Scout Programs

Scout Programs at the Butterfly House

In addition to scout programming at the Garden, scouts can explore the world of insects with us at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Chesterfield, Missouri!
See Butterfly House Scout Programs

Scout Programs at Shaw Nature Reserve

The same scout programs available at the Missouri Botanical Garden are now available at Shaw Nature Reserve as well! To request a program at Shaw Nature Reserve, please add a note in the "Additional Information" section on the Scout Experience Request Form to indicate that you would like to schedule the program at the Nature Reserve. See below for available programs

Shaw Nature Reserve, in Gray Summit, Missouri, offers 2,400 acres and 19 miles of trails to explore. With prairie, woodlands, wetlands, and glades, the Nature Reserve provides an ideal outdoor classroom for many scout programs.

Scout Programs at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Missouri Botanical Garden has several paths and opportunities for scout groups to come enjoy the Garden. We offer engaging, nature-inspired programs that provide hands-on activities and nature walks in the Garden.

We offer programmed experiences that work towards badge and journey requirements. We have a self-guided option for groups wanting to come and explore at their own pace. We also have add-on options like our exploration kits and admission to the Children’s Garden.

Programmed Experience
For groups who are wanting to complete badge and journey requirements, we offer more than 20 different programs. Each programmed experience includes admission to the Garden, class activities that complete badge and journey requirements and a guided walk of the Garden. Each program lasts approximately one hour and a half. Groups also have the option to add-on exploration kits and/or admission to the Children’s Garden (April–October).

The minimum fee for a programmed experience is $100, which includes 10 scouts and 2 chaperones. The fee for each additional scout is $10.

Due to limited space in our classrooms, only the included chaperones are allowed in the classrooms if applicable.

Self-guided Experience
Scout groups are welcome to come explore the Missouri Botanical Garden on their own! Self-guided visits are available year-round. Add-on options are also available to make your visit the best possible experience.

Add-Ons

• Scout Exploration Kits
  For the groups that are looking for a little bit more structure to their visit, but do not want to book an entire program, the Garden offers scout exploration kits. This kit is an over-the-shoulder bag with tools that scouts use to engage with the Garden. Also included are nature journals that scouts can take home, and a guided map of the Garden. Scout exploration kits are an additional $3 per scout.
• Children’s Garden (open April–October)
  The Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden offers a wide array of hands-on exploration and play-centered learning opportunities! Scouts can explore a Missouri wetland with Lewis and Clark, explore a cave and pilot a steamboat with Mark Twain, pretend to keep shop in a settlement town with Daniel Boone, or explore the parts of plants and their role in an ecosystem with Garden founder Henry Shaw! Admission to the Children’s Garden is $3 extra per scout.

Scheduling
Programs are held based on instructor and classroom availability. To request a program, fill out the Scout Experience Request Form. The form has a space to list three dates that your group would be available to come to the Garden. Dates must be at least six weeks from the day the request is submitted.

Programs are held rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, a rain back-up date can be scheduled. For more information on availability, email scoutprograms@mobot.org or call (314) 577-0243.

Registration
To register, fill out the Scout Experience Request Form. For questions about programming or an existing visit or program scheduled, email scoutprograms@mobot.org or call (314) 577-0243.

Brownie Programs

Junior Programs

		Gardener What better location to earn your Gardener badge than at the Missouri Botanical Garden! Have fun touring some of our most interesting gardens while learning about growing methods and techniques used. Scouts will also learn how to garden in a sustainable way. Scouts will design their own garden based on what they learned. Conduct experiments to learn about growing conditions and plant a mini garden to take home. Meets all requirements for Gardener badge.
		Flowers Learn the wonders of a flower and uncover the science behind them by dissecting them yourself! Be an ethnobotanist as you learn about the traditional and medicinal uses of flowers. Create a meaningful flower bouquet to take home to a loved one. Scouts will also pot a plant fit for a medicinal garden. Meets all requirements for Flowers badge.
		Design with Nature Enjoying time in nature often requires planning. You might decide where you’ll go, how long you’ll be gone for, and what you’ll bring. In this badge, you’ll use math to help you plan and organize a hike and campout. You’ll think about all these things as you get ready for your hiking adventure.
		Numbers in Nature How do you know what time it is or what the weather will be? Can you figure out how old a tree is by looking at it? In this badge, you’ll do all of these things! Math can be used to tell us all kinds of things about nature, from how tall or old a tree is to the weather, season, or time.
		Shapes in Nature How are butterfly wings, peacock feathers, seashells, and lightning alike? They’re all patterns in nature. A pattern is when something repeats itself, like a checkerboard or stripes on a tiger. Nature is a talented artist! It uses patterns, based in math, in many creations. In this badge, explore patterns found in nature and use math to create your own.
		Outdoor Art Explorer Missouri Botanical Garden has tons of ways to explore art in nature. Let nature be your inspiration as you explore, create, and design different kinds of art.

Cadette Program

Wolf Program

Bear Program

Webelo Program

		Into the Woods Our Garden contains almost 5,000 trees! Discover how to identify Missouri's native trees as well as plants. Use this skill on a hike to find wild edibles. Scouts will also examine tree cookies and learn the science behind dendrochronology, the study of growth rings in trees. This program completes requirements 1–4, 6 and 7 of the AOL/Webelos Elective Adventure Into the Woods. This program goes towards completing the Dr. Charles H. Townsend Supernova Award for Webelos.