GSKSMO Girl Scouts Virtual

Fish Friends Fun Patch Program

Pillars: Outdoors & STEM

This program is designed for the Girl Scout who is looking to learn more about animal habitats, aquatic life, and wants to learn more about what it takes to take care of a pet. This program guide will also help Girl Scouts at each level earn part of their specific animal GS badge

Participating in this program and purchasing the Fish Friends fun patch will help us feed and water these guys for a whole week!

What’s included in this program? • 6 Months of Exclusive GS content sent out via email each month, with videos, tank updates, challenges and more! • Fish Friends Fun Patch – see the purchase link at the bottom of this guide. • Fish Wall Card– Put your name up on our fish’s wall at Camp Tongawood! So, they can see all the awesome Girl Scouts who support them.

Note: you must purchase the patch using the link at the bottom of the guide prior to receiving any of the other exclusive benefits of this program.

To sign up to receive exclusive monthly GS content and get your name up on the Fish Supporter Wall follow this link to complete the online form: https://gsksmo.wufoo.com/forms/p13njo8z164blc4/

What will my Girl Scout Learn? • Learn about Fish Facts and the Fish Species we have at Camp Tongawood • Learn about our Baby Fish! • Learn about fish habitats, biology, diet and fish life. • Learn the science and basics on aquarium care • Learn how to make a monthly fish budget • Learn about Pets and Mental Health • Optional: Adopt one or three of the baby fish that we have at Camp Tongawood (this will be first come first serve and you can email [email protected] for details and to “claim your fish”)

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Take it further with our badges!

We have carefully chosen five Girl Scout badges you can do with your girl at home.

This program is designed as an informational guide. While you can explore this program guide in its entirety yourself, some of the badge steps you need to complete on your own can be completed through this Fish Friends fun patch program guide. Skip to different parts of this guide by clicking the bold-underlined links below associated with the various steps for that specific badge.

*The steps without links to parts of this program guide will need to be completed in a different way.

Daisy Junior Cadette Senior Brownie 3 Cheers for Animals Animal Habitats Animal Helpers Voice for Animals Pets Badge Journey Badge Badge Badge

Find out about the Learn how to choose complex relationship Learn how to see and the pet that is right for Find out more about Learn about the many between animals and care for other animals you – or found out where animals live, ways’ animals can help humans so you can while caring for how to take the best how they play, and how humans. make informed choices yourselves. care of a pet you humans can help them. and help others make already have. them too. Steps to earn parts of each badge

. Explore the connection . Birdbath Award: between humans Daisies Learn to . Find out about . Find out about and animals Care for Animals . Find out what domestic animals wild animals and themselves care different . Find out how pets need . Investigate . Investigate an animals help keep . Red Robin Award: animals used for animal habitat people safe Daisies use their . Keep a pet comfy science

new knowledge and . Create an animal . Know how animals creativity to teach . Help a pet stay . Explore animals in house help keep people others to care for healthy and safe husbandry emotionally animals . Explore . Make a pet feel . Look at animals endangered . Check Out how . Tula Award: loved used for sports and habitats animals help Daisies gain courage entertainment people with and confidence in . Feed a pet . Help Protect disabilities teaching others . Look into an Animal Habitats about animal care animal issue . Look at how

animals might help us in the future

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Fishetiquette – For the Young Fish Enthusiast

Aquarium Care can be such a rewarding experience for your child and family. Owning an aquarium is like having a snapshot of nature in your very own home. In an environment where the natural world keeps getting farther away from us, owning an aquarium can bring nature to your living room or bedroom.

An established fish tank requires minimum maintenance, and realistically, the time spent should add up to no more than an hour or so of total time per month. However, the tasks that are required are very important:

A fish tank can teach a child lessons in the fields of biology (bit.ly/3fWIxU4), zoology (bit.ly/2FqjagY), chemistry and environmental science (bit.ly/3446B59).

Which may one day become a career, click the links to learn more!

o Understand and learn about new species o Learn how fish grow, what they need to eat o Know how basic water chemistry works and keep how to keep up a habitat

Possibly more important than these science lessons, is the opportunity to teach a child about respect for nature, animals, the environment and even other people. A child who learns compassion for the fish under her care is more likely to grow up to be a caring adult who is more aware of their actions and how they affect the world. They will also learn responsibility, respect for nature and living creatures, and how their actions directly impact the outcome of a situation.

Here are some responsibilities you could have as a Girl Scout Aquarium Hobbyist

o Fish must be fed. This should go without saying, but for a kid it is a daily task that requires diligence.

o Fish tanks require frequent water changes. This is a chore that must be done every 3-6 months, with the expectation of topping off the tank with water very now and again. o About a third of the tank water is removed and replaced with fresh, clean water. This serves to dilute the waste chemicals present in the tank and assist with the natural processes discussed above.

o Aquariums need to be kept at the right temperature, between 78 and 84 degrees for our South American Fish specifically. o Should the temperature rise or fall significantly it can result in fish dying.

o Tanks must be kept clean and free of algae and grime. Excessive algae growth is a sign that something is wrong in your tank, but even well-kept tanks will grow some algae. Often, it must be removed physically using an algae scraper.

Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri | gsksmo.org/virtual o NEVER CLEAN ANY PART OF YOUR TANK WITH SOAP always clean and wipe down with water only. A little about Camp Tongawood’s Aquarium…

Our Aquarium is a 75 Gallon Fresh Water Tank, that consists of a double filtration system, two water heaters, natural rock, live plants and at least 5 different species of South American Predatory Fish. The Aquarium was donated by a gentleman named Jerry. Jerry is a Florida native with a passion for being a fish hobbyist. Jerry started his aquarium hobby 10 years ago and he has been taking care of them ever since. He donated the tank in March of 2020 in hopes of inspiring the girls who attend camp to learn more about these incredible little creatures.

We welcomed the addition of these little guys and since then they have been such a cool enhancement to our program.

Learn about Fish for Daisies and Brownies – Watch this Video - bit.ly/3kE3W80

South and Central American Cichlids Facts

o They are very active, intriguing, and many cichlids can be very personable, readily greeting their keepers and begging for food. All these traits make cichlids a favorite aquarium fish.

o New World Cichlids are a diverse group of fish often referred to as South or Central American Cichlids.

o South American Cichlids are a hardy, easy to care for fish species that add brilliant color to the freshwater aquarium. Most are carnivorous or omnivorous meaning that they eat meat as well as plant matter.

o The name cichlid refers to fish belonging to the family Cichlidae within the order Perciformes and it is one of the largest families of fishes in the world.

o It is estimated that there are between 2,000 and 3,000 different cichlid species in existence, though only about 1,650 have been scientifically described.

o Cichlids can be found all over the world, though the greatest diversity among this family of fishes can be found in South America and Africa.

o Though cichlids come in all shapes and colors, they all share a few key characteristics.

Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri | gsksmo.org/virtual Fish Species at Tongawood – Central and South American Cichlids – many of their habitats are endangered!

Learn More about their endangered South American fish here - bit.ly/2DzUZMB

Green Severum – Banded Cichlid The Green Severum (Heros efasciatus) is a colorful South American Cichlid that naturally occupies slow-moving waterways of the Amazonian Basin. They grow to about 3-4 inches in length and resemble the body type of a freshwater angel fish. They can live up to 10 years in captivity!

We have two of these guys in our tank at Tongawood, both are very fast fish and enjoy darting from one side of the tank to the other.

Bumblebee Bee Catfish The Bumblebee Catfish (Microglanis iheringi) is a small catfish with a striking color pattern. It will hide in the lower regions of the tank, or where there are the most hiding spots. The roots of plants, in cracks and holes of driftwood and rocks, in ornaments, wherever it can fit and still get out of later. Quiet, peaceful, nocturnal, but will eat small slender fish during the night when it is feeding time.

He tends to hide almost 99.9% of the time. He is also a bottom feeder, so he tends to only eat food that makes it to the bottom of the tank.

Geophagus

Geophagus, (Geophagus altifrons) is species of South American Cichlid that is native to Argentina, Uruguay and Panama. Known as “eartheaters,” Geo’s gather large mouth-fulls of rock and sediment to sift out plant material, small organics and detritus. Detritus is just another word for fish poo and broken plant matter. These guys can grow anywhere from 4-8on long!

Camp Tongawood’s Geophagus is fast, curious, and is known to be a little spicy at times! He takes no prisoners. In the tank world he is pretty far up the list when it comes to the “tank boss.” He tends to stay away

White Devil

Our White Devil Fish is just one of our Central American Cichlid in our tank and is native to Lake Nicaragua. They can be either red or white in variety. Although considered aggressive by most aquarium hobbyists, our devil is friendly, curious and likes to hide at the top of the tank.

Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri | gsksmo.org/virtual Jack Dempsey (JD for short)

Our Jack Demspey fish have become QUITE a dominating species in our tank for this tank!

Originally from Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala and Honduras, the Jack Dempsey Cichlid belongs to very beautiful, personable, but sometimes aggressive fish species. JD’s can tend to establish a dominant presence in the tank they are raised in. This doesn’t mean that you can’t keep them with other fish, but you may need to create a diverse and well “decorated” environment for them.

Fun Facts about the Jack Dempsey Fish

• Although considered a more aggressive breed of fish, JDs spend a lot of time hiding away in caves, so they can appear quite shy. • Mostly they will stay in the middle and lower levels of the tank but will come and greet their owners during feeding time. • Jack Dempsey’s have strong facial features and an aggressive nature similar to that of their name sake the 1920s Boxer Jack Dempsey - pictured to the right. Jack Dempsey the boxer earned $3.5 million and won the world heavyweight title in 1919. • Mostly black or grey as a base color. However, they are often called “Rainbow fish” much like the famous storybook character, JD’s can come in a wide variety of colors like blue, gold, and even pink! • COLOR CHANGING! Now this is animal that can actually tell you what is wrong. JD’s will turn pale grey when stressed or sick, they can also turn Black in color when mating…. Which brings us to the next cool thing about our TW Tank!

Jack Dempsey Fish Fry

Contrary to the title at a first glance, NO we do not FRY our fish and eat them.

A fish fry is just what you call a group of baby fish. We have been taking such good care of our fish out at Camp Tongawood, two of our largest Jack Dempsey’s decided to settle down and have a family. Unlike most fish species, our JD’s are actually quite attentive parents and will even crush and spit out food for the babies to digest. Jack Dempsey parents will mate for life and have a fry 6 months at a time. These babies are available, for FREE, after purchase of this program. Fish adoption is first come first serve, you can email [email protected] . Don’t know how to set up a fish tank? Keep Reading to learn more!

Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri | gsksmo.org/virtual How to Create a Warm Fresh Water Aquarium Habitat – Making Science Fun and Easy

Building an aquarium is like making your own miniature ecosystem inside your home.

Our fish are native to South America and require a warm oxygenated environment in order to thrive! We can replicate their habitat by maintaining and understanding the science behind creating an aquarium. Here are the materials, requirements and items that make our fish happy.

Important Note: When it comes to the science of aquarium care, just like any science, there is a bit of experimentation you may have to do to create the perfect environment for your fish friends.

It is important to remember that this is an environment and just like the environment outside the tank and in our world. You will be able to tell almost immediately if something your doing isn’t working.

Our Outdoor Experience manager MC has already done, and gone through, A LOT of the hard stuff for you!

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Tips for Preparing Your Tank Glass Tank – The standard tank size for our South American fish is about 25 gallons or more for at least one. Since we have upwards of 7 different species within our tank at Camp Tongawood, we chose a large 75-gallon tank so they would have plenty of territory to swim in.

When purchasing a tank there are a few things you should know: o Are there any cracks? – When you go to the pet store before you purchase the tank make sure you look over it thoroughly and make sure there are NO cracks or chips. . Pro Tip – ALWAYS purchase a tank in person. Checking the tank and transporting it yourself makes sure that your tank should arrive safely with no cracks or chips! Round vs. Rectangle – A common mistake people make, is purchasing a fishbowl or round tanks with open lids. The truth is a round bowl or vase is not a suitable home and can be deadly for a fish. o Round Fishbowls . Can disorient a fish . Cannot accommodate a filter or allow for oxygen to freely move through the water. . Open topped tanks can allow daredevil fish to leap out of the tank. . It is difficult to regulate temperature o Rectangular Tanks: . Gives your fish ample space to explore . Closed top . Easy to regulate temperature and oxygen To Purchase a Tank: . Check out your local PetSmart, PetCo, PetTopia or any other pet store near you.

Fish Basics Continued…

Distilled Water – This, by far, is the most important element when caring for fish. Distilled water is free of harmful minerals like calcium, fluoride nitrates, etc. These minerals that are commonly found in drinking or faucet are fine for us to drink but not for fish or equipment required to keep your tank running well. You can purchase distilled water at most grocery stores and costs anywhere from $0.89 to $1.00.

Filter System – Filters are SO IMPORTANT. Filters and filter medias help take out biologics, chemicals, particles that can make fish sick. There are two types of filters that you can use, and both have their pros and cons. o Quiet Flow Filters – All-In-One System – Single Purchase - bit.ly/3gSv3dn . Pro – Easy to use and maintain. Keeps water crystal clear with an enhanced five-stage filtration process including mechanical, chemical (carbon), biological, stationary wet/dry, and specialty media (ammonia / phosphate). Can last 10-15 years without issues. An example is on the right. . Con – Can be a little on the expensive side and you absolutely MUST Fill the reservoir with water before turning them on (or else you could burn out the motor) o Sponge Filters – Combination System – Multiple Item Purchases - bit.ly/3g15o0K . Pro – Reliable and easy to use and assemble. Sponge Filters only filter larger particles, This most basic of filters requires at least three components: a sponge filter (which sits inside the tank), air pump (which sits outside the tank), and airline tubing to connect them. Easy to clean and take care of once you have all the pieces.

Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri | gsksmo.org/virtual . Con – A lot of pieces and for a supposedly very basic pump system. You also need to purchase a separate charcoal bag that just hangs out in the tank to balance the ph and hardness.

Heater and Thermometer – o It is important to keep your aquarium at just the right temperature. At camp we use the Aqua Top Submersible glass heaters, there are different types you can purchase. Made of high-quality insulated glass. It’s the easy way to maintain the temperature your freshwater or marine aquariums to keep your fish healthy. The analog design makes it simple to use with just the turn of a knob to adjust the temperature to your needs, and it features a highly visible temperature setting. o Even though most heaters have a gauge for temp, it’s important to put thermometers on different areas of your tank. This way you can make sure that heat is circulating throughout and to make sure it doesn’t get TOO hot. If your water gets up above 90 the glue in the seams can start to melt…. which can cause QUITE the mess.

Interior Decorating – Make a fish feel loved and SAFE Aquarium decorations are where you can really let your creative juices start flowing! You can make a themed tank with cool houses and props or you can keep it simple with plants, rocks and logs. An important thing is to have enough hiding spots where your fish can relax, because again just like us, sometimes fish need some alone time.

Natural/organic material – Use caution. Some materials may be safe for some types of systems, but others will decompose or severely affect the water quality by changing the pH or hardness. As a rule of thumb, it is also best to avoid putting anything natural into a very different environment than where it came from. For example, adding marine shells or corals to a freshwater tank isn’t safe and wood from the forest won’t usually hold up underwater. Check the pet stores for safe organic materials like plants and logs!

Rocks/Minerals – Some are safe, others will affect the water quality. Most rocks that affect water quality contain calcium carbonate which will dissolve at a low pH, causing the hardness to rise and pH to then increase. These rocks are usually from the ocean in origin. If you suspect this, you can try sprinkling a few drops of vinegar on your rock. If it has calcium carbonate, you’ll see it start to fizz up and dissolve. Other rocks like volcanic and metamorphic rocks like granite will do fine in a tank.

Glass – Plain glass is fine in an aquarium. The risky part comes with glass that is painted or glazed. When constantly submerged, this coloring can start coming off or be very easy to scrape off and may be harmful to the livestock at that point.

Dishware and Pottery (mugs, plates, bowls, etc) – These pieces are usually safe. As a general rule of thumb, if the mug/bowl/plate/etc is dishwasher- safe, it is probably aquarium-safe. A mug with a company logo can make a great aquarium decoration in your lobby, and simple plates and bowls can make good ledges and caves. Some unglazed pottery like terracotta pots can be safe in an aquarium and make for good breeding caves. When in doubt, leave it out!

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Plastic and Rubber – In general, safe!! Plain colored plastics are inert and can make excellent decorations! Toys like Lego building blocks can be great, customizable centerpieces to a tank. Try to get things that have soft edges, some fish can get scraped by sharp edges.

Fish Diet and Lifestyle

Sometimes fish require a combination of food in order to thrive, and just like us, fish can be SUPER picky about what they eat. It may take a couple of tries to find the perfect combination. Here are 3 of the following foods that we have found to be the most successful.

. Combination of Flakes and Worms o Fish can be flaked up to 3 times a day, we use Tetra or Colbalt brand.

o Fish can be given worms 1-2 a day. Frozen Blood Worms • The Most Economically efficient and less messy way of giving your fish food. Plus, they LOVE THEM!

Fish Life

South American Cichlids are a joy to keep. These fish are known for having dog-like personalities, developing bonds with their owners and will even greet you and watch you while you go about your day. These fish will live for YEARS, most of them when given the right environment and good owners can live up 10-15 years. At Tongawood our fish enjoy social time, they like being talked to, they love to watch TV and enjoy being in a room with music playing.

We can generalize about certain species being territorial, aggressive, shy or whatever, but at the end of the day fish sometimes act uncharacteristically, just like people. Anyone who’s spent time observing aquarium fish can attest to that. For many hobbyists, it’s what makes their pet fish so endearing. They can be happy or sad, they pout or sulk when you’ve been away, they practically jump out of the tank when you approach, yet they hide when someone they’ve never seen before is standing next to you. In fact, nothing surprises us anymore when it comes to what fish do. Don’t be surprised if they stare at you when eating dinner or doing homework at your desk.

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Pets and Social, Emotional, and Physical Health

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Pets Increase Our Sense of Self-Esteem and Well-Being Recently, psychologists at Miami University and Saint Louis University conducted three experiments on the benefits of pet ownership. Subsequently, the American Psychological Association published the results. The studies showed that pet owners had improved well-being in various areas, including the following:

o Better self-esteem o More physically fit o Less lonely o More conscientious and less preoccupied o More extroverted o Less fearful

Pets and People with Special Needs and Mental Health

It has been proven, that keeping fish improves mental health and also helps to reduce anxiety. Research carried out by Plymouth University discovered that just watching fish in an aquarium ‘led to noticeable reductions in participant’s blood pressure and heart rate.’

Anxiety Studies around pets and mental health show that being with animals reduces stress-related hormones. And these benefits can occur after just five minutes of interacting with a pet. Therefore, pets are very helpful for anxiety sufferers.

Playing with a dog or cat, or just hanging out with your aquarium raises our levels of serotonin and dopamine. These are hormones that calm and relax the nervous system. When we smile and laugh at our pets’ cute behavior, that helps stimulate the release of these “happiness hormones.”

Depression Pets are a great motivator for people. Pets can also have calming effects on their owner. Just by sitting next to petting, playing or talking with a pet can gives owners a chance to relax and calm their minds. Caring for a pet gives your day purpose and reward, and a sense of achievement. It also helps you feel valuable and needed.

Socializing Simply talking about your pet can help children and families start a conversation with each other. These conversations can be a great way to start a social relationship. People who have more social relationships and friendships tend to be healthier.

Loneliness A pet is great companion. They give owners company, a sense of security and someone to share the routine of the day with. Pets can be especially valuable company for those in later life and living alone.

ADD or ADHD - bit.ly/341fjkw Children with ADHD can benefit from working with and keeping a pet. Taking charge of the jobs on a pet care schedule, such as feeding, walking and bathing, helps a child learn to plan and be responsible. Pets need to play, and playing with a pet is a great way to release excess energy. Your child can burn off energy walking a dog or running around with a kitten, making them more relaxed later in the day and calmer at night. Fresh air and good circulation from aerobic exercise increases oxygen-filled blood flow to a child's brain, therefore increasing their ability to concentrate.

Children with ADHD are used to their parents trying to calm them down or reprimanding them. A pet is a great listener and offers unconditional love and will not criticize a child for having too much energy. This can aid a child's self- confidence.

Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri | gsksmo.org/virtual Autism - bit.ly/3gYKosP Sensory issues are common among children with autism. Children with autism often find it calming to work with animals.

It has been claimed that in the case of people with autism, animals can reduce stereotyped behavior, lessen sensory sensitivity, and increase the desire and ability to connect socially with others. Further research (bit.ly/2Y33qaa) into this area needs to be carried out however.

It has been proven, that keeping fish improves mental health and also helps to reduce anxiety. Research carried out by Plymouth University discovered that just watching fish in an aquarium ‘led to noticeable reductions in participant’s blood pressure and heart rate.’

Fish Science and Problems in their Environment

Osmoregulation – Fish Breath! Osmoregulation in Freshwater Fish - Freshwater fishes are hypertonic to their surrounding environment, which means that the concentration of salt is higher in their blood than their surrounding water.

They absorb a controlled amount of water through the mouth and the gill membranes. Due to this intake of water, they produce large quantities of urine through which a lot of salt is lost. The salt is replaced with the help of mitochondria-rich cells in the gills.

These cells absorb salt into the blood from the surrounding water. Basically, fish try their best to mesh with their environment and why a freshwater fish couldn’t survive in a saltwater environment.

Osmoregulation in Humans - The kidney is the main organ responsible for osmoregulation in humans. Water, amino acids and glucose are reabsorbed by the kidneys. When the water level in the body is high, it releases a large amount of hypotonic urine. When the water level is low, it retains water and produces a low amount of hypertonic urine. Thus, the kidneys maintain the electrolytic balance of the body.

Climate Change and Freshwater Fish

EPA works with local, state and tribal governments to protect the ecosystems and environmental systems that support freshwater habitat for fisheries.

EPA has a particular role in protecting and maintaining water quality including working to meet the Clean Water Act’s national goal of “…water quality which provides for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and recreation in and on the water, wherever attainable.”

You can learn more about what the EPA is doing to protect freshwater fish at this link - bit.ly/31GF5rz

Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri | gsksmo.org/virtual Sources and Resources (some of the images used are from the articles below):

Check out PetSmart, PetCo or PetTopia for all of your fish needs!

How to Have a Fish Tank on a Low Budget – WikiHow.com

The Top 20 Best Fish Tank Filters for 2020 – petlifetoday.com

Why Fish Bowls Are Bad for Your Fish – PetHelpful.com

Pets and Kids with ADD – PsychologyToday.com

Pets and Mental Health – MentalHealth.org

The Pet Effect – MentalHealthInternational.org

Live Aquaria – liveaquaria.org

Cichlids at the Zoo - animals.sandiegozoo.org

When you’re finished: Congratulations, you have earned your patch! You can purchase at https://gsksmo.doubleknot.com/event/patches/2747743

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