Investiture Achievement/Ranger/Nature Study
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Requirement 1a |
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Read two articles from science that relate to the laws of nature. |
The easiest way to do this is to search the internet for science articles. Here are several that cover the broad topic of laws of nature to get you started.
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Requirement 1b |
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Review the story of the Ten Commandments. |
This requirement calls for reviewing the story, not just the 10 Commandments themselves.
Start by reviewing the story in Exodus 19-24
You can read Ellen White's version of the story of the Ten Commandments in Chapter 27 of The Story of Patriarchs and Prophets online free, by finding the book in your church or school library or by just buying it from Amazon.
Another option is to watch the story in epic movie form - The Ten Commandments (1956)
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Requirement 1c |
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Perform three experiments, which demonstrate the natural laws of God (e.g. law of gravity, law of magnetism). |
God created the universe and set the world in motion, and He set up the system with physical laws of nature.
Natural law, or the law of nature (Latin: lex naturalis), is a system of law that is purportedly determined by nature, and thus universal. The distinction between natural law in the political-legal sense and law of nature or physical law in the scientific sense is a modern one, both concepts being equally derived from physis, the Greek word (translated into Latin as natura) for nature.
A physical law or scientific law is, according to the Oxford English dictionary, "a theoretical principle deduced from particular facts, applicable to a defined group or class of phenomena, and expressible by the statement that a particular phenomenon always occurs if certain conditions be present." Physical laws are typically conclusions based on repeated scientific experiments and observations over many years and which have become accepted universally within the scientific community. The production of a summary description of our environment in the form of such laws is a fundamental aim of science.
Several general properties of physical laws (laws of nature) have been identified. Physical laws are:
- True, at least within their regime of validity. By definition, there have never been repeatable contradicting observations.
- Universal. They appear to apply everywhere in the universe.
- Simple. They are typically expressed in terms of a single mathematical equation.
- Absolute. Nothing in the universe appears to affect them.
- Stable. Unchanged since first discovered (although they may have been shown to be approximations of more accurate laws.)
- Omnipotent. Everything in the universe apparently must comply with them (according to observations).
- Generally conservative of quantity.
- Often expressions of existing homogeneities (symmetries) of space and time.
- Typically theoretically reversible in time (if non-quantum), although time itself is irreversible.
Physical laws are distinguished from scientific theories by their simplicity. Scientific theories are generally more complex than laws; they have many component parts, and are more likely to be changed as the body of available experimental data and analysis develops. This is because a physical law is a summary observation of strictly empirical matters, whereas a theory is a model that accounts for the observation, explains it, relates it to other observations, and makes testable predictions based upon it. Simply stated, while a law notes that something happens, a theory explains why and how something happens.
Enough of the theory - on to the FUN!
YouTube is your friend here as you can watch and replicate rather than just read about what to do. Some interesting and easy options:
SpanglerScienceTV has over 180 accessible Science Experiments including:
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Requirement 2 |
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Lichens/Shells
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Option 1: This requirement tracks requirement 6 of the Lichens, Liverworts & Mosses Honor which says "Make a moss garden (small terrarium) or "eternal garden" using at least three different kinds of mosses and lichens."
A terrarium may be constructed from any clear container of nearly any size, from baby food jars to storage tubs.
Start by putting down a layer of gravel, rocks, vermiculite or Perlite. Then place a layer of soil on top of this. Place the plants atop the soil and add a few rocks for interest. Water once, but do not overwater. Put the lid on and place the container in a place where it can receive indirect sunlight. If algae begins to grow on the container walls, move to a more shady location. You should not need to open the lid for months, as the terrarium will develop its own climate, and all the moisture remains in the container.
Option 2: The collection of 15 shells goes a long way toward meeting the practical requirements of the Shells Honor.
Shells Honor Requirement 10 states: "Make a collection of 20 different shells, classify them, and tell where each is found and when it came into your possession."
You can collect shells on beaches or buy them at craft stores. If buying them, it is cheaper to buy a variety pack rather than getting them individually. Once you have 20 different types of shells, you can begin the process of identifying them. For this you will need a field guide such as one of these:
- National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashells
- Seashells of North America: A Guide to Field Identification
You may be able to find a field guide at your local library too. You can also search for shell photos on the internet to make the identification.
Wilderness Ranger 
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Requirement 3 |
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Complete Ranger requirements |
You must complete the requirements listed above this one on the current page.
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Requirement 4 |
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Insects/Wild Flowers
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Option 1: Requirement 1a of the Insects Honor provides more detail on this option. It says:
a. Mount a collection of 20 species of insects representing at least six different orders. (no moths or butterflies and no carelessly mounted or broken specimens will be acceptable.)
(1) Place under each specimen a label showing the locality where caught, the date caught, and the collector's name. Labels should not be larger than 1/4 x 3/4 inches (6 mm x 20 mm).
(2) Identify insects with common names and genus or species level on second labels to be mounted below the first.
(3) Arrange all specimens neatly in an insect box according to orders and families. Orders should be pinned to the box rather than attached to the individual insect pins.
Additional assistance can be found in the answers to the Insects Honor.
Option 2: Making an image collection of wildflowers is easy with a camera. When out hiking or camping take photos of all the flowers you see. Once you have at least 20 different photos, compare them to a good wildflower field guide. This will put you on the path to earn the Flowers Honor.
An even easier way is to "collect" pictures on the internet, but you would really miss out on seeing and touching the live flowers in the wild and are less likely to learn anything as you really don't have to search out what the flower is.
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Requirement 5 |
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Complete a nature honor, not previously earned. (Skill level 2 or 3) |
This might be a good opportunity to tackle one of the Honors which the Pathfinder partially completes elsewhere in this section.
- While building an insect collection is an option above, the Insects Honor, is a Skill Level 1 and therefore does not meet this requirement. Extend your collection to 50 specimens and earn the Insects - Advanced honor which does meet this requirement.
Here is a complete list of Nature honors at skill levels 2 and 3:
