in the homes of members or for aged, disabled or needy families with a stove or fireplace.

S. Recycle aluminum, glass, paper, and cardboard for prof-it by having regular recycling items picked up from homes, stores, clubs, package shops, furniture warehouses, etc. Utilize these funds to aid in work/principle application projects such as insulating homes of members, chapter gardening project, beekeeping, and honey making project, or donate to charitable causes.

6. Recycle cast-off furniture. Have a class on furniture repair and reupholstering. Repair and reupholster old furniture. Use as a means of funding other work/principle application projects.

7. Recycle left over food into a chapter potluck supper complete with recipes to help other chapter members to utilize left over food in a delicious manner.

9. CONSTRUCTION/ RESTORATION: TAN STRIPE a) Construction using wood, nails, and hammers or any facsimile thereof to put together objectives of educational, recreational, or community service nature to benefit organizational establishments. b) Construction and/or repair of objects which will benefit the community and/or general public c) Restoration and preservation of buildings, bridges, monuments and adobes that are of historical value including cemeteries. d) Restoration work to include masonry, carpentry, painting, landscaping, brick making or any other work necessary for restoration. ie: Obstacle course for schools, scouts, camps/trails for disabled, help for elderly and public / provincial parks.

ABSOLUTELY NO CARPENTRY WORK FOR PRIVATE USE OF INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS

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