Environmental Health (Junior Badge)

1. Sun Sensations
A sunny day is often the sign
for outdoor fun. Before you go out,
protect yourself. Have a sun safety
fashion show with a group of
friends. Include items like
sunscreen with UV protection of at
least 15, lip balm, sunglasses that
protect from UVA/UVB rays,
umbrellas, a wide brim hat, and a
cotton shirt as part of the show.
When developing your "sun safety
look," be stylish and creative.
Almost anything goes as long as it
helps protect you from the sun.

2. The Sun Squad
Create a "Sun Squad." Find young
people with whom to go out in the
community and educate people
about sun health. Create a "sun
sense" quiz: provide people with
the facts about sunscreen and
other ways they can protect
themselves from the damaging
rays of the sun. With an adult, patrol
beaches, lakes, or pools to get the
word out.

3. Water Water Everywhere
You need water to live. Learn the
different ways to conserve water.
With a group of friends, develop a
Top 10 list of different ways you
can conserve water and keep it
clean, such as recycling water
from fish tanks by using it to
water plants.

4. Goin' Fishing?
With an adult, find out if the fishing
spots in your area are clean. Look
for warning signs posted around
the area. Or call your local or state
Health Department or the
Environmental Protection Agency
and ask which waters are safe. Find
out about the kind of testing done
on the waters. Share your findings
with your friends and family.

5. Get the Word Out
Create a commercial that
encourages people to focus on
environmental health. Pick one of
the following topics: sun safety,
noise pollution, water health, safe
waste disposal, or air quality.
Create a catchy slogan and provide
information on how to find out
more about that issue.

6. "Block the Spread of Lead" Relay
A "lead blocker" is a food that is
high in calcium and iron, such as
spinach or milk. These help protect
your body from the harmful effects
of lead. Try this game to learn
more about "lead blockers:"
1. Divide into two teams and give
each team a basket or bucket.
2. Place at least ten food items
some high in calcium and iro' n,
and some low in these
nutrients, around the room.
3. The game begins when
someone shouts, "Block the
spread of lead!"
4. The first person for each team
grabs the bucket and races to
pick up one item that she thinks
is a "lead blocker." Then she
races back and hands the
bucket to a teammate.
5. The game continues until the
players think they have all the
"lead blockers."
6- A team gets one point for each
"lead blocker." A team loses
a point if they have a food
product high in fat, like
chips. The team with the
most points wins.

7 · Environmental Times
With a group of friends, brainstorm
a liSt of important environmental
issues in your community. Create
an environmental newspaper. Ask
an environmentalist, a reporter,
or an editor to help you with your
paper. Share your paper with
family and friends.

8. Smoke Free
Second-hand smoke affects the air
you breathe and puts your health at
risk. With your troop or group, work
on a "smoke-out" day for your
community. Contact organizations
like the American Cancer Society,
Tobacco-Free Kids, or The
American Lung Association and find
out what's planned for your area.
Or try a 1,smoke-out" day with your
family fr one or more of your family
members is currently a smoke._r.

9. Every Breath Counts
Asthma is a condition that causes a
person's airways to get smaller and
makes it difficult to breathe.
Environmental conditions such as
second-hand smoke and pollution
can trigger an asthma attack.
Come up with a list of at least five
other things that can cause an
asthma attack. How can you improve
the environment to help reduce
asthma triggers? Talk to a doctor or
to someone who has this condition
or go online for more information. 

10. Get the Lead Out
Find out about the dangers of lead.
What are the three biggest sources
of lead poisoning? How can lead
poisoning be prevented? How can it
be treated? Contact the
Environmental Protection Agency,
the Center for Disease Control, or
your local doctor to get information.