Activities + Events

The COPE and climbing programs offer two compatible yet different programs for your youth. COPE focuses on teamwork, leadership development and planning while climbing offers your youth a chance to climb and rappel.

COPE

Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience is a challenge course or ropes course activity operated for adults and youth comprised of group initiatives, team building, problem solving, and physical challenge. Although COPE uses some of the skills, techniques and tools of rock climbing, it is not a climbing course. Rather, it uses climbing situations as one of several means to achieve its goals, including the development of trust, communication, self-esteem, leadership, problem-solving, decision-making and teamwork.

WHAT TO BRING COPE/CLIMBING

• Long pants and long sleeve shirt
• Bandana
• Bug Spray
• Bag lunch with a drink
• Positive attitude and a smile
• Sturdy foot gear. No open shoes or sandals. Socks must be worn.
• Baseball type hat recommended
• Please no jewelry, watches or necklaces – This includes body pairings. Please remove them or cover them with a band aid.
• Rain gear

*No Cameras during Program

*Releases and Medical forms are all SIGNED and completed

The challenge course is located in a beautiful camp. Please don’t litter and respect the property.

The above gear will make your experience the best that it can be, so please take the time to prepare properly.

COPE/Climbing Consent Form

For more information on upcoming Cope and Climbing Events please visit the Council Calendar.

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.

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.

 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE 

STEP 1: REGISTER! 

Register yourself, Scouting Family, Scouting Unit, or Company for the 2021 Scouting for Food Campaign.  

Register 

STEP 2: PROMOTE! 

Distribute door hangers and flyers in your local community and neighborhood to remind people that you are collecting for the Scouting for Food Campaign. 

STEP 3: COLLECT! 

Be sure to return to each home where you left a door hanger or flyer to pick up any food or other contributions.  

STEP 4: DONATE! 

Take all of your food and non-perishable items to a food bank or food pantry from the list below. If you know of another pantry, church, or community center that is accepting donations, please take your collections there. Or simply make a monetary donation by clicking here. 

STEP 5: REPORT! 

Be sure to weigh or count the number of Scouting for Food boxes that you contribute. Once calculated, report your numbers and donation location by clicking here! 

Scorecard 

WHERE TO DONATE 

Please select a location from this list or another food bank or food pantry near you to deliver your Scouting for Food collections. If you already deliver your food contributions to a specific location, please continue to do so! 

Laurel Highlands Council Collection Day

A collection day will take place on Saturday, April 30th. Units and organizations are encouraged to drop of the food contributions at a local participating food pantry.

If you are unable to participate in the collection day, please be sure to have all food contributions delivered to your selected location and reported by May 1st.

Please be sure to call and make donation arrangements if necessary. 

ANIMAL FRIENDS, PITTSBURGH 

412-536-3885 

Please call to arrange a drop-off time. 

BEDFORD FOOD OUTREACH, BEDFORD 

814-623-4888 

Please call to arrange a drop-off time one week in advance. 

CORNER CUPBOARD FOOD BANK, WAYNESBURG 

724-627-9784 

Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Please call at least one day in advance.  

FOOD FOR FAMILIES, JOHNSTOWN 

814-535-3315 

Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Please call at least two day in advance.  

GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK, DUQUESNE 

412-745-3863 

Please call to arrange a drop-off time.  

GREATER WASHINGTON COUNTY FOOD BANK, BROWNSVILLE 

724-632-2190 

Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Drop off anytime, but calls in advance are appreciated. 

INDIANA COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION FOODBANK, INDIANA 

724-463-7440

Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Please call in advance. 

NORTH HILLS COMMUNITY OUTREACH 

412-487-6316 x3144 

Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Please call in advance if evening or weekend drop-off are needed. 

SALVATION ARMY FOODBANK, BEAVER FALLS 

724-891-3605 

Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Please call one day in advance. 

WESTERN MARYLAND FOOD BANK 

410-737-8282 

Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

It is recommended that you call in advance. 

WESTMORELAND COUNTY FOOD BANK, DELMONT 

724-468-8660 

Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Please call one day in advance. 

SPONSORS 

A very special thank you goes out to our annual Scouting for Food Box Sponsor, Menasha! 

Menasha has worked with our local Laurel Highlands Council for many years, and we are grateful for their continued support. 

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

Donate Now

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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