Thank you participating in Scouting @ Home. Starting Friday, May 29th we will begin transitioning away from our traditional weekly Scouting @ Home into a summer-oriented virtual program. Stay tuned for some of our summer virtual offerings!
Scouting can take place anywhere – even in the comfort of your home!
Here you will find a resource hub for parents and leaders to help support Scouting at home, with stay-at-home educational activities for any Scout rank, tips for continuing to work on advancements and kid-friendly content that connects Scouting with their daily lives. We will continue to add new content and resources to this hub regularly.
Our goal is to make it easier to deliver the Scouting program by making plans more accessible to Leaders and parents. For any questions, please contact Activities & Program Director, Thomas Yang at thomas.yang@scouting.org. In addition, please share how your Scouts are Scouting On on your social media pages with #ScoutOn, #Scouting@Home, and tag us @BSAGRC. Send Thomas Yang your photos and videos for a chance to be featured on our social media.
The Great Rivers Council will be offering a variety of online merit badges over the next few weeks. The virtual classes will be taught through Zoom, a videoconferencing service. Please check back weekly. Merit badges will be updated every Friday.
There is no cost to register for these online merit badge courses. Scouts will be required to have access to a computer/laptop with video & microphone access and reliable internet. Once registered, Scouts will receive login information no less than 24 hours before their class.
Blue Cards will be provided digitally to Scouts after the completion of the merit badge. Some classes will require multiple sessions with homework in between to complete. Please ensure that you click on the merit badges and get the proper information below; as each badge has different requirements. It is the responsibility of the Scouts to ensure that they attend all the necessary virtual sessions to complete the badge. Counselors cannot guarantee makeup sessions.
To assure the quality of instruction, classes sizes will be limited. The badges will take place over 1, 2, 3, or more sessions. Scouts must participate in all sessions in order to complete the badge. Remember, a Scout is Courteous. In the interest of being able to serve a large number of Scouts, please refrain from registering for every class. Conversely, if a class fills up quickly, we will do our best to add additional sessions. Click on the merit badges below to get more information and register:
All counselors are registered members of the BSA and have Youth Protection Training. Two deep-leadership will be enforced at all online merit badge classes. Additionally, parents are encouraged to sit alongside their Scouts throughout the duration of the class(es).
If you are interested in being a counselor for a virtual merit badge, please contact Program Director, Thomas Yang, at thomas.yang@scouting.org.
Scout Skills & Rank Advancement
The Great Rivers Council is excited to announce the 30 Day Brownsea Challenge for Scouts between the ranks of Scouts and First Class. The challenge will start from April 10th and last until May 9th. Complete the challenge and earn the limited Scout On Patch.
Click on the links below to get requirements for each rank:
Did you just crossover? Checkout our Scout Skills & Advancement resources to make sure you stay on track with rank advancement. We will continue to update this weekly with videos, live trainings, articles, and more!
Need to learn how to tie knots? Download the 3D Knots App. 3D Knots teaches you how to tie over 120 different knots, step by step. It is available for Android and Apple.
Totin' Chip is a certification that grants Scouts the right to carry and use wood tools. Scouts should earn their Totin' Chip before carrying knives and blades on campouts.
Encourage Scouts to post online stories from history and how humanity was able to overcome such difficulties and give people hope.
Hold a virtual gaming meet. Or use Kahoot to host an online quiz.
Encourage Scouts to communicate with Scouts around the world. Learn about the World Organization of the Scouting Movement (WOSM). Introduce JOTA/JOTI.
Coordinate a community-based support network. Work with your Chartered Organization to develop a plan. Offer your unit assistance in helping the needy.
Post examples of how Scouts are helping the community on social media. Make sure to tag Great Rivers Council in your post using @BSAGRC
How to conduct a board of review through videoconferencing
The board of review, like most aspects of Scouting, works best in person. But sometimes, for a number of legitimate reasons, that’s not an option. That’s why, as outlined in the Guide to Advancement, the BSA allows units to conduct boards of review by teleconferencing, using tools like Skype, Google Hangouts or Zoom. Ensure to maintain two-deep leadership throughout the virtual meeting.
Get ready for the 30 day Cub Scout Challenge! From April 1st to 30th, the Great Rivers Council will be commencing the 30 Day Cub Scout Challenge. Complete the challenge and receive the exclusive, limited 2020 Cub Scout Challenge Patch! To be eligible to receive the custom Cub Scout Challenge you must be registered. Registration will start March 20th @ 4pm and end March 31st @ 11:55 pm.
Click on the links below to see the requirements for each challenge. Good Luck and Scout On!
Just joined Scouting? Then earn your Bobcat Badge! It is simple and easy. Cub Scouts must earn their Bobcat Badge before earning any ranks (does not include Lions). Click on the link below to get the requirements:
Gizmos and Gadgets | This Adventure is all about motion, force and creating objects. | Elective Adventure
I'll Do It Myself | This Adventure is all about being prepared. | Elective Adventure
Pick My Path | This Adventure is all about to do a good turn daily. | Elective Adventure
Ready, Set, Grow | This Adventure focuses on plants and gardens. | Elective Adventure
Tiger | First Grade
Backyard Jungle | This Adventure and is very hands-on with planting something and building birdhouses -- this can be done as a solo family Adventure. | Required Adventure
My Family's Duty to God | This is often an "at home" adventure anyway because faith beliefs in Scouting are determined by the family. | Required Adventure
Tiger Bites | An Adventure that covers food choices and preparation, manners and nutrition. | Required Adventure
Tiger-Safe and Smart | An Adventure all about home and neighborhood safety. | Elective Adventure
Tiger Tales | An Adventure all about story-telling, tall tales, singing. | Elective Adventure
Wolf | Second Grade
Paws on the Path | An Adventure covering hiking skills and nature and maps. | Required Adventure
Adventures in Coins | An Adventure about Coins. | Elective Adventure
Code of the Wolf | An Adventure that uses math games and secret codes. | Elective Adventure
Digging in the Past | An Adventure about dinosaurs, fossils, and archeology. | Elective Adventure
Finding Your Way | An Adventure about map and compass, hiking and a scavenger hunt. | Elective Adventure
Germs Alive | An Adventure about keeping clean and germs. | Elective Adventure
Grow Something | An Adventure about planting and make a terrarium. | Elective Adventure
Motor Away | An Adventure about cars, boats and paper airplanes. | Elective Adventure
Paws of Skill | An Adventure about fitness, sports, sporting event, and obstacle courses. | Elective Adventure
Bear | Third Grade
BALOO the Builder | An Adventure covering using tools and wood tools. | Required Adventure
Bear Claws | An Adventure all about knife use and knife safety. | Required Adventure
Fellowship and Duty to God | This is often an "at home" adventure anyway because faith beliefs in Scouting are determined by the family. | Required Adventure
Paws for Action | An Adventure that's all about history/patriotism, visiting a law enforcement facility, basic emergency preparedness, energy conservation, and a cleanup service project. | Required Adventure
Maestro| An Adventure about music. | Elective Adventure
Moviemaking | An Adventure about moviemaking. | Elective Adventure
Project Family| An Adventure about family life. | Elective Adventure
All Scouts
Virtual Camporee
Cyber Chip Training:
If you have not earned your Cyber Chip, now is your chance! Cyber Chip teaches Scouts how to be safe online. It is available to all Scouts, 1st-12th grade. We will be doing a video training series for Cyber Chip. Please note that these videos are meant to be supplemental instruction to the Cyber Chip. Please ensure that you complete all requirements in order to earn your Cyber Chip.
Cyber Chip Videos
1st to 3rd grade
4th to 5th grade
6th to 8th grade
9th to 12th grade
Chess:
We are excited to announce the Virtual Boy Scouts of America Chess Tournament. Go the Online Chess Tournament Page to get more details & register. In the meantime, please review "Learn How to Read & Write Chess". Click on the link below to download a pdf copy. We strongly recommend that you have previous chess knowledge & experience.
We are excited to announce that we are partnering with ChessKid, to put on a virtual chess tournament for our council. ChessKid is an online tool that teaches young people how to play chess in a way that is fun and safe. Thank you to the Saint Louis Chess Club for their generous donation to make this possible.
We are also excited to announce the Crazy Chess Set Competition. This is a virtual unit activity. Which unit can create the craziest, most unique-looking chess set?
All you need to make your own chess set are the following materials:
Simply cut the paper or cardstock. Trace the design on cardboard or foam board. Cut the pieces out. Paint or decorate and assemble the interlocking pieces. No glue required! Send your photos and/or videos to Thomas Yang at thomas.yang@scouting.org for a chance to be featured on our social media. Winners will be announced May 4th!
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