Cost

Capacity

For effective teaching, we limit Nature scout programs to 20 scouts per program, and Horseback scout programs to 12 scouts per program. We encourage troops to contact other troops in the area to partner together on these programs.
*Please note, at least one adult is required to stay on site for the program. Adults will not participate in the Horseback Riding portion, but are welcome to ask questions!

What to Wear

Closed-toe shoes are required for all participants. Scout programs typically run rain, snow, or shine, so be sure to dress appropriately for the weather.

Location

All of our scout programs begin at Backcountry Base Camp or Horse Corrals: 6005 Ron King Trail, Littleton, 80125.

Late Arrivals

Please inform us if you are running late to your program. Should your group arrive late, the program will still end at the scheduled time.

Payment

The minimum cost listed above is required upon reservation. The final payment and headcount are due 14 days before the program date.

Cancellation/Transfer Policy

More than 7 days in advance: We will issue a refund minus a $25 cancellation fee for cancellations. Programs may be rescheduled at no cost, subject to availability.

Fewer than 7 days in advance: No transfers or cancellations.

Daisy

Outdoor Art Maker

Come out to the Backcountry and design your own natural art! We will go on a short hike to get inspired as we explore the colors and sounds of nature before creating our own art projects.

Brownie

Bugs

There are more than a million species of insects on Earth, and we are going to investigate a few of them in the Backcountry. After an introduction to what makes insects so neat, we will learn a silly insect song to remember some of our facts! We will search for bugs in action on a hike, look for varying types of insect homes in our insect hotel, and create our own insect craft to take home!

Hiker

From route-finding to packing and snacking, come out to learn the ins and outs of hiking! We will look at a map and decide on a route, learn new hiking skills, use all of our senses along the trail, and enjoy a hike in the Backcountry!

*While this badge includes packing a snack for energy, we ask that troop leaders make the snack at a prior meeting or bring the snack materials themselves due to allergy knowledge and concerns.

Household Elf

Through demonstrations and games, we will explore the ways in which we use resources in our daily lives. After completing the activities, scouts will be ready to save water, energy, and resources in new ways!

Outdoor Adventurer

Already have your Hiker badge? Practice some new camp skills with your troop in the Backcountry! We will learn more about camping through fun games and hands-on practice. Please contact Backcountry staff for specific camp offerings to meet your troop’s goals.

Outdoor Art Creator

After a short hike to get out into nature, we will create outdoor art in place at our destination. We will incorporate sound, sight, and touch into our natural artwork and encourage scouts to take photos of their art to develop their nature photography skills!

Senses

During our Senses hike, we will use our eyes, ears, nose, and fingers to explore the Backcountry. We will learn why it is important to use multiple senses when gathering information. Scout leaders, please contact Backcountry staff for taste options.

Junior

Animal Habitats

We’ll start earning the Animal Habitat badge by learning about the different components of a habitat and brainstorming how various Colorado animals have different needs. After a fun game to demonstrate animals’ interactions with their habitats, we’ll go on a habitat hike to explore both natural and man-made habitats in the Backcountry.

Eco Camper

Through our Eco Camper program, scouts will learn the Leave No Trace principles, learn how to set up a minimal impact campsite, plan a camping trip with the environment in mind, and take a short hike. This program has goofy games and skills practice to make learning how to be an Eco Camper a lot of fun!

Flowers

What do airport runways and flowers have in common? Come learn about why flowers are so important and some of the stories we can learn from them as we dissect flowers to learn more about them! We’ll explore the parts of a flower up close and learn about their functions.

Outdoor Art Explorer

We will start our Outdoor Art Explorer journey by looking for art in nature in new ways. Armed with magnifying glasses and collection jars, we will look for natural inspiration from the flora and fauna in the Backcountry before creating our own art projects using our collected materials.

Horseback Riding

Our professional riding instructors will teach the scouts about basic horse safety, care, and health in a fun and hands-on learning environment. This will be followed by a ride in the arena to learn introductory horseback riding skills.

*This is a 120 minute program.

Cadette

Night Owl

Come out for a night hike to learn about the Backcountry after dark! We will explore nature after sunset, learn some basic astronomy skills, listen for nocturnal animal activity, and gain confidence and skills for being outdoors in the dark!

Outdoor Art Apprentice

After learning about some famous artists who drew their inspiration from nature, we will go on a hike to collect materials and ideas for our own natural art projects!

Trees-Dendrology

In this program, we will learn the many characteristics of trees and how to identify them using dichotomous keys and field guides. We will discover the natural history of the trees in the Backcountry, what makes them unique, and what impact they have on the ecosystem.

Trees-Forestry

Foresters work tirelessly to manage forests for the greatest benefit of both people and ecosystems. In this program, we will learn how to think like a forester and do some hands-on research. Armed with new knowledge and the tools of a forester, we will practice new skills and learn about the relationship between trees and humans.

Senior

Outdoor Art Expert

In this program, we will create art in place after a hike through the Backcountry. We will create pieces that are in harmony with the natural world and capture nature digitally by photographing both our work and elements of nature that inspire us.

Sky

Why is the sky blue? Be a meteorologist for a day with a program designed to teach about the sky and uncover the mysteries of weather! We will take measurements, read maps, and make predictions based on the knowledge we gain through the program.

Ambassador

Water

Through experiments, demonstrations, and art, we will dive into what makes water so unique! Between its importance in our daily lives and being the key to life on Earth, we will discover the role water plays in our world.

Outdoor Art Master

In this program, we will develop a multi-step art project inspired by nature. Using advanced techniques and materials, our Outdoor Art Master program is a fantastic final art badge creation!

Tiger Scout

My Tiger Jungle

Come explore the sights and sounds of the Backcountry Wilderness Area! We will learn about the plants and animals we encounter. Our hike will have stopping points for “one-foot hikes” to get up close to the living things we are walking past. This program covers Requirements 1-3.

*Scoutmasters, please contact us for additional requirement options for this Adventure.

Tigers in the Wild

Before heading out for our hike, we will go over the importance of the Cub Scout Six Essentials, Outdoor Code, and Leave No Trace Principles for Kids. We will be sure to practice all of these principles as we hike! We will put our observation and identification skills to work as we look for plants, animals, fungi, and other signs of life. This program covers Requirements 1-4, 6, and 7.

*Scoutmasters, please contact us for additional requirement options for this Adventure.

Sky is the Limit

Come see why the sky is not the limit as we discover the field of astronomy! We will learn about astronauts who started as Scouts, practice observation skills, use star charts to explore the night sky, and draw our own constellations. This program covers Requirements 1-4, 7, and 8.

*Scoutmasters, please contact us about adding on a constellation art project to complete Requirements.

Wolf Scouts

Call of the Wild

Bring your den out to learn how to handle the unexpected! We will learn different ways to predict the weather, see how the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace Principles for Kids relate to emergencies, tie overhand and square knots, and practice personal safety outdoors. The second half of the program will include a hike to look for signs of animals we might encounter during our outdoor adventures! This program covers Requirements 1-6.

Paws on the Path

This Adventure begins with your troop teaching us why the buddy system is important and why it is used in Cub Scouts! We will help them understand the importance of the Cub Scout Six Essentials, dressing appropriately, the Outdoor Code, and the Leave No Trace Principles for Kids. We will go for a one-mile hike and find new, interesting things in nature— from insects to tracks to petrified wood! Scouts will learn identification skills and use basic field guides to help describe what they see. This program covers Requirements 1-6.

Finding Your Way

We’ll start this adventure by learning how a compass works and practice our skills through some fun games! Once we are comfortable with our navigation tools, we will pair them with a map to plan a hiking route. This program covers Requirements 1-4.

Bear Scouts

Bear Necessities

Come out to the Backcountry Wilderness Area to learn the necessities of a camping trip! We’ll review personal essentials, group needs, knots, and how to select a campsite before heading out on a Scout-led hike to find the best spot! Once we determine an ideal tent location, Scouts will put their knot-tying and teamwork skills to the test and set up tarp tent shelters! This program covers Requirements 1-5.

Fur, Feather, and Ferns

The Backcountry Wilderness Area is a conservation property. Come learn what wildlife conservation means as we hike and identify signs of mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and plants living in the Backcountry. We’ll observe wildlife close up and from a distance and describe what we see! This program covers Requirements 1-2, 4, and 5.

Webelos

Into the Woods

We’ll explore the Backcountry through the lens of a dendrologist (read: tree scientist) to complete the Into the Woods Adventure! We will look at tree stumps to learn what the rings of a tree can tell us! After an introductory lesson and grasping the keys to identifying trees, we will investigate the two most common tree species in the Backcountry. Our hike will take us past several plants common to the area and we will see the role they play in the ecosystem. This program covers Requirements 1-3, 6, and 7.

Webelos Walkabout

Pack a snack and join us for a three-mile hike in the Backcountry! We’ll review the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace Principles for Kids and make sure to put them into practice during our hike. Safety and outdoor leadership will be big components of this trek! This program covers Requirements 1-6.

Cub Scout World Conservation Award

We would be happy to lead your den or pack in a conservation project to help Scouts “think globally and act locally.” Please contact us with Scoutmaster contact information, number and ages of Scouts, and your top three choices for dates. We will work with you to create a conservation project suitable for your pack!

Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award

We can lead the following outdoor activities to help your Scout achieve his Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award. Please contact us for details if you would like to incorporate an additional outdoor activity into your Adventure program.

• Participate in a nature hike in the Backcountry. This can be on an organized, marked trail, or just a hike to observe nature in your area.
• Participate in an outdoor activity, such as a picnic and exploration, at Base Camp.
• Explain the buddy system and tell what to do if lost. Explain the importance of cooperation.
• Complete a nature/conservation project in your area. This project should involve improving, beautifying, or supporting natural habitats. Discuss how this project helped you to respect nature.
• Earn the Summertime Pack Award.
• Participate in a nature observation activity. Describe or illustrate and display your observations at a den or pack meeting.
• Participate in an outdoor campfire program. Perform in a skit, sing a song, or take part in a ceremony.

Scout BSA Merit Badge

We are happy to lead troops or groups of Scouts on outdoor excursions to work towards the requirements of many Merit Badges, including:

• Archery
• Bird Study
• Environmental Science
• Forestry
• Horsemanship (this is a 120 minute program)
• Nature
• Plant Science
• Soil and Water Conservation
• Sustainability

Eagle Scout Projects

We have had many Eagle Scouts complete their projects in the Backcountry Wilderness Area! Projects have varied from creating permanent signs to property maintenance to wildlife habitat improvement. If you are interested in completing your Eagle Scout Project in the Backcountry, please contact Gus Brunger, Property Maintenance Coordinator, at 303-471-7042 or Gus.Brunger@hrcaonline.org.