Cub Scout Programs

Boy investigating wetlands

We offer a variety of fun, nature-inspired programs for Wolves, Bears and Webelos. Scouts can explore the natural wonders of the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Shaw Nature Reserve in all seasons.

Or if you prefer an outreach program, we can come to you. Call the Scout Programs Instructor at (314) 577-9473 x 6357 for more information and to register for outreach programs. 

All programs are aligned with badge requirements. Discover and learn with us! Jump to:

Overnight Programs
Wolf Programs
Bear Programs
Webelo Programs

Cub Scout World Conservation Award:
Some of our classes count towards requirements for the Cub Scout World Conservation Award (requirements vary by level). These classes (Birds, Nature Crafts, Weather, Water & Soil Conservation, Forester and Naturalist) are marked with an asterisk (*).

Programs are generally offered 4:30–6:30 p.m. on weekdays and either 10 a.m.–noon or 1:30–3:30 p.m. on Saturdays according to the following schedule:

Please note:

For programs hosted at the Garden and Shaw Nature Reserve, all Saturday programs for spring (March–May) are full, however if you have a very small group (6 or less), we may be able to combine you with an existing Saturday group. There are still openings for weekday programs this spring.

For programs hosted at the Butterfly House, there are still several openings on Saturdays and Sundays. Call (636) 530-0076 x 13 to schedule directly.
  Spring
(March–May)
Wed–Sat		 Summer
(June–Aug)
Tues–Sat		 Fall
(Sept–Nov)
Wed–Sat		 Winter
(Dec–Feb)
Tues–Sat
Birds X X X X
Your Living World X X X X
Take Care of Your Planet X X X X
Nature Crafts X X X
Sharing Your World with Wildlife X X X
Maps X X X X
Weather X X X X
Water & Soil Conservation X X X
Forester X X X
Geologist X X X X
Engineer X X X X
Naturalist X X X

Pricing and scheduling information
Register online!

Contact our Scout Programs Instructor at (314) 577-9473 x 6357 or scoutprograms@mobot.org if you have questions or need to arrange a different date/time.

An additional Naturalist program for Webelos is available at the Butterfly House! It is offered on weekends year-round. Contact the Butterfly House directly at (636) 530-0076 x 13 for more information about this particular program or to register for it.

 

OVERNIGHT PROGRAMS

Take advantage of this rare opportunity to explore the Garden grounds at night while you work towards a badge! Meet other scout groups! Spend a night sleeping under the stars! Learn more

 

WOLF PROGRAMS
ChickadeeBirds *
At Missouri Botanical Garden weekdays; at Shaw Nature Reserve Saturdays
Go on a bird hunt! Scouts will discover 10 different birds as they search with binoculars and put out nesting material for those they find! Scouts will also make a bird feeder and take home three types of seeds to "test." Their hunt will end with them learning about an extinct bird and one that's made a comeback. Meets all requirements for the Wolf Elective: Birds. Program length is 2 hours.
SmokestackYour Living World
At Missouri Botanical Garden
Learn about forms of pollution—and hear stories about how the staff at the Missouri Botanical Garden are working to protect and preserve our natural resources. Find out more about recycling, and how to save energy too! Program length is 2 hours.

 

BEAR PROGRAMS
GarbageTake Care of Your Planet
At Missouri Botanical Garden
Learn what happens to your trash when it is hauled away and what the benefits of recycling are. Investigate ways that water and energy are wasted, and how you can help conserve different types of natural resources. Program length is 2 hours.
LeafNature Crafts *
At Missouri Botanical Garden
Collect, press and label ten leaves from different tree species. Collect eight different plant seeds and label them. Program length is 2 hours.
Bird at bird feederSharing Your World with Wildlife
At Shaw Nature Reserve (only available Saturdays)
Learn what it takes to be a wildlife officer! Construct a bird feeder and travel back in time to learn of extinct species and what you can do to help wildlife today! Meets all requirements for SYWWW under the "Country Achievement." Program length is 2 hours.
USDA hardiness mapMaps
At Missouri Botanical Garden
Learn how to read and interpret many types of maps, their uses and their importance when growing plants. Use maps to explore different time zones, growing seasons, as well as make a map of a hike you wish to take! Program length is 2 hours.
CloudsWeather *
At Missouri Botanical Garden
Learn about basic weather instruments and how they are used, then make and test them! Construct a weather vane and a rain gauge. Learn to identify different types of clouds, the weather patterns associated with them and what that means to the living world. Meets requirements for Bear elective "Weather." Program length is 2 hours.
Prairie grassesWater & Soil Conservation *
At Shaw Nature Reserve (only available Saturdays)
Embark on a journey as you learn about the layers of soil by digging and then conducting experiments on what you turn up! Walk the prairie to learn about grasses that help prevent erosion, what happens after a wildfire and more! The journey ends with a stop at the wetlands where you will plan a clean-up in your own area! Meets requirements for Bear elective "Water and Soil Conservation." Program length is 2 hours.

 

WEBELO PROGRAMS
ForestForester *
At Missouri Botanical Garden weekdays; at Shaw Nature Reserve Saturdays
Soar through the layers of the forest learning about each while identifying six native plants and six native trees! Learn how wildlife and humans use plants, and play a game demonstrating how trees interact with living and non-living things! Draw and learn about tree cookies and the science behind dendrochronology! Meets all requirements for Activity Badge: Forester. Program length is 2 hours.
GeologyGeologist
At Shaw Nature Reserve (only available Saturdays)
Head for the river! Visit a dry riverbed to collect and learn about important geologic specimens that we use everyday! Hike to an overlook in the foothills of the Ozarks to learn how they were formed and about the fossils that were left behind! Meets all requirements for Activity Badge: Geologist. Program length is 2 hours.
Solar panels on roofEngineer
At Missouri Botanical Garden
Learn how to make your own home more sustainable. Investigate how your homes are powered; how electricity gets into your house and draw a floor plan of your house! Explore engineering principles as you build a bridge or learn how to use a simple machine in a fun and friendly competition! Program length is 2 hours.
DragonflyNaturalist *
At Shaw Nature Reserve (only available Saturdays)
(If you like insects, earn this badge at the Butterfly House. See below.)
Visit the Shaw Nature Reserve’s wetlands area to learn about bird flyways in Missouri and in the U.S. Learn to identify poisonous plants and reptiles as you hike to the wetlands. While in the wetlands area, examine the aquatic habitat with nets and magnifiers to see what you can find: insects, snakes, turtles, fish, birds or mammals. Watch their behaviors. Talk about organisms found only in the Midwest. Learn about why the aquatic ecosystem and wetlands are important…what role do they play in supporting wildlife? Wear clothes that may get a bit wet as we visit the pond/wetlands area. Meets all requirements for Activity Badge: Naturalist. Program length is 2 hours.
CricketNaturalist at the Butterfly House
At the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House (weekends year-round)
For this program only: call the Butterfly House directly at (636) 530-0076 x 13 for more information or to register.
Bugs are committing capers and these mysteries need solving by Scout investigators. In The Case of the Dismembered Cricket, Scouts will join a Butterfly House entomology detective to observe a “crime” scene, collect the clues and solve the case. Along the way, we will learn what insects really do for our world and the many ways we depend on them in our lives. Meets all requirements for Activity Badge: Naturalist.

 

Quick Links
Scholarships Available

The Missouri Botanical Garden’s Education Department offers need-based scholarships so that every student has the opportunity to experience, explore, discover and learn at the Garden, the Shaw Nature Reserve and the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. Both schools/organizations and individual students may apply.

Learn more