Scouting Programs at the Blue Hills Trailside Museum

Child exploring nature at Blue Hills Trailside Museum

In addition to the nature programs listed in our main catalog, the Blue Hills Trailside Museum also offers programs designed to meet the requirements for several badges awarded by the Girl Scouts of the USA and the Boy Scouts of America. Scout groups also have the opportunity to hold nighttime programs in the Blue Hills at the Norman Smith Environmental Education Center, and there are opportunities to execute service projects.

Badge Programs 

Trailside’s naturalists will help your scouts learn the information and do the activities to fulfill the requirements for several badges. In some of these programs, we can cover all of the requirements; others may not completely cover the requirements.  Listed below are the most popular badges we help scouts with, and we can also work with you to create other badge programs.

Boy Scouts

Girl Scouts

Cub Scouts

  • Sharing Your World with Wildlife (Bear)

Webelos Activity Badges

  • Forester
  • Geologist
  • Naturalist

Boy Scout Merit Badges

  • Bird Study
  • Mammal Study
  • Nature
  • Reptile and Amphibian Study

Brownies

  • Bugs (Legacy badge)
  • Hiker (WOW! Wonders of Water)
  • Senses (WOW! Wonders of Water)

Juniors

  • Animal Habitats (aMuse)
  • Flowers (Legacy badge)

Cadettes

  • Night Owl (MEdia)

Campfire Programs

These evening programs give your scouts the opportunity to meet a live nocturnal animal, explore the Blue Hills at night, and enjoy a campfire at the Norman Smith Environmental Education Center. Please contact us for more details

Overnight Programs

Our overnights are held at the Norman Smith Environmental Education Center on Chickatawbut Hill, with sleeping accommodations indoors in a dormitory. Many groups with younger scouts and those holding an overnight during the colder months have found this situation ideal. Learn more about our group overnight programs

Service Projects

In addition to our annual spring clean-up, there are possibilities for groups to set up service projects to assist the Museum. Arrangements can be made by contacting the Museum Director, Norman Smith.