Nature Walks: Walk the dirt roads in the reserved part of the Backcountry Wilderness Area and you’ll forget you’re only 15 minutes from home. Grab a coffee and bring binoculars if you want to spot local wildlife during a relaxed, guided excursion. Fresh air and a scenic view make this jaunt to improve health and nature know-how a perfect way to spend your morning. This hike is an adult-focused program at an adult pace. Young children are welcome to join if they are carried for the entirety of the hike. The program is free, but registration is required. Donations are encouraged to the Backcountry Wilderness Area Fund.

Base Camp Exploration: Experience nature’s wonders in the Backcountry Wilderness Area. Come out to Base Camp for seasonal activities, walk the Discovery Trail, hang out with the barnyard animals, and more! Activities depend on the time of day and weather. Check the website for details. The program is free, but registration is required. Donations are encouraged to the Backcountry Wilderness Area Fund.

Smores Hike: Leave Base Camp hungry for exploration, return hungry for a smore! Join our naturalist for a guided, all-ages, hike into the Backcountry Wilderness Area before ending the evening with a favorite summer treat. We’ll provide the adventure, ingredients, and challenge to roast the perfect smore.

Goat Picnic Hike: Get some quality time with the Backcountry Goats on a hike and picnic! Bring your own lunch, then take a hike with the goats to a perfect picnic spot.

Smores & Storytime: Join us for an enchanting evening for the whole family! We'll begin with a short, scenic hike through the woods, leading to a cozy, fairy-lit area that feels like it's straight out of a storybook. Upon arrival, gather around the glowing campfire to make delicious s'mores, and settle in on comfy picnic blankets. Our friendly staff will bring the night to life by reading an engaging, family-friendly story under the twinkling lights. *Story will be catered to children 10 and under. Registration is per child attending.

Full Moon Hike: Leave your flashlight behind and let the full moon guide this hike into the Backcountry Wilderness Area. Put your senses on full alert as you take in the sights and sounds of the night. A naturalist will share how humans and animals see in the darkness versus the daylight, and how your eyes may not be able to see what's really out there.

Sunset Hike: Enjoy a golden hour hike, to take in one of Backcountry’s magnificent sunsets. We’ll watch the crepuscular animals come to life on our way back.

Ages: Each of our Adult & Family programs caters to a different audience from 0-100+. 

What to Wear:  Closed-toe shoes are required for all participants. Programs typically run rain, snow, or shine, so check the weather and dress accordingly.

What to Bring: A backpack packed with a reusable water bottle, snack, sunscreen, and an extra jacket or raincoat (based on the weather forecast).

Location: Backcountry Base Camp; 6005 Ron King Trail, Littleton, CO 80125

Refund Policy: Refund and transfer requests must be made one week prior to the start date of the program. If we have to cancel a program, you will be given a full refund. All refunds are processed with a $5 fee.

If you have any questions, please contact Ellen Dolph at ellen.dolph@hrcaonline.org or 303-471-7054 

Wilderness Survival Club: Let your child discover the skills they could need in a true wilderness setting. Each session will include a hike and exploration time before focusing on a different survival skill. Topics include learning to make fire, identify and harvest wild plants, tie knots and build shelters, and create fun and practical items like tools and rope.

Forts n’ Fun Club: Let your child’s imagination run wild! Your child will go on a hike to a wilderness classroom where they can play games, build forts, and discover nature in a safe open environment. This unstructured time encourages creativity, independence, friendship and outdoor fun, allowing children to create their own adventures in the wilderness.

Junior Wildlife Biologists Club: Discover the secrets of wildlife like a true scientist! In our kids' club, you'll investigate animal tracks and scat, analyze fascinating biofacts, and identify local species. Dive into hands-on fieldwork and research, exploring the amazing adaptations and behaviors of the creatures in our natural world!

Discovery Day: To protect wild places, kids must first learn to love them. Discovery Days at Backcountry Base Camp let children explore the wonders of the Backcountry Wilderness Area. Each program provides an ideal introduction to the wild outdoors where children will either practice fort building or learn survival skills, depending on the month’s theme.

Astronomy Night: Parents, enjoy a night out after you drop the kids off at Base Camp for a fun astronomy program! Send your kiddo with a picnic dinner and all their questions about the night sky. We'll play games and have a summer treat before an astronomy viewing where we’ll identify constellations and explore their origin stories.

Creatures of the Night: Pack a picnic dinner to eat as you get to know about local wildlife that comes out after hours. We'll get to know about some nocturnal creatures and test your nocturnal know-how before we head out for a night hike filled with fun activities and games that will immerse you in the nighttime world of animals.

Wild Summer: Give your kids a summer night like the ones you remember! After enjoying their packed picnic dinner by the campfire (pending fire restrictions), we'll be playing nighttime games (flashlight tag, capture the flag, etc.), fort building, and top the evening off with a summer treat!

Ages: Our Youth programs are for children ages 7-13

What to Wear:  Closed-toe shoes are required for all participants. Programs typically run rain, snow, or shine, so check the weather and dress accordingly.

What to Bring: A backpack packed with a reusable water bottle, snack, sunscreen, and an extra jacket or raincoat (based on the weather forecast).

Location: Backcountry Base Camp; 6005 Ron King Trail, Littleton, CO 80125

Refund Policy: Refund and transfer requests must be made one week prior to the start date of the program. If we have to cancel a program, you will be given a full refund. All refunds are processed with a $5 fee.

If you have any questions, please contact Ellen Dolph at ellen.dolph@hrcaonline.org or 303-471-7054 

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!

Brownie: 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.

Brownie: 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!

Brownie: 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.

Brownie: 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!

Brownie: 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.

Junior: 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!

Junior: 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.

Junior: 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.

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!

Cadette: 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!

Cadette: 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.

Cadette: 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.

Senior: 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.

Ambassador: 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: 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 “onefoot hikes” to get up close to the living things we are walking past. This program covers Requirements 1-3.

Tiger: 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.

Tiger: 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.

Wolf: 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.

Wolf: 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.

Wolf: 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: 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.

Bear: 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, an 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.

Webelo: 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.

Length: 90 minutes

Cost: $120 minimum for up to 8 scouts. $15 per additional scout.

Capacity: For effective teaching, we limit Nature scout programs to 20 scouts per program. We encourage troops to contact other troops in the area to partner together on these programs if desired. *Please note, at least one adult is required to stay on site for the program.

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: 6005 Ron King Trail, Littleton, 80125.Map & Directions

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.

We have had many Eagle Scouts and Girl Scouts complete their projects in the Backcountry Wilderness Area! Projects have varied from creating permanent signs to property maintenance to wildlife habitat improvement to building a benches and a gaga pit. If you are interested in completing your Scout Project in the Backcountry, please contact us for more information.