STL After Dark
Join us for a night of exploring St. Louis sites after dark and other rec-center fun activities!
Description: Half Lock-in, Half Behind the Scenes Tours, all Fun! Join us for a night of exploring St. Louis sites after dark and other rec-center fun activities!
Who:Â Venturers, Sea Scouts, and older Scouts BSA Scouts.
When: January 13th, 2024
Where:Â At St. Louis
Registration:Â Â scoutingevent.com/312-dark24
Taste of Venturing
Join in the fun at Taste of Venturing!
Whether you camp with your unit for the weekend or come out just for the day, its going to be an action packed weekend of fun at Warren Levis!
The event is packed with activities including:
- Shooting sports - rifles, pistols and more
- Climbing - crate stacking, bouldering wall
- Lake Activities
- STEM fun
- Silk Screening
This event is open to all Venturers, Sea Scouts, and Scouts BSA Scouts aged 14 or 13 and have in 8th grade (great recruiting opportunity) and older!
DATE: March 22-24, 2024
Register Here
VSOA Celebration Event
May 19, 2024
3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Salem in Ballwin UMC (14825 Manchester Rd, 63011) then Vlasis Park Pavilion #2
The theme for the VSOA Celebration is “Venturing Fun”. This is the formal recognition event for the Venturing and Sea Scouting programs in GSLAC. As always, this event includes the formal awards presentation of our youth and adults (deadlines for submitting recipients are below). Following the presentation, the youth ask you to join us for the BBQ Buffet and outdoor fun.
2:30pm (Check-in), 3pm (Awards Program & Key Note), 4pm (Fellowship time/Changing clothes), 4:30pm (Backyard Games and BBQ Buffet), 5:15pm (Team Competitions & Kickball).
Attire: Uniforms are appropriate for the Awards Presentation. There will be space to change. For the BBQ Dinner and Carnival Games we highly recommend clothes that you don’t care if they get wet (if you choose to participate in all the backyard game options).
You are encouraged to bring family, friends, and prospective Venturers & Sea Scouts to this event. This is the perfect opportunity to showcase the excellence of our recipients, celebrate the events the VSOA led this past year, and then have fun meeting other Venturers and Sea Scouts.
Presentation Items:
If you have an award recipient that you haven't submitted yet, please get that information to awards@venturing.gslac.org by April 15th. That way we have time to add them to the script. (Check below if your unit should be providing the award for the actual presentation.)
We will recognize the recipients this year of:
- Venturing Discovery and Pathfinder (Unit Provided)
- Sea Scout Ordinary and Apprentice (Unit Provided)
- Sea Scout Quartermaster (Let us know if you already have the award)
- Venturing Summit (Let us know if you already have the award)
- Venturing Leadership Award (Council Provided)
- Sea Scout Leadership Award (Council Provided)
- VSOA Outstanding Service Award (Council Provided)
Backyard Games will include: Pin Knockdown, Rubber Ducky Pull, Giant Connect 4, Backyard Golf, and Ring Toss.
Team Competitions will include: Tug of War, Dizzy Bat Race, Balloon Relay, Water Relay, and Water Balloon Toss.
Pricing:
- Early Bird: $18 by April 15th
- Regular: $22 by May 4th
- Late: $24 by May 12th
Swift's Big Kickoff
Description: Join in the fun as we kick off the summer at Swift. The day kicks off with improving our favorite summer camp. After some meaningful projects we’ll enjoy some of the fun of the Swift Base and have a party all on our own. Best yet, this is a free event!
When:Â Friday 05-31-2024 6:00 PM CDT - Sunday 06-02-2024 PM CDT
Where:Â S-F Scout Ranch
Registration:Â Â scoutingevent.com/312-swiftko24
Swift Base
Description: Home of the Venturing Summer Camp. Swift is full of adventure every week. Rock Climbing, High/Low Ropes Challenge Course, Equestrian Activities, Water Skiing, Mountain Biking, STEM Activities, Mountain Boarding, Tubing, and Repelling. Join other Venturers Sea Scouts, and older Scouts for a week of high adventure fun and exciting.
Date:Â June 23Â - 29, 2024
Registration:Â http://swift.stlbsa.org
Sea Scout Ball
Description: This annual event put on by the Sea Scout Squadron for the Council includes food, a dance, and often an evening on the water sailing. Don’t miss out on this unique event for all!
Date:Â August 3, 2024
Registration:Â Â scoutingevent.com/312-ball24
Fall Fun Rally
Fall Fun Rally includes non-stop activities for Venturers, Sea Scouts, Explorers, and Older Scouts (High School). It is a unique event where the main focus is fun!
Event Details: SEPTEMBER 20-22, 2024 at Beaumont Scout Reservation.
Learn More About Fall Fun Rally http://www.fallfunrally.org/
Thank you to our 2023 Event Sponsor Army ROTC!
Scouting for Food
Nov. 16 (bag distribution) and Nov. 23 (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 2023 drive details!
Thank you to our 2023 Sponsors:
75th Memorial Day Good Turn at Jefferson Barracks
Gravois Trail 75th Annual Jefferson Barracks Memorial Day Good Turn
Scouts of all ages are invited to participate in the 75th Annual Memorial Day Good Turn on May 26, 2024, 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. A commemorative 75th Anniversary patch 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 75th year (2024), 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
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.
Climbing, Rappelling, & Challenge Courses
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.
Fishing
2024 Scout Fishing Day @ S Bar F
Saturday, September 21, 2024
All Scouting youth are invited to experience fishing on Nim's Lake at S-F! Our Council Canoe Guides will be onsite to give you tips and tricks on fishing and help you have a great day.
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:Â https://mdc-web.s3licensing.com/
Illinois:Â 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. Â 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:
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!
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.
1.5 Hour Ride - $35/person
3 Hour Ride - $45/person
6 Hour Ride - $55/person
Overnight Ride - $100/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.
HORSE CAMP July 28 - August 3, 2024
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.
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.
Iron Scout
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 this event, you will be tested​ ​physically and mentally. Participants should have good map reading skills.
October 13-15, 2023
S-F Scout Ranch | Register Here
Council-wide Pinewood Derby
March 2 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, IL
World Wide Technology Raceway
March 2, 2024Â Â 9:00 AM to 1:00 pm
Council Pinewood Derby - Celebrating 71 years of pinewood car racing!
Join us on the morning of Saturday, March 2 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 February 23. Youth under 18 must be in the care of an adult.
Click HERE for more information to to register.
Camp Warren Levis 100th Anniversary Celebration
Camp Warren Levis will be Celebrating its 100th year in 2024. There will be a celebration at camp for all ages to participate in activities, to fellowship with new and old friends, and to have the opportunity to see the view of the lake from the porch. There are several ways to register and enjoy the day at camp.
The 100th Anniversary Celebration will take place on October 5, 2024. This is the same weekend of the annual Rendezvous. Individuals that are interested in participating in both events will have the opportunity to experience camp in a new way. Rendezvous will start at 8:00am and will conclude at 3:00pm, then starting at 3:00pm the 100th Anniversary activities will start and end with with a campfire by 10:00pm.
There will be program and activities at both Rendezvous and the 100th Anniversary Celebration for all ages.
Registration Opportunities and what's included:Â
Day Pass (Rendezvous from 8am-3pm, event patch, lunch) $25
Celebration (Rendezvous and Celebration, event patch, lunch and dinner) $60
Scouts Attending Rendezvous (Rendezvous from Rendezvous Registration, Celebration, event patch, dinner) $30
Everything CWL 100th (Rendezvous and Celebration, event patch, shirt, buckle, event sticker, lunch and dinner) $100
Staff (Celebration, event patch, and dinner) $15
Youth under 5 years old Free
Click HERE to download the Venturing Calendar!