Scouts BSA Events

Come experience The Ranch in the Fall by taking part in the Fall Ranger Program, October 28-30, 2022!

This weekend will provide participants with the opportunity to explore the backcountry of S-F during a time of year that gives a whole new perspective on the scenery and wildlife that comprises this Scouting paradise. Participants will try their hand at trail cooking, black powder rifle shooting, and more, which are all activities that Scouts and Venturers can do during the week-long summer Ranger program. The program is open to youth age 14 and older.

2023 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.

2023 Workshop Dates
July 31st- August 3rd, 2023| Register HERE
December Workshop Date (date coming late Spring of 2023)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

To reserve a spot, visit our online portal: Online Reservations

TRAIL RIDES
Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Explorers can hit the trail, beginning and ending at Nagel Base. 10 horses are available for each 1 and 1/12 hour ride. We have horses that handle for your experience level.September through October 31, December 1 through May 15th. Saturday and/or Sunday.$20 per person.

2023 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: TBD
Session 1: Saturday, Mar. 11
Session 2: Saturday, Mar. 18
Session 3: Saturday, Mar. 25

Registration Coming Soon!

• 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.

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. Must pass a riding test to make sure everyone is at an advanced level.

Registration opens January 2, 2023!

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 12 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. Trail Ride participants must be at least 11 years old.

• Hayrides: Tigers, Cub Scouts, Webelos, Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Explorers as well as leaders and parents
• Six-Hour Trail Rides & Overnight Trail Ride: Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Explorers 11 years old and up at the time of the ride
• Horse Camp: Scouts BSA and Venturers and who are 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 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.

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.

2023 National Jamboree
July 19 – 28, 2023
Summit Bechtel Reserve
Glen Jean, West Virginia

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 8^th grade), Venturers, and adult leaders/advisors.

Contact Jon Jonas (j.jonas@att.net) or George Ripplinger (gripplinger@att.net) for questions.

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.

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 will be coming!

STEM U UMSL - December  10, 2022
STEM U SEMO - January 7, 2023

STEM U SIUC - February 25, 2023
Cub Scout College >>> enroll HERE
Scouts BSA College >>> enroll HERE

STEM College - Lake Land College - March 18, 2023
Cub Scout College >>> enroll HERE
Scouts BSA College >>> enroll HERE

March 18, 2023 - Beaumont Scout Reservation
Registration Here!

The Shoot-O-Ree is open to registered Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Venturers. Scout-age siblings may participate too. Cub Scouts and Cub Scout-age siblings should have an adult partner present throughout the day.

All activities run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Scouts and Venturers - stop by at any time and stay for as long as they like.

Cub Scouts: BB gun shooting, archery, sling shots, water balloons, rubber band shooters, marshmallow shooters, and more!

Scouts BSA and Venturers: Tomahawk throwing, handguns, catapult launching, shotguns, rifles and archery - Scouts BSA and Venturers will get to enjoy a wider variety of shooting at the rifle range.

All registered and paid participants will receive a wristband and punch card for access to Shoot-O-Ree activities. Shooting activities include BB gun shooting, archery, sling shots, and more.

Just a few reminders and details regarding the event:

• This event is not a drop off/ pick up event, meaning parents/guardians/unit leaders must attend with the scouts.
• Don't forget to bring water bottles and closed toe shoes. While rain is not in the forecast, the event will occur rain or shine.

Note: Shooting activities require instruction and a safety briefing. Safety around firearms is a key lesson to learn in life. 

What is it?

This is a multi-day skills and endurance backpacking race with four person teams and multiple checkpoint challenges, scored by overall time. Register as a four person team or individually. Individuals will be placed into a team.

Teams will be hiking over 20 miles during the course. At LSS, you will be tested​ ​physically and mentally. Participants should have good map reading skills.

October 21-23, 2023
S-F Scout Ranch | Register Here

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. Scouts will also get to try their hand at shooting sports! Don’t miss this chance to have an awesome day at camp while fulfilling many Scout through First Class rank requirements!

Event Dates

May 20th| Beaumont Scout Reservation
Register HERE