Programs
DISCOVER FUN, ADVENTURE, AND LEARNING THROUGH SCOUTING.
Scouting is a year-round program uniquely designed to meet the needs of both boys and girls and their families. The program offers fun and challenging activities that promote character development and physical fitness. Family involvement is an essential part of the program, and parents are encouraged to play an active role in making the most of the short time they have to impact the lives of their children.
With parent’s and kid’s schedules growing busier every day, Scouting makes the most of what little time parents have to positively impact thier children’s lives.
Scouting is designed to be experienced outdoors. Hiking, camping, mountain biking, skateboarding, BMX, mountain climbing, kayaking, whitewater rafting–these are just some of a Scout’s outdoor experiences.
Does this sound like your kind of adventure?
The Laurel Highlands Council offers many programs. We invite you to expand each section below to learn more about each Scouting program.
Cub Scouts
Cub Scouts is a year-round, family-friendly program designed for boys and girls who are in kindergarten through fifth grade (ages 5-10). Activities are used to achieve the aims of Scouting- citizenship training, character development and personal fitness.
Cub Scouts have the time of their lives making new friends and learning new things in an environment designed to help them succeed. From building their own Pinewood Derby® car to learning how to roast the perfect marshmallow with their best friends at a family camp out, your child will LOVE being a Cub Scout. So if your child is in the kindergarten through fifth grade, or 5 to 10 years old, then it’s time for them to have some fun with the Cub Scouts!
SCOUTS BSA
Scouts BSA is designed for boys and girls ages 11-18, Scouts learn responsible citizenship, character development and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities and educational programs.
For over 110 years, Scouting programs have instilled in youth the values found in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Today, these values are just as relevant in helping youth grow to their full potential as they were in 1910. Scouting helps youth develop academic skills, self-confidence, ethics, leadership skills, and citizenship skills that influence their adult lives.
In Scouting, Scouts learn through the experiences of camping, hiking, building projects and community service. These experiences allow the youth to grow and mature at their own pace. And, it is the results of these experiences that cause parents to say, “There are things learned in Scouting which a child cannot readily pick up elsewhere.” It is also through these experiences that parents and sons get an opportunity to share and talk about their thoughts, feelings, goals, and values.
Scouting provides youth with a sense that they are important as individuals. It is communicated to them that those in the Scouting family care about what happens to them, regardless of whether a game is won or lost.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Scouting promotes activities that lead to personal responsibility and high self-esteem. As a result, when hard decisions have to be made, peer pressure can be resisted and the right choices can be made.
VENTURING
Venturing is an older youth program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women ages 14-20. This youth-led program is all about building adventures with your friends! Choose the activities that you want to do, develop the essential skills of leadership, event-planning, organization, communication and much more all while having fun!
Venturing follows the “ALPS Model”, which stands for Adventure, Leadership, Personal Growth, and Service. You’ll acquire life skills and gain experiences that will prove to be valuable regardless of where your future takes you, all while having a blast!
The Venturing program aims to enable young adults to:
- Experience a program that is fun and full of challenge and adventure.
- Acquire skills in the area of their crew’s specialty.
- Become a skilled training and program resource for other youth groups.
- Experience positive leadership from adult and youth leaders and be given opportunities to take on leadership roles.
- Learn to make ethical choices throughout their lives by instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
- Have a chance to learn and grow in a supportive, caring, and fun environment.
Ready to lead the Adventure? Click the link below.
EXPLORING
Exploring is a career learning program for young men and women between the ages of 14 and 20. Exploring units, called “posts”, usually have a focus on a single career field, such as police, fire/rescue, health, law, aviation or engineering.
Exploring is a worksite-based program that is part of Learning for Life’s career education program. Youth who are 13 years old and within 6 months of their 14th birthday can also register as Explorers. Any youth may remain an Explorer up until the day they turn 21 years old and then are aged out of the youth side of Exploring.
Exploring is broken up into three separate programs: Business, Law Enforcement, and Fire and Emergency Services Exploring. Exploring’s purpose is to provide experiences that help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Explorers are ready to investigate the meaning of interdependence in their personal relationships and communities.
Exploring is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between youth and the organizations in their communities. Local community organizations initiate a specific Explorer post by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community.
SEA SCOUTS
Sea Scouts is a program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women ages 14 to 20. For over 100 years Sea Scouting has promoted better citizenship and improved members’ boating skills through instruction and practice in water safety, boating skills, outdoor, social, service experiences, and knowledge of our maritime heritage. Sea Scout units– called ships- are established all across the country on oceans, bays, rivers, and lakes. They provide limitless opportunities and exciting challenges that you won’t find anywhere else. Sea Scouts is a place to grow and learn, find adventure, and build long lasting friendships. Sea Scouting doesn’t take place on just in an actual ship; you can participate on land, on a small boat in a man made lake, or even under the water!
Check out this video detailing the Sea Scout Program
Ready to learn more about Sea Scouts or to find a local ship or Flotilla?
