Badge Idea - Take Advantage of the Rich Chumash History in Our Area!

As most people who live here know, the Central Coast is rich in Native American History! If you're trying to decide what badge to work on next, why not consider the Native American Badge?

Pounding Acorns for a Native
 American Meal

Requirement #5 - Learn about Squanto: Thanksgiving is the perfect time to study this famous figure in history and how he helped the Pilgrims.

Requirement #7 (Explorers) - Visit a Museum: Did you know the Lompoc Museum has a substantial collection of Chumash and other Native American artifacts? This is also a good place to visit for Requirement #8 which has you researching a local tribe.

Chumash Painted Cave

The Lompoc Museum is one of several outings you can take to thoroughly research many of the requirements for this badge at all AHG levels. You can also view authentic cave painting at the Chumash Painted Cave off Highway 154 and learn a lot from the Chumash displays at La Purisima Mission (go anytime or check their calendar for living history events with hands on Chumash activities).

*Note: the time spent at the Painted Cave can be measured in minutes - there's barely "side-of-the-road" parking for 3 cars and there's only one place to view the art. It can be a quick stop-over on your way from Santa Maria/Lompoc to Santa Barbara. HOWEVER, the dry riverbed full of rocks across the road was an endless fascination for my kids. Can anyone say "Geology Badge?"

Take the whole family and have fun with this one!

Remember to check-off and date any badge requirements that you do even if you are not officially working on the badge - you'll be that much closer if at some point you do decide to complete it.