Scouts can participate in many activities and events held throughout the council's geographic territory. Community organizations, nonprofits and government institutions often provide programs and activities for Scout units.
Through May - DaVinci Machines II: The DaVinci Machines Exhibition, on loan from the Museum of Leonardo DaVinci in Florence, Italy, contains over 60 hand-crafted inventions built from Leonardo's 500-year-old designs. Visit the DaVinci Machines Exhibition site for more info on the exhibit, or see the Davinci Machines flyer for more information pertaining to the local attraction.
Through May - Saint Louis Zoo: Programs for young children and their caregivers include “Baby Animals,” “Counting Critters,” “Slither, Hop and Fly,” “Insect Extravaganza” and more. The Totes for Tots series features educational circle time, a book reading, an animal guest and an adventure tote bag to take on a Zoo exploration. Science and education programs are also available for home school students and their parents. Day and evening badge programs are available for Cub Scouts and Webelos; program fees vary, and advance registration is required. Visit Zoo Education Department or call 314-646-4544.
Through May - Camp-ins at The Magic House: Bear and Webelos groups can camp inside "under the
exhibits" and have The Magic House all to themselves on select Fridays
from October through May. Campers explore the more than 100 hands-on
exhibits in The Magic House, enjoy an evening snack and light breakfast,
sleep among the exhibits, take part in fun badge activities, and
receive a special Magic House patch. Cost is $32 per person and at
least one adult is required for every five Scouts. A $50 non-refundable
deposit is due when making reservations. Reservations are required at magichouse.org or by calling 314-822-8900.
APRIL
27 - ZooQuest for Families: This popular program is part scavenger hunt and part trivia challenge for families with children in grades 1-6. Learn about dragons, elephants, flamingos and giraffe in the Animal Alphabets series for families with children in kindergarten to grade 3. Adult programs include a ZooQuest for adults, morning tours and evening science presentations. For more information, isit Zoo Education Department or call 314-646-4544.
MAY
14 & 29 - Cardinals Boy Scout Nights: The St. Louis Cardinals presents Boy Scout Nights at Busch Stadium on May 14 vs. New York Mets and on May 29 vs. Kansas City Royals. Both games start at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $14 and include a Boy Scout patch. For more information and to order tickets, visit Cardinals Boy Scout Night.
JUNE
9 - Shriners Circus Scout Night: Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from southern Illinois and their families are invited to Scout Night, the 6 p.m. performance of the Shriners Circus on Sunday, June 9, at the Illinois State Fair Grounds, Prairie Center, Du Quoin, Ill. Scouts are asked to wear at least uniform shirts.Scouts are admitted with a free pass (a value of $10) with an adult admission of $14. For more information, contact John Blondell.
JULY
27 - Scout Sleepovers at MOBot: The Missouri Botanical Gardens offers Webelos an opportunity to explore and experience the world-renowned Garden at night, sleep outside amid the lush landscapes, and work toward badge requirements. For more information, including how to sign up, please see the 
MBG Scout Overnights Flyer.
SEPTEMBER
28 - Scout Sleepovers at MOBot: The Missouri Botanical Gardens offers Wolves & Bears an opportunity to explore and experience the world-renowned Garden at night, sleep outside amid the lush landscapes, and work toward badge requirements. For more information, including how to sign up, please see the MBG Scout Overnights Flyer.
Throughout 2013
City Museum Pick-a-Patch: There are
new badge options for Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos and Boy Scouts --
and, of course, all programs allow Scouts to explore City Museum! To
schedule a Pick-a-Patch program, contact Tracey at groups@citymuseum.org.
Pick-a-Patch programs are $16 per Scout and $6 per escort or sibling.
City Museum requires two weeks' notice to schedule a program.
Giant City Stables: The stables at Giant City State Park offer many different programs for Scouts. They can be found at the Giant City Stables website, or call 618-529-4110 for more information or to discuss other options for your pack or troop.
Learn and Earn at Leftovers, Etc.: Leftovers, Etc. in St. Charles offers 101 Cub Scout Achievement, Elective and
Academic Pin and Belt Loop workshops for Tigers, Wolves, Bears and
Webelos. Leftovers also offers 17 Boy Scout workshops that complete
merit badge requirements.Workshops are offered from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Leftovers is closed on Sunday. For more information, or to schedule an
activity, call 636-946-9779.
The Magic House: Scouts are
invited to troop on over The Magic House for their next Scouting
adventure. During the school year, Scout Workshops for Cub Scout packs
are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 4:00 p.m., on
select Fridays at 4:00 p.m., 5:15 p.m., or 6:30 p.m., and on select
Saturdays at 10:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:00 p.m., or 2:45 p.m. These
programs meet requirements for Bears (Electricity and Nature Craft
Electives and Art Electives) and Webelos (Scientist Activity Badge and
Artist Activity Badge). Workshop fee per Scout workshop is $8.75 per
person for all accompanying adults and leaders.
All Scout programs include admission to The Magic House. Reservations are required and can be made online at The Magic House's website or by calling The Magic House at 314-822-8900 ext. 18.
Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District: The
Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District is an intermediate state
appellate court that hears appeals from trial courts in the eastern half
of Missouri. The court consists of fourteen judges who dispose of more
than 1600 cases per year. The court has organized a Speaker's Bureau to
help inform and educate Missouri citizens about the state court system.
The judges on the Court make themselves available to speak to groups and
organizations to explain who they are and what they do. The Court also
welcomes visitors to its location in the historic Old Post Office. If
you are interested in having one of the judges from the Court address
your group or in touring the Court, please contact the Clerk of the
Court, Laura Roy, at 314-539-4300 to make the necessary arrangements.
MOBot Scouting Programs: Missouri
Botanical Gardens has a selection of more than 13 different, instructor-led
Cub Scout programs. All programs align with badge and council
requirements and create a unique learning atmosphere for your Scouts.
They also offer Scout overnights throughout the year; visit the MOBot Scout Programs site for more information and a calendar of events.
Puppet Potpourri at the Sugar Shack: The Sugar Shack in Kirkwood presents Tom Bonham's Puppet Potpourri the first and third Saturday of the month at 1:00 pm. The 30-minute show features marionettes, rod puppets, and glove puppets. Reservations are required; contact Barb at the Sugar Shack at (314) 966-0065 or Barb@kirkwoodsugarshack.com.
Safety Basics: Run
by two licensed nurses, Safety Basics hosts safety classes and first
aid programs in the St. Louis area. To see a list of scheduled
classes, or for more information about booking a program for your group, visit the Safety Basics website.
Snooze at the Zoo: The Saint Louis Zoo offers the opportunity to work on merit badges and stay the night at the Zoo! Separate programs are offered for Webelos, Cub Scouts, and Boy Scouts.
Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour: Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour is Illinois’ first entirely tree-based, eco-friendly zip-line canopy tour, located on 83 wooded acres surrounded by the Shawnee National Forest near Marion, Ill. The tour experience consists of eight zip lines, the longest stretching more than 1,100 feet, which will zig-zag across the property’s bluffs and through the valley. The tour also includes 11 platforms high in the trees, three aerial suspension bridges, the longest stretching 180 feet, and two short ground hikes. Individual pricing is $85; groups of 8 or more get a 10 percent discount. For more information, visit
Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour and
Facebook.
You can find out more at www.shawneezip.com. You can also find more up to the minute info on Facebook at Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour.
Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House: The education department offers two options for Scouts visiting the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. First, enhance a self-guided tour with an activity booklet, filled with age-appropriate word games and puzzles to complete as children study the insects and other animals on display. An accompanying patch serves as commemoration for your visit. For a more involved visit, consider bringing a Webelos den to the Butterfly House for the Case of the Dismembered Cricket. After being sworn in as detectives for the Bug Bureau of Investigation, clues must be collected to solve the caper of crickets missing from a garden. Call 636-530-0076 x13 for details and to place a reservation, or visit The Butterfly House or The Butterfly School for more information.
St. Louis Children's Hospital: St.
Louis Children's Hospital offers private classes for groups of 10 or
more, and will even come to your location. Classes listed below meet
some badge requirements. Call 314-286-0464 or email programs@bjc.org to schedule a private class.
- Basic Aid Training - Four-hour first aid program for ages 9-12. A completion card is given at the end of the class; workbook and light snack are provided. $15/child
- Babysitting 101 - Four-hour introduction to the basics of
babysitting. Topics include the business of babysitting, child
development, safety/first aid, fun and games, and more; workbook and
light snack provided. $30/child
- Staying Home Alone - Two-hour class to help parents and children
determine the child's readiness - physically, mentally, socially, and
emotionally - to stay home by themselves, and help prepare them for the
experience; workbooks are provided - one for parents and one for
children. $25/parent & child
- Helmet Safety Checks - Kids can bring their own helmet and a trained
safety expert will check it for proper fit. Parents and their children
will learn how to adjust the helmet themselves so they can continue this
important safety practice at home. New helmets available for $8;
minimum of 20 participants required.
Vertical Voyages: Climbing course company Vertical Voyages offers a 10 percent discount to Scouts. You can see the courses they offer at Vertical Voyages.
(Note: Technical tree-climbing with ropes or harnesses is not
authorized as an approved activity by the Boy Scouts of America.)
