PHANTOM SCOUTS CCA BOOTH BLOG

Go Solar!

Aug 25, 2023

Scouts busy completing the challenge

The "Go Solar!" National Campaign badge offers every scout in our unit the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive challenge, divided into four distinct components: "Know Solar," "Go Solar," "Do Solar," and "Show Solar." Each of these segments will be evaluated to determine whether we meet the criteria for earning the badge. Here is what we have done to acquire the badge.

Part 1: Know Solar

For this segment, we researched the importance of solar energy, the impacts of the sun on our health, the methods of treating heat injuries and the causes and effects of the greenhouse effect using our PLDs (Personal Learning Devices). Through this segment, we will be able to better prepare for the 2nd part, Go Solar.

Part 2/3: Go Solar/Do Solar

This is one of the more exciting parts of the national campaign badge, where each patrol rotates and completes eight different tasks located in different stations. Here is a glimpse of some of the stations.

Pure Water - Sodis Method

For this particular task, we had the opportunity to examine samples of water collected from the school pond. These water bottles had been exposed to direct sunlight for approximately six hours, which allowed us to observe the transformation of the water into potable water due to solar exposure. Nevertheless, we received a cautionary advisory against drinking the water, as a prudent safety measure.

Through this task, we learnt about how water can be naturally turned into portable water with the sun, gaining a better understanding of the many uses of sunlight.

Solar Compass

Using a clock, we were asked to find where the north direction is, using the worksheet as a reference. After multiple tries, we managed to figure out the technique to find the north direction. Through this task, we were able to gain an important survival skill, without the use of a compass.

Colours of Solar Energy

In this station, we measured the temperatures of different bottles of water that were placed in direct sunlight for more than 30 minutes.

After measuring the temperatures, we noticed that darker colours are better conductors of heat, and feels warmer when we touch them compared to lighter colours. The temperatures of water with bottles of darker colours are also higher compared to those of lighter colours.

Sunglasses

Using different translucent materials of different colours, we made sunglasses and observed that there was a difference in the effectiveness of the sunglasses with the different coloured materials used to create them. After much reflection, we realised that a material which reflects the most amount of light is best suited for making the sunglasses lenses.

Your Greenhouse

Observing 3 different model greenhouses, we used thermometers to check the temperatures inside them and compared them to our surrounding temperature.

On Patrol 3's turn to complete this task, they noticed that the temperature in the greenhouse was five degrees higher compared to that of the surrounding temperature, proving the effectiveness of the greenhouse. Comparing this to our depleting ozone layer that is built by harmful gases, we thought that this is important as the continuation of the increase of our surrounding temperatures would potentially cause a threat towards us.

Part 4: Show Solar

For this part, we were tasked to create a presentation on the things we have learnt after this programme and present the slides to our patrol. From this, we gained a more valuable insight into solar energy as we reflected on what we learned while learning from other patrol members' slides.

After learning more about one of our many fun and enriching programmes that we can do as a scout, we hope you are excited to join us and learn new things along the way.

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