Council Annual Volunteer Recognition Night
May 15th |5:30pm|UMSL-Touhill Performing Arts Center
Register Here for the Dinner and purchase shout outs!

The Silver Beaver Award is the highest recognition a Boy Scout council can bestow on an adult volunteer leader. The award is presented to those volunteers who have provided noteworthy service that impacts the lives of youth and who have made outstanding contributions to the Scouting program. Nominations are recommended by the local council and approved by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Greater St. Louis Area Council presented its first Silver Beaver Awards in January 1932.

Recognize a Silver Beaver recipient in the event program by purchasing a SHOUT OUT!
One Line Shout Out: $15.00
1/4 Page Shout Out: $25.00
Half Page Shout Out: $50.00
Full Page Shout Out: $100
Shout Outs are due to Kim.Bluemberg@scouting.org by April 30th.

View the all-time Silver Beaver recipient list.

AQUATICS

AQUATIC ACTIVITIES

Many of the council’s properties offer a variety of activities on the water. Swimming, boating, sailing and fishing are some of the favorite activities of many Scouts. Find out what each camp has to offer by going HERE.

SAFE SWIM DEFENSE

BSA groups shall use Safe Swim Defense for all swimming activities. Adult leaders supervising a swimming activity must have completed Safe Swim Defense training within the previous two years. Safe Swim Defense standards apply at backyard, hotel, apartment, and public pools; at established waterfront swim areas such as beaches at state parks and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes; and at all temporary swimming areas such as a lake, river, or ocean. Safe Swim Defense does not apply to boating or water activities such as waterskiing or swamped boat drills that are covered by Safety Afloat guidelines. Safe Swim Defense applies to other nonswimming activities whenever participants enter water over knee deep or when submersion is likely, for example, when fording a stream, seining for bait, or constructing a bridge as a pioneering project. READ MORE

SAFETY AFLOAT

BSA groups shall use Safety Afloat for all boating activities. Adult leaders supervising activities afloat must have completed Safety Afloat training within the previous two years. Cub Scout activities afloat are limited to council, district, pack, or den events that do not include moving water or float trips (expeditions). Safety Afloat standards apply to the use of canoes, kayaks, rowboats, rafts, floating tubes, sailboats, motorboats (including waterskiing), and other small craft, but do not apply to transportation on large commercial vessels such as ferries and cruise ships. Parasailing (being towed airborne behind a boat using a parachute), kitesurfing (using a wakeboard towed by a kite), and recreational use of personal watercraft (small sit-on-top motorboats propelled by water jets) are not authorized BSA activities. READ MORE

*Training for Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat are available online by logging on to my.scouting.org.

The Greater St. Louis Area Council is proud to offer multiple different Challenge Course and Climbing opportunities for our Scouts! These include two high and low ropes courses, three climbing towers, and natural rock face climbing and rappelling. All ages (including Cub Scouts) are eligible to participate at our climbing towers at Beaumont, Camp Lewallen and Camp Warren Levis. Scouts BSA and Venturing members are welcome to climb, jump, and challenge themselves with our Challenge Courses and Climbing programs.

Learn More by clicking here.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital: Attend a free class called “Stop the Bleed.” This one-hour class is designed to teach non-medical people how to control emergency bleeding. The program goes over how to apply pressure to bleeding wounds, how to do emergency packing, and how to apply a tourniquet. If interested in taking the class, contact Billy Kollmar at william.kollmar@bjc.org.

Farmers & Merchants Bank (Eureka, MO): Sign your Pack up for an interactive and age-appropriate lesson on Financial Responsibility or make plans to take a field trip. Farmers & Merchants Bank offers Packs a tour of the teller line, vault, and the different tools used at the bank. Call 636-938-7878 for more details.

Federal Aviation Administration: The FAA encourages Scouts and their families who may travel by aircraft not to pack hazardous materials in their checked and/or carry-on luggage. View their brochure or visit faa.gov/Go/PackSafe for helpful resources to share with your units.

Gateway Arch: NPS Rangers facilitate audience-centered programs that feature role playing, decision making, multiple perspectives, analytical thinking and many hands-on activities. Programs are hosted at the Old Courthouse or the new Museum at the Gateway Arch. They are presented year-round, free of charge.

• Lewis and Clark: Explore the cultures, landscapes and animals encountered by the Corps of Discovery as they traveled and mapped the newly purchase Louisiana Territory.
• Trappers and Traders: Bold and audacious, join these adventurers as they learn about the resources of unknown territories, barter and live among American Indians, and contribute to the economy of the American frontier.
• American Indians of the Great Plains: Compare and contrast your life with that of traditional Plains Indians tribes during the 1800s. Learn how the land shaped their traditional tribal customs and how westward expansion changed their way of life.
• Heading West? Supply yourself in St. Louis before heading west. Confront some of the same choices early pioneers did while traveling west across prairies, rivers and mountains to Oregon and California.
• St. Louis: How It All Began: In 1764 French fur traders founded St. Louis at what is now the base of the Gateway Arch. Explore how this small yet diverse settlement grew into a thriving river town.
• General Museum Tour: Meet the people and hear the stories of those who lived, settled and worked in the early 18th- and 19th-century “west.” The program will include information and activities related to Lewis and Clark, the fur trade, Plains Indians and pioneers on the trail.
• Mock Trials: Ranger-led mock trials give students the opportunity to read scripts, argue facts and decide a verdict as they re-enact one of several historic trials that took place at the Old Courthouse including Dred Scott and Virginia Minor cases, and Williams v. Bellefontaine.

Reservations must be made at least 30 days in advance. Maximum group size is 30 youth (one adult for every 10 youth). Please allow 50 minutes for each program.

To make a reservation, visit  www.nps.gov/jeff or www.gatewayarch.com, or call 877-982-1410.

Missouri Botanical Garden: visit mobot.org/scouts for details.

• Meet Me Outdoors in St. Louis Festival, April 6-7
• Scout Night at Missouri Botanical Gardens, April 12 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

River Radio (Cape Girardeau): River Radio in Cape Girardeau (324 Broadway) offers free tours of its radio station to Scout groups. Scouts get an up close and personal view of radio broadcasting and learn how radio stations operate. To schedule your Scout group, contact Kirby Ray at kirbyq@riverradio.net or 1-800-289-5103 ext. 577.

Shaw Nature Reserve: Cub Scouts, enjoy a weekend at Shaw Nature Reserve! Enjoy a variety of activities including water ecology, night hikes, themed crafts, star gazing, and a campfire with s’mores and plenty of hot chocolate! Accommodations provided in the Dana Brown Overnight Center’s delightful historic cabins and new shower facilities.

• Scout Day at Shaw Nature Reserve, May 18 from 8 a.m.-noon

St. Louis Astronomical Society: The SLAS Library Telescope Program seeks to foster scientific literacy, stimulate an interest in astronomy, and provide people who have never looked through a telescope the chance to experience the excitement that comes from discovery. If you are interested in gaining an introduction to astronomy or would like to help SLAS with its new Library Telescope Program, email librarytelescope@slasonline.org. View the Library Telescope Locations.

St. Louis Blues Hockey: Scouts can take advantage of discounted tickets for the game on March 21. Visit nhl.com/blues/tickets/scout-offers for tickets. Use promo code BSCOUT at checkout.

Saint Louis Chess Club is hosting a Scouts BSA chess merit badge event just for girls! The free workshop is Feb. 3 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Click here for more details and to register.

SIUe Basketball Game/Sleepover: Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are invited to attend the SIUe basketball game on Jan. 19 and then stay for a sleepover in the arena. Your $15 ticket includes admission to the game, movie, popcorn and breakfast the next day. For more info or to reserve tickets, contact Paul Dodson at 618-650-3695 or pdodson@siue.edu.

Tower Grove Park: Tower Grove Park has free birding kits available! Kits are geared towards students in grades 4-8 and each kit includes binoculars and flash cards. View the flyer or contact Tricia Scalise at tscalise@towergrovepark.org.

Every Scout has the opportunity to earn their faith’s religious emblem which can be worn on their uniform as a youth or an adult. Religious emblems will fulfill Duty to God adventure requirements for Cub Scouts, Scout Spirit requirements for Scouts BSA and TRUST award for Venturing.

Learn More by clicking here.

The Greater St. Louis Area Council sponsors hiking trails throughout Missouri from a 4-mile trail over the rolling hills of Beaumont Scout Reservation to the rugged, two-day 20-mile hike across Taum Sauk Mountain in the Ozarks. There are also historic trails such as the Gateway West in downtown St. Louis and the Les Petites Cotes in St. Charles.

These hiking trails are maintained by the Council Hiking Committee, which is made up of dedicated trail coordinators. If you are interested in volunteering with this group, please contact the Greater St. Louis Area Council Camping Department at camping@stlbsa.org.

Check out the list below to find your unit’s next outdoor adventure!

HOW TO REGISTER FOR TRAIL HIKES

Applications to hike all trails must be filed at least two weeks in advance at the Camping Department, which will issue a permit.

• Cub Scouts may hike the Shippey Color Trails (2-9 miles) at Beaumont.  There is a recognition patch.
• Webelos may hike these 10-mile hikes: Gateway West, 1904 World’s Fair and Les Petites Cotes.
• Any Scout may hike any trail except the School Craft, Daniel Boone, Taum Sauk and Lost Creek. Scouts hiking these four trails must have hiking experience.

All Boy Scouts, Explorers, Venturers and Scouters hiking trails should be in uniform.  There must be two adult leaders for every 10 Scouts who hike, and one leader for each additional 10 Scouts.  A fee of $3.00 per hiker covers cost of awards.  This fee is payable after the trail has been hiked and should accompany the Trail Hike Report.

GSLAC TRAILS

Anpetu-We Trail
This is a 10-mile trail (5 miles up and 5 miles back) that winds up Mount Logan at Camp Lewallen. Anpetu-We Trail is a perfect backpack trail to get ready for Philmont because it offers a chance to do a hike with a dry campsite — meaning you have to carry your own water in. The one and only campsite is located near the top of Mount Logan. It is also possible to do this hike in one day.

John J. Audubon Trail
Located in the Mark Twain National Forest just west of Ste. Genevieve, this 12-mile trail is a wonderful trail hike to do as a one- or two-day trek. This trail is currently the only council-sponsored trail that has a GPS geo-cache located on a section of the trial (this would be a good trail to teach with GPS). Hikers will encounter approximately 3,000 vertical feet of ups and downs, so consider this terrain as rugged.

John J. Audubon Trail Map​

Daniel Boone Trail
This one-way 20-mile trail in St. Charles and Warren Counties follows the Katy Trail for 15 miles of its length. It starts in Defiance and takes scenic back roads to Matson, where it joins the Katy Trail. Augusta is a good halfway point. The Boone Trail leaves the Katy Trail a little past Dutzow to end at the Daniel Boone Monument. Troops can use the trail for the one-day, 20-mile requirement of Hiking Merit Badge, or they can bike the Katy Trail straight from Defiance to Dutzow and then the Boone Monument for the 15-mile requirement of Cycling Merit Badge.

Daniel Boone Trail Map

Carondelet-Jefferson Barracks Trail
This 12-mile closed-loop city hike is located in the Carondelet-Jefferson Barracks area of south St. Louis and south St. Louis County. This trail covers many historic buildings and sites, along with two scenic overlooks of the Mississippi River. Bring a camera, as this trail can offer the Scout a chance to work on the Photography merit badge.

Carondelet-Jefferson Barracks Trail​

Gateway West Historical Trail
This is a circular 10-mile city hike that begins and ends at Eads Bridge in downtown St. Louis. It is a question-and-answer trail over many of the historical sites in downtown and south St. Louis. Many of the historical sites also offer tours of their facilities, so plan ahead and visit some of these sites while you hike and learn about the city of St. Louis.

Gateway West Historical Trail Map

Green-Rock Trail
The hike starts at the Rockwood Range Tract, travels through the Greensfelder County Park, and finishes its one way 14-mile hike at Rockwoods Reservations where the museum and wildlife displays are available for nature and wildlife education. This trail can also be hiked backwards to complete the trail as a 20-mile hike and fulfill one of the requirements for the Hiking merit badge. This trail is 99 percent in the woods, and it is also a perfect opportunity to work on individual advancement with the use of map and compass.

Green Rock Trail Map​

Henry School Craft Trail
This map and compass trail can be divided into north and south loops located in the Mark Twain National Forest southwest of Potosi, Mo. The south loop is approximately 9 miles long, while the north loop is approximately 5 miles. Many hiking options are available, such as individual day hikes of the two loops, combinations of the two loops and backpacking. This trail also can be used with GPS navigation equipment.

Henry Rowe Schoolcraft Trail Map

Les Petites Cotes Trail
A circular 10-mile urban hike located in historic St. Charles, the first capitol of Missouri. This is a question-and-answer trail over many of the historical sites in downtown St. Charles. Many of the historical sites offer tours of their facilities, so plan ahead and visit some of these sites while you hike and learn about the city of St. Charles.

Les Petites Cotes Trail Map​

Lost Creek Trail
This is a 20-mile circular hiking and bicycling trail located in Warren County, Mo. The entire trail is over county and state roads. The trail starts in Pendleton. The trail can be used to cover some of the requirements for the Hiking and Cycling merit badges.

Lost Creek Trail Map

Moses Austin Trail
The 14.5-mile wilderness trail is in a rugged section of the Clark National Forest in Washington County, northwest of Potosi, Mo. This is a wonderful trail to work on the Backpacking merit badge.

Moses Austin Trail Map

Pioneer Trace
This rugged 17-mile circular trail around the perimeter of the Beaumont Scout Reservation is ideal for overnight backpacking programs. Groups planning high-adventure treks will find the trail to be a challenging shake down. It is a great trail to work on the Backpacking merit badge.

Shawnee Trail
The Shawnee Trail, named after one of the Greater St. Louis Area Council’s Order of the Arrow lodges, was developed to be a 20-mile hiking trail in the woods at Beaumont Scout Reservation. The trail follows a number of the other hiking trails located at Beaumont.  It is all 10 percent or less in slope.

Shippey Color Trail System
There are four different short trails at Beaumont Scout Reservation. The Red Trail is 5.2 miles long, the Green Trail is 4.4 miles long, the Yellow Trail is 2.5 miles long and the Blue Trail is 9 miles long. Each color trail goes into a different part of Beaumont and offers a different view of what Beaumont has to offer.

Taum Sauk Trail
The Taum Sauk Trail is now part of the Ozark Trail.  Please go to www.ozarktrail.com to get map and information about hiking the Taum Sauk Trail portion of the Ozark Trail. Scout camping is available at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park.

The Taum Sauk Trail was made possible through the efforts of the late J.L. “Pop” Connelly, and was formally dedicated on April 12, 1958. Many scouts and scouters have been able to experience the natural beauty of the Ozarks thanks to his efforts. Below is a link to a news article detailing some of the history of the trail and the dedication of a memorial to “Pop” Connelly. Also listed is a program from the trail dedication in 1958.

Mountain Echo
Taum Sauk Trail Dedication Program

Three Notch Trail
This trail is a 21-mile, two 10-mile loops joined by a 1-mile connector, at the S bar F Scout Ranch. You will hike through many of the wilderness areas not normally seen by Scouts at summer camp. The hike can be done in separate loops and it is great for backpacking with the West Loop rated at moderate and the East Loop rated difficult.

Three Notch Trail Map
Three Notch Preparation

Tomahawk Trail
The 12-mile circular forest trail lies entirely within Beaumont Scout Reservation. Much of this trail follows scenic ridge tops and up or down at 10 percent or less grade in most places. This trail qualifies as one of the five 10-mile trails required for the Hiking merit badge.  There are several places to camp on the trail, which makes this a great backpacking hike also.

Tomahawk Trail Map

1904 World’s Fair Trail
This 10-mile trail goes all around Forest Park and part of the Washington University campus. This trail helps tell the story of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition held in St. Louis in 1904. There are many places to visit in addition to hiking the trail, such as the St. Louis Zoo, History Museum, Art Museum and the World’s Fair Pavilion.

1904 Worlds Fair Trail

World Wide Technology Raceway

April 29, 2023 9:00 AM to 2:00 pm

Inaugural Council Pinewood Derby - Celebrating 70 years of pinewood car racing!

Join us on the morning of Saturday, April 29 at World Wide Technology Raceway for a council wide competition and other fun. Sponsored by the generosity of WWT Raceway Gives.

For all Cub Scouts, and a league for Scouts BSA and Venturing to compete! Don't miss this grand time!
The Pinewood Derby is one of the highlights of a Cub Scout's year and great memories for older Scouts. This event will bring Scouts from across the council to have some fun as they race their cars to see who has the fastest one.

This event is open to ALL Cub Scouts in the Council, regardless of a Scout's placement at their home Pack's or District race.

Fee is only $5 per car to enter, all spectators are free. Please register by April 22. Youth under 18 must be in the care of an adult.

Click here for more information to to register: https://buff.ly/3TRKFlx

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!

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 Unit Leaders per ride. Trail Rides are available for 1 and 1/12 hour, 3 hour, 6 hour of an overnight trail ride. We have horses that handle for your experience level.

All Trail Rides are available Saturday and/or Sunday during the months of September thru May.

• For March Trial Rides are only available on Sunday.

• Overnight rides are only available during the months of April, May, September, 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 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/Venturers 11 and older.

6 hour and overnight rides are recommended for Scouts/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.

2024 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 7 via zoom meeting

Session 1: Saturday, Mar. 9

Session 2: Saturday, Mar. 16

Session 3: Saturday, Mar. 23

Registration Coming Soon!

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.
• $50 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.

HORSE CAMP July 23-29, 2023

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 Venturing age, 13 and out of the eighth grade.

Registration is now open for this year’s Horse Camp.

Maximum number of participants is 24. The Greater St. Louis Area Council Trail Guide Committee provides adult leadership for Horse Camp.

You can sign up for Horse Camp here.

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.

The Map & Compass Committee supports a variety of programs focused on these important skills. These programs include:

• Scouts BSA First Class Orienteering Event - This event is designed to fulfill the orienteering requirement for the First Class Scouts BSA rank. Pre-registration is required and must be by troop.  There is no individual registration. Scouts must be under the supervision of their unit leaders. Scouts should show up prepared for the event. No instruction/training in orientation can be provided at the event. Register here.

  Date: April 1, 2023
  Location: Emerson Porch – Beaumont
  Time: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

• Map & Compass Training - For leaders 18 years and older. This training prepares leaders to take their troops through the map and compass program at Beaumont Scout Reservation. The program is a progressive learning experience incorporating games, fun, map reading and compass skills. Learn More by clicking here. Date: February 25, 2023
  Location: Sverdrup Lodge – Beaumont
  Time: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
• Scout Orienteering Festival - This annual event at Beaumont Scout Reservation allows Scouts to put their skills to the test and enjoy a fun Orienteering course competition.Date: March 11, 2023
  Location: Emerson Porch and Parade Ground - Beaumont
  Time: 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM

The BSA’s STEM initiative gives Scouts an opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics related concepts and learn how STEM knowledge is used in everyday life and in the professional world. The aim is to expose youth to new opportunities and help build interest in the STEM-related careers that are so crucial to our future economy.

Learn More by clicking here.

University of Scouting

University of Scouting is an event that offers the widest variety of Merit Badge clinics as well as training opportunities, in all program areas, all in one place! You will find just about anything to do with Scouting at University of Scouting whether you are a Scout, leader, commissioner, or parent!

Mark your calendars for the 2022 University of Scouting on January 28th, 2023! Click Here for more information.