Challenge Course and Climbing
Our council has two Challenge Courses, one each at 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.
Eagle Trail Workshop
Eagle Trail Workshops
Jump start your journey along the trail to Eagle with this workshop! The workshop is a unique experience where Scouts work with counselors on three Eagle required badges and the Life-to-Eagle process.
2025 Workshop Dates
December 29th-30th-8:45 am-1:30pm| REGISTER HERE
Fishing
Valid state fishing permit is required for those between the ages of 16–65 wanting to fish on Greater St. Louis Area Council properties. You can purchase permits online at:
Missouri: https://mdc-web.s3licensing.com/
Illinois: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/LPR/Pages/FishingLicensesFees.aspx
Get on board and create your own adventure!
All the fishing resources you need in one place to learn, plan, and equip for a day on the water. https://www.takemefishing.org/how-to-fish/fishing-resources-events/everything-you-need-to-start-fishing/
Free Learn to Fish Course!
https://learn-to-fish.igfa.org/courses/intro-to-fishing
Select a state to find fishing and boating information:
High Adventure Bases
Huskey Trailways is the Greater St. Louis Area Council’s preferred
transportation provider.
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.
Contact Jon Jonas (j.jonas@att.net) for questions.
PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH – PHILMONTSCOUTRANCH.ORG
Philmont Scout Ranch is the BSA’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.
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 BSA’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.
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 camp, or a tractor-drawn hayride!
Come check out our "Christmas at the Barn" event on December 20th.
Click HERE to see a flyer of the event.
If you would like to attend the event please register HERE.
To reserve a spot for tractor-drawn hayrides, visit our online portal: Online Reservations
TRAIL RIDES
Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Explorers can hit the trail, beginning and ending at Nagel Base located on Beaumont Scout Reservation. There is a 5-horse minimum and maximum of 12 horses. There must be two registered Unit Leaders per ride. Trail Rides are available for 1 and 1/2 hour, 3 hour, 6 hour and overnight trail rides. We have horses for your experience level.
Pricing for BSA Group In & Out of Council:
1.5 Hour Ride - $35/person
3 Hour Ride - $45/person
6 Hour Ride - $55/person
Overnight Ride - $100/person
Pricing for Non-BSA Groups
1 1/2 hour ride - $45/person
3 hour ride - $55/person
6 hour ride - $70/person
Overnight Rides - $110/person
Trail Rides are available Saturday and/or Sunday during the months of September, October, and January - May.
For March, Trail Rides are only available on Sunday.
Overnight rides are only available during the months of April, May, September, and October.
All rides begin and end at Nagel Base Camp located at Beaumont Scout Reservation.
All rides are weather permitting (i.e. rain, snow, severe cold, extreme heat).
Again, a minimum of five and a maximum of 12 horses can be reserved for trail rides. There must be two registered Unit Leaders per ride.
Trail Ride Recommendations – All riders must be a minimum of Scouts BSA age 11 or older.
1 1/2 hour and 3 hour rides are for Scouts BSA/Venturers 11 and older.
6 hour and overnight rides are recommended for Scouts BSA/Venturers.
For safety reasons no one can ride who is over the maximum weight limit of 230 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.
Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance at a Greater St. Louis Area Council office or by clicking here.
HORSEMANSHIP MERIT BADGE SKILL CENTER
The Horsemanship merit badge skills center will provide Scouts with the knowledge of how to care for, groom, and ride a horse. In addition to the riding, Scouts who take this merit badge will gain an understanding of horse instincts and behaviors to better their horsemanship.
2025 DATES
We are excited to offer a Horsemanship Merit Badge skill center this March! The skill center consists of an online orientation and 3 sessions of in-person instruction.
Orientation: March 13 via zoom meeting
Session 1: Saturday, Mar. 15
Session 2: Saturday, Mar. 22
Session 3: Saturday, Mar. 29
HAY RIDES
Come down to Nagel for a tractor-drawn hayride! This is a great outdoor activity for Scouting units of all ages. There is one wagon available and each hayride wagon holds a maximum of 20 people. A minimum of two adults for the wagon is required. Hayrides can be reserved in one-hour blocks and come with the use of a picnic area.
- March 1 through May 15 & Sept. 1 through October 31
- Saturday: 5-6 p.m., 6-7 p.m., 7-8 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.
A maximum of 20 people are allowed on a hayride wagon.
Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance at a Greater St. Louis Area Council office or online by clicking here.
SUMMER HORSE PROGRAMS
HORSE CAMP July 27 - August 2, 2025
Spend a week at an intermediate riding camp cantering around the property and learning more about horses. There are many trails to be ridden, competitions/games to be played on horseback in the riding ring, and other activities to further your horsemanship along with a chance to show off your advanced skills in a Cavalcade at the end of the week. Other activities while at Horse Camp are swimming, skeet shooting, climbing tower, ropes course, campfires, and much more.
All youth participants must be 14.
Registration is now open for this year’s Horse Camp.
Maximum number of participants is 20. The Greater St. Louis Area Council Trail Guide Committee provides adult leadership for Horse Camp.
You can sign up for Horse Camp here.
Little Buckeroo's Camp
This program is meant to help Cub Scouts learn how to behave around horses, horse behaviors, how to lead a horse, discuss parts of a saddle, how to sit properly on a horse, and to become more comfortable while horseback. On Thursday they youth will have the chance to show parents what they have learned. Parents are not required to stay. A snack is included.
Age: 8 - 10 years old
When: June 16 - 19, 2025
OR
June 23 - 26, 2025
Time: 8am - 12pm
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Junior Wrangler Camp
This program is to help youth become more comfortable with everything horses! Learn about horse behaviors, equipment, and of course riding! Parents are welcome to watch skills their child has learned during a horse show on the last day of the session. Parents are not required to stay. All activities depend on youths riding skills.
Dates to pick from:
March 4, 11, 18, & 25th (Age: 14-18 year olds) Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm
April 8, 15, 22, & 29th (Age: 11-13 year olds) Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm
May 6, 13, 20, & 27th (Age: 11-13 year olds) Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm
June 22 - 25th (Age: 14-18 year olds) Time: 8am to Noon
July 6 - 9th (Age: 11-13 year olds) Time: 8am to Noon
July 13 - 16th (Age: 14-18 year olds) Time: 8am to Noon
September 2, 9, 16, & 23rd (Age: 11-13 year olds) Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm
Price: $250 per youth (weight limit is 200lbs)
Special needs or requests must be disclosed at the time of sign up. You must bring a Health forms A, B, and C with you to camp. It is an attachment on your registration page.
Register for courses HERE.
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Custom Horse Programs
Are you planning a camporee, birthday party, Unit Court of Honor, wedding, or something else out at Beaumont and would you like to use the horses? Please call the Camping Department for availability and pricing.
Scouts BSA Winter Camp
Winter Camp Leader Meeting Webinar
Tuesday, December 9th at 7:00pm
Click To Join!
Winter Camp is a short-term camp experience for Scouts BSA members. Scouts will be able to work on advancement and merit badges similar to Summer Camp. Scouts also get to enjoy one of the GSLAC Camp Properties in the winter! Scouts may participate with their Troop or as a provisional attendee (individually with camp-provided adult leadership).
December 28-31, 2025
Rhodes France Scout Reservation
76th Memorial Day Good Turn at Jefferson Barracks
May 25, 2025 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetary
Gravois Trail 76th Annual Jefferson Barracks Memorial Day Good Turn
Scouts of all ages are invited to participate in the 76th Annual Memorial Day Good Turn on May 25, 2025, hosted by Gravois Trail District. Registration will be from 10:30 am until 11:30 am at the VA Hospital Orange Lot with the procession into the cemetery beginning at 11:30 am. Upon check-in, the unit leader or designated adult will receive a map and participation ribbon. Patches will be available for $5.00.
Participants will attend the Flag Ceremony before proceeding to the flag boxes. No one will be allowed to begin placing flags until after the ceremony has been dismissed.
Register Here
Know Before You Go Facts & Map
About Memorial Day Good Turn
For more than seven decades, approximately 5,000 Scouts have gathered at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery before Memorial Day to decorate each of the approximately 280,000 graves with an American Flag. In its 76th year (2025), the tradition is one of the longest-running Memorial Day events within Scouting.
The public is welcome to attend the event. Scouts from across the Council will assemble at the VA Hospital Orange Lot and march into the Cemetery, where they proceed to the main flagpole for assembly and ceremony honoring our fallen soldiers. A flag presentation marks the opening of our ceremony, followed by a guest speaker who will address the crowd. The ceremony will close with the retrieving of the flags, Taps, and Amazing Grace by the Bagpipers. Everyone will be dismissed to begin placing the flags on each grave.
It takes approximately 2 hours to complete the Good Turn, and Scouts will have placed over 200,000 flags on each grave.
In 1866, Jefferson Barracks was established as a National Cemetery, and today is one of the oldest interment sites of the National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
Memorial Day Good Turns for Jewish War Veterans
May 25, 2025 at Various Cemeteries
Jewish Committee on Scouting Good Turn
Sponsored by the Jewish Committee on Scouting
The Jewish Committee on Scouting is also proud to assist Jewish War Veterans Post 644 by placing over 8,000 American flags on the graves of veterans at eight local Jewish cemeteries. For more information on this good turn please CLICK HERE.
2026 National Jamboree
2026 National Jamboree
July 22 – 31, 2026
Summit Bechtel Reserve
Glen Jean, West Virginia
Face the Challenge! The 2026 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.
COST
$2,400.00
Are you interested in serving as a leader for the Greater St. Louis Area Scouting’s Jamboree Contingent? Email Jamboree Staff Adviser Matt Kaufman at matt.kaufman@scouting.org today!
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 BSA in 1911 making it one of the oldest Scouting skills.
The Pioneering Kit contains everything a Troop needs to make basic structures all the way up to bridges and towers.
For more information on the Pioneering Kit email camping@stlbsa.org.
Scouting for Food
Nov. 15, 2025 (bag distribution) and Nov. 22, 2025 (food collection)
Scouting For Food is the Greater St. Louis Area Council’s one-of-a-kind day of service. Thousands of Scouts, parents, and leaders hit the streets on a Saturday in November to distribute blue bags to the homes in their area. Community members fill up those bags with non-perishable food items, and the Scouts return one week later to pick up those bags and distribute them to local food banks and pantries. On average, we collect almost 2 million food items each year.
Click Here to check out the 2025 drive details!
Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors:
Scouts BSA Voyageur Workshop
What is it?
Calling all Scouts BSA! We have an action-packed event that is designed to help our first-year Scouts along their advancement trail and enjoy some of the fun activities available at our camps. The workshop runs from 9:00am to 4:30pm.
Join us for Map and Compass, Fire Building, First Aid, and Knots and Lashing instruction. Don’t miss this chance to have an awesome day at camp while fulfilling many Scout through First Class rank requirements!
Event Dates
March 29, 2025| Beaumont Scout Reservation
Register Here
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STEM Universities -- Choose from 5 campuses!
What is STEM University?
STEM University is a full day event for Cub Scouts (Wolf, Bear, Webelos, & AOL) and Scouts BSA, 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.
Upcoming Events - registration links coming soon!
STEM U UMSL - December 6, 2025
Scouts BSA: Register HERE
Cub Scouts: Register HERE
STEM U SEMO - January 10, 2026
Scouts BSA: Register Here
Cub Scouts: Register Here
STEM U SIUE - January 31, 2026
STEM U SIUC - February 28, 2026
STEM College - Lake Land College - March 28, 2026
Registration coming soon!