STEM University
STEM University is a full day event for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts focused on earning STEM-based advancements and NOVA awards. Scouts will get to visit a University, work with STEM experts, and participate in fun, hands-on educational activities. See below for locations and dates. Registration links coming soon.
- SIUE: Nov. 7
- UMSL: Dec. 12
- SEMO: Jan. 9
- SIUC: Feb. 27
Scouting For Food
2020 Unit Leader GuideGenerously supported by:
On Saturday, Nov. 14, thousands of Scouts will deliver more than 1 million blue Scouting for Food bags throughout the St. Louis metro area, southeast Missouri, and southern Illinois. They will return one week later on Nov. 21 to collect the bags full of donated canned goods.
By giving to Scouting For Food, residents are helping those in need right in their own community. With the help of Sunset Transportation, food donations in the St. Louis area are delivered to the St. Louis Area Foodbank for further distribution to over 500 hunger-relief programs and local agencies in the bi-state area. In southeast Missouri and southern Illinois, Scouts take donations directly to local food pantries.
When it comes to donations, canned fruits, vegetables, soups, tuna, chicken, and pasta sauce, and meals in a box, such as hamburger helper, are most needed. Last year, Scouting for Food gathered 1.9 million items of food which provided more than 1 million meals for the needy.
Residents who do not receive a bag can take canned food donations to any Goodwill store location Nov. 22-28.
Virtual Option:
- Spread the word! To donate virtually, text “SCOUTFOOD” to 91999 – all monetary donations will be donated to the St. Louis Foodbank and Operation Food Search. A $1 donation = 4 meals!
2020 Scouting for Food Patch Orders! Get yours before they are gone!
To order visit: Link Coming Soon
Scouting for Food Collection Sites
Background
It takes a great deal of community support, planning, cooperation, dedication and volunteers to make Scouting for Food the largest single-day community food drive in the Boy Scouts of America. Started in 1985 by the Greater St. Louis Area Council, Scouting for Food has expanded to other councils across the country.
More than 30,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venture Scouts annually help the needy as they collect approximately 2 million cans of food during the Scouting for Food drive. The Greater St. Louis Area Council has collected more than 55 million cans of food during the 34-year history of the drive.
Items collected serve approximately 500 pantries within the Greater St. Louis Area Council, which includes the St. Louis metropolitan area, southeastern Missouri, and southern Illinois.
Scouts in the St. Louis area take donations to fire stations where it is sorted and boxed. Sunset Transportation Inc. of Sunset Hills provides trucks, equipment and volunteer drivers. It also coordinates all logistics for the food collection, which involves transporting boxed food from more than 35 area fire stations to the St. Louis Area Foodbank & Operation Food Search. The Foodbank & Operation Food Search distributes the canned goods through a network of more than 700 area food pantries and organizations.
What kind of food donations are needed? Read our suggestions on the “Perfect Bag.”
Challenge Course and Climbing
Our council has three Challenge Courses, one each at Camp Joy, S bar F Scout Ranch, and Beaumont Scout Reservation. The Challenge Course is a program for youths and adults that includes a series of outdoor challenges — beginning with basic group initiative games and progressing to more complicated low-course and high-course activities. Some of these events involve a group effort while others test individual skills and agility. Participants climb, swing, balance, jump and think through solutions to a variety of challenges. Most participants find that they can do much more than they initially thought they could.
Learn More by clicking here.
Pioneer Kit
Pioneering refers to the knowledge of ropes, knots, and splices along with the ability to build rustic structures by lashing together poles and spars. It was one of the original 57 merit badges issued by the Boy Scouts of America in 1911 making it one of the oldest Scouting skills.
Learn More by clicking here.
Shooting Sports
Interested in becoming a merit badge counselor or taking your unit youth on a shooting outing? Get trained to meet National and Council guidelines. These formal NRA courses are available to Scouters at reduced prices.
Learn More by clicking here.
Horses
From September until May, several opportunities exist with the Greater St. Louis Area Council’s herd of horses. Come out and enjoy a trail ride, horse-drawn hayride or horse camp! View the brochure.
To reserve a spot, visit our online portal: Online Reservations
HORSEBACK RIDING LESSONS
Registration and more information
Enjoy a unique experience at Beaumont Scout Reservation with private riding lessons. Learn everything about horse from behavior/anatomy, approaching horses, tack, riding lessons, and much more! Lessons will done on Wednesday night at Nagle Base and each lesson will last an hour and a half. Lesson are to be schedule with Wrangler Jordan Mutert two weeks in advance. You can purchase one riding lesson or up to a 16 pack. You must use your lessons within a year of purchase. Youth should be 8 years and older to attend a riding lesson. There is a weight limit of 250 lbs to ride on our horses.
HORSEMANSHIP MERIT BADGE SKILL CENTER
Registration Closed
The Horsemanship Merit Badge Skill Center provides Scouts with knowledge of how to care, groom and ride a horse. The skill center begins with an orientation session and then is held over three consecutive Saturdays. In addition to learning how to safely ride and care for horses, Scouts who earn this merit badge will gain an understanding of horse’s instincts and behaviors, as well as humane and effective methods for training horses. The next horsemanship skill center is scheduled for spring 2020.
TRAIL RIDES
Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Explorers can hit the trail, beginning and ending at Nagel Base. Approximately 20 horses are available for each 3-hour or 6-hour* ride, and each horse can handle all levels of riding experience — beginner through advanced.
September through May, Saturday and/or Sunday
- 3 hour ride.; $30 per person
HORSE-DRAWN HAYRIDES
Step back in time for a horse-drawn hayride! This is a great outdoor activity for Scouting units of all ages. There are three wagons available and each hayride wagon holds a maximum of 20 people. A minimum of two adults for each wagon is required. Hayrides can be reserved in one-hour blocks.
- March 1 through May 31 & Sept. 1 through Nov. 30
- Saturday: 5-6 p.m., 6-7 p.m., 7-8 p.m., 8-9 p.m.
- Sunday: 5-6 p.m., 6-7 p.m., 7-8 p.m.
- $75 per wagon
Hayrides are not offered on Saturday nights during heavy camporee weekends.
HORSE CAMP
Spend a week riding a horse, improving riding skills, and then showing off your riding skills in a horse show. Other activities while at Horse Camp are swimming, skeet shooting, climbing tower, ropes course, campfires, and much more.
- 1st week of August
Sign up early! Maximum number of participants is 40. The Greater St. Louis Area Council Trail Guide Committee provides adult leadership for Horse Camp.
Things to Know
Reservations
Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance at a Greater St. Louis Area Council office or online by clicking here.
A minimum of five and a maximum of 20 horses can be reserved for trail rides. A maximum of 20 people are allowed on a hayride wagon.
Age Requirements
Who can use the horsemanship programs? Any registered member of the Boy Scouts of America and their respective adult leaders may use the programs.
- Hayrides: Tigers, Cub Scouts, Webelos, Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Explorers as well as leaders and parents
- Six-Hour Trail Rides & Overnight Trail Ride: Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Explorers 13 years old who have completed the 8th grade — or are age 14 by the time of the ride
- Horse Camp: Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Explorers 13 years old who have completed the 8th grade — or age 14 by the start of camp
Clothing
Dress according to the weather. When riding it is best to wear long pants and boots or hard soled shoes (no tennis shoes please). If the weather looks like the possibility of rain bring rain gear. For cold weather rides; dress warm in layers, wear gloves and ear protection (riding helmet must still be able to fit properly over stocking cap). The trail guide or camp ranger will not permit any Scout or leader to ride if the rider is ill-prepared or dressed inappropriately.
Horses & Equipment
Only horses and equipment owned by the Greater St. Louis Area Council are used on trail rides, hayrides, and any other horse-related programs and activities.
Leadership
Every trail ride has a trail guide from the council’s Trail Guide Committee to lead the ride. Units going on a trail ride or hayride are required to have the necessary adult leadership for the ride: two adults minimum on the trail ride; two adults minimum on each wagon.
Picnic Areas / Recreation Hall
Just off the parking lot at Nagel Base are two picnic areas for your unit to use before or after your hayride. Picnic areas are on a first-come, first-served basis, but are big enough to handle more than one unit.
If your unit prefers to stay inside you can reserve the Nagel Recreation Hall. The Rec Hall has kitchen facilities, fireplace, tables and chairs, and a furnace for those cool nights. The Nagel Rec Hall is a great place to hold a pack meeting, troop court of honor, or a Venturing crew/Explorer post activity.
Restrictions
For safety reasons no one can ride who is over the maximum weight limit of 250 pounds. Weight will be checked at camp. Rangers and/or trail guides have the authority to restrict any person from taking part in a horse-related activity who may pose, in their opinion, a safety risk to themselves, others, or the horses.
Cancellations and refunds policy
Refunds will be given when the trail guide and/or ranger cancels the ride due to weather or poor conditions. All requests for refund by the unit must be made in writing to the Camping Department four weeks prior to the date of the scheduled ride.
Getting to Nagel Base
Once inside Beaumont, follow the main road where it ends at Nagel Base. Along the way, you will pass Cub World, Emerson Center, Camp May pool, and several camporee fields. The road winds around for approximately 2.5 miles from the Beaumont entrance to the Nagel Base gate.
Units should arrive at Nagel Base at least 30 minutes before the scheduled trail ride time or hayride. Morning trail riders saddle the horses, afternoon riders unsaddle the horses. All riders wear an equestrian helmet provided by the Greater St. Louis Area Council while on the trail ride.
National Jamboree
2021 National Jamboree
July 21 – 30, 2021
Summit Bechtel Reserve
Glen Jean, West Virginia
Face the Challenge! While two years sounds like a long time, the 2021 National Jamboree will be here soon! Scouting’s flagship event is one-of-a-kind. Join 40,000 Scouts, leaders, and staff at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia to experience everything from one of the longest zip lines in North America, a world-class skate park, all-terrain vehicles, treetop canopy tours, rock climbing, patch trading, stadium shows, and much more! Held every four years, the Jamboree is an amazing opportunity for everyone to experience the best of Scouting, all in one place.
INTERESTED? SIGN UP FOR MORE INFORMATION ONLINE @ https://scoutingevent.com/312-28838
High Adventure Bases
Huskey Trailways is the Greater St. Louis Area Council’s preferred
transportation provider.
Interested in taking your unit on a high adventure outing but not sure where to start? Join the High Adventure Committee for a Back Country Leadership Skills Training.
This course covers topics such as trip planning and training, equipment needs, trail hygiene, food and nutrition, trek safety, wilderness navigation and water purification/treatment.
May 1-3, 2020 – Register
Contact Jon Jonas (j.jonas@att.net) or George Ripplinger (gripplinger@att.net) for questions.
High adventure is active outdoor adventure requiring higher outdoor skills, beyond basic Scouting skills, that are risk appropriate for age and training level of eligible Scouts (14 years old or 13 years old and have 8th grade), Venturers, and adult leaders/advisors.
PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH – PHILMONTSCOUTRANCH.ORG
Philmont Scout Ranch is the Boy Scouts of America’s largest national High Adventure Base. Located in Cimarron, N.M., Philmont Scout Ranch challenges Scouts and Venturers with more than 214 square miles of rugged northern New Mexico wilderness. Backpacking treks, horseback cavalcades, and training and service programs offer young people many ways to experience this legendary country.
Interested in going to Philmont in 2021? Register now for the lottery to be part of a GSLAC’s contingent! Council contingents participate in 12-day treks and have transportation organized by the council through a local bus service. Spots are limited, so be sure to register for the lottery by March 15, 2020. A drawing will be held shortly thereafter and units will be notified of their placement via email. You can register for the lottery at https://scoutingevent.com/312-34010.
THE SUMMIT BECHTEL RESERVE – SUMMITBSA.ORG
The Summit Bechtel Reserve, is a 15,000-acre property in southern West Virginia that is home to the Paul R. Christen National High Adventure Base and new permanent home of the National Scout Jamboree. The 2013 National Scout Jamboree was the grand opening of the Summit and 2014 marks the first time high adventure programming will be available to Scouts and Venturers.
FLORIDA SEA BASE – BSASEABASE.ORG
The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base is a unique Scouting program that offers aquatics programs found nowhere else. Whether your interests lie in sailing, scuba diving, rustic camping on an undeveloped barrier island, fishing or a combination of all, this is the place for your troop or crew.
NORTHERN TIER HIGH ADVENTURE PROGRAM – NTIER.ORG
Northern Tier is the Boy Scouts of America’s gateway to adventure in the Great Northwoods. In the Summer, scouts from Northern Tier’s three wilderness canoe bases explore millions of acres of pristine lakes, meandering rivers, dense forests and wetlands in Northern Minnesota, Northwest Ontario and Northeast Manitoba. In the winter, Northern Tier is home to the OKPIK Cold-Weather Camping program, the BSA’s premier winter high adventure program. Fall programming is also available.