Activities + Events

Participating in a National BSA High Adventure trip can be the pinnacle of a Scout’s journey.  Life changing adventure awaits at each of the BSA’s four National High Adventure Bases.

If you have a group of between 7 and 12 Scouts and Adults interested in attending one of the bases, contact our Council High Adventure Committee will work with you to coordinate a trip (form is at the bottom of this page).  Crew reservations must be made by September at least two years prior to desired attendance.

Philmont Scout Ranch is the BSA’s premier high adventure base serving over 25,000 Scouts annually. Located outside of Cimarron, NM, Philmont Scout Ranch offers miles of backpacking, rock climbing, mule treks, and much, much, much more.

LHC coordinated trips include two days of touring to get used to the elevation before arriving at Philmont for the adventure of a lifetime. Click the link below to learn more about Philmont! 

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2021 LHC PHILMONT CONTINGENT

The Boy Scouts of America, Laurel Highlands Council 2021 Philmont Expedition is limited to a maximum of 27 youth and 9 adult participants.

Scouts/Venturers must be at least First Class (or equivalent) rank and age 14 by the beginning of the expedition and must not turn age 21 before the end of the expedition. 

Adult spaces are limited. The LHC High Adventure Committee reserves the right to select adult participants based upon Philmont’s adult to youth participation ratio, Scouting background, and BSA policy.  Co-ed crews must have a female adviser aged 21 years or older.

For more information about the 2021 Laurel Highlands Council contingent, please click the More Information button below. 

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The Florida Sea Base is the BSA’s tropical home based in the Florida Keys. Program offerings include island camping, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving, fishing, and much, much more. 

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Norther Tier High Adventure Program is the BSA’s crown jewel of the North and is made up of three separate bases.  Headquartered in Ely, MN programs include canoeing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of the US and Canada and winter camping.

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The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scouting Reserve, located in the mountains of Southern West Virginia, is the BSA’s fourth high adventure base.  Construction of The Summit marks the largest project the BSA has ever undertaken.  As of 2013, The Summit serves as the permanent home of the National Scout Jamboree and will host the World Scout Jamboree in 2019.  The High Adventure base opened in 2014 with programs that include climbing, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, shooting and much, much more.

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For more than 200 years, the American flag has been the symbol of our nation’s strength and unity. It’s been a source of pride and inspiration for millions of citizens. And the American Flag has been a prominent icon in our national history.

Laurel Highlands Council has the finest program facility for dramatically portraying “Duty to Country,” and presenting a truly inspirational, educational, and highlighting experience in the life of the members of your unit as they participate in a Historic Flag Ceremony.

With its five stately flag poles towering to 80 feet, Flag Plaza, is an extraordinary sight. Here fly twenty-four hours a day, the 50-star American Flag, the banner of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the crest of the City of Pittsburgh, the ensign of the Boy Scouts of America, and one of the historic forerunners of Old Glory.

We invite your pack, troop or crew to participate in a Historic Flag Ceremony.

DURING YOUR VISIT TO FLAG PLAZA YOU WILL:

• Raise one of the 12×18 foot flags
• Climb the beautiful Eagle Trail Staircase
• View the original works of flag art depicting one of the forerunners of Old Glory.
• See the “You Are The Flag” mural created by noted cartoonist, Milton Caniff.
• Hear the story of our national banner in the “You Are The Flag” video.
• See 13 original works of art, in addition to the inspiring painting, “One Hundred Years Ago,” from our Nation’s Centennial celebration.

Visit the Milton Caniff Gallery containing a collection of his original personal comments in pen and brush, plus July 4, 1976 salutes of great American cartoonists.

Many of today’s youth take their U.S. citizenship for granted. A great way to help educate your Cubs or Scouts on both their privileges and duties as U.S. Citizens is to involve them in a Naturalization Ceremony. The ceremonies take place the third Friday of every other month starting with January at 10:00 a.m. at the Federal Courthouse. As part of the ceremony, your unit will have the opportunity to present the colors and close by leading the Pledge of Allegiance to a group of new United States citizens. This can be part of your scout’s citizenship awareness and citizenship merit badges.

A ceremony is held each month to swear in and welcome our very newest citizens. As members of the Boy Scouts of America, we are chosen to lead the citizens in their very first recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. It is a simple, yet profoundly moving experience to do so.

Packs, troops or crews are encouraged to participate in the program. The ceremonies are held the third Friday of the month. Please contact Charles Huse at 412-325-7950 to be added to the schedule.

Each year, Laurel Highlands Council, in conjunction with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Animal Friends, hosts the Annual Scouting for Food Campaign. This relationship began as a Good Turn for Scouts to refill the food banks in the month of April as many were nearing the end of their fiscal year with low supplies of food. Each year, the annual Scouting for Food Campaign takes place in April and again in November. In 2021, Scouts, families, community members, and organizations from across the Laurel Highlands Council region collected over 70,000 pounds of food and supplies for humans and pets in need. 

Thank you for helping the hungry in your neighborhood.

Ready to make a monetary contribution, click the button below.

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LHC adheres to the Boy Scouts of America’s longstanding policy of teaching its youth and adult members the safe, responsible, intelligent handling, care, and use of firearms, air rifles, BB guns, and archery equipment in planned, carefully managed, and supervised programs.

From Cub Scouting to Venturing, all program divisions use responsible outdoor activities to promote character development and values-based leadership training. Shooting sports have the ability to attract and retain youth in the movement. Millions of young people participate in one or more of the sports annually — archery, rifle shooting, shotgun activities, etc. — guided by adult volunteers who have the skills and knowledge to provide quality programs in a safe and effective way.

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The Ten Commandment and World Faiths Hike includes Organ recitals and free admission to the Phipps Conservatory* after the hike.  Option tours include the Nationality Rooms located in the Cathedral of Learning on Pitt’s Campus, the Sikh Gurdwara, the  Hindu Jain Temple, and the Pittsburgh Buddhist Center over the following three Sundays in December. 

Listen to and learn from clergy who are: Jewish, Anglican, Baptist, Byzantine Catholic, Buddhist, Roman Catholic, Christian Scientist, Greek Orthodox,, Hindu,  Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian. 

A SCOUT IS REVERANT

Since 2006, nearly 5,500 people have attended the Ten Commandment and World Faiths Hike! Make sure you don’t miss the fun this year!

WHAT IS THE TEN COMMANDMENT AND WORLD FAITHS HIKE?

It’s a unique and exciting way to embrace the concept of religious acceptance and respect, learn local history, participate in community service, and have fun.  And it’s a good way to work off that Thanksgiving dinner!