Scout Programs

We offer private group bookings for Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Boy Scouts. Programs can be set up by troop leaders on a date and time that works best for their group.

Program Length: 1.5 – 2 hours, depending on the badge.
  • Scout programs are facilitated by our staff and volunteer leaders.
  • We provide one leader per group of 15 scouts.
  • You are invited to use our picnic tables and play area for self-guided lunch and free play time, before or after the program
  • Programs must be booked 2 weeks in advance.
  • Badgework is not required to book a scout program. We are happy to lead a hike for your group on just about any topic!
Program Size: 10-45 scouts
  • Depending on group size, your troop may be split into smaller groups of 15 scouts each.
  • Contact us if you would like to arrange a trip for more than 45 scouts.
Program Cost: $6/scout
  • Minimum of $60 per program, which covers up to 10 scouts.
  • Overnights are a separate rate. Details can be found under ‘Scout Overnights’.
  • 1 parent/guardian per scout is free. Additional guardians or siblings will be charged at the scout rate of $6/each.

See below for the badges we currently offer.

See the bottom of the page for our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Nature Institute offers private group bookings for Girl Scouts. Check out our badge offerings below!

Daisies Trail Adventure, Outdoor Art Maker, Buddy Camper*, Space Science Explorer
Brownies Senses, Bugs**, Hiker, Letterboxer
Juniors Animal Habitats, Camper*, Trail Adventure
Cadettes Night Owl, Archery, Trees
Seniors Eco Explorer, Space Science Expert
Ambassadors Eco Advocate

*This program is available as an overnight program only. More information can be found under ‘Scout Overnights’.

**offered in fall and spring only.

Don’t see the badge you’re looking for? Contact Lauren, Director of Education, at lscull@thenatureinstitute.org for custom programs.

We can assist with the following Cub Scout Adventures:

Lion Mountain Lion
Tiger Tigers in the Wild
Wolf Paws on the Path
Bear Fur, Feathers, and Ferns
Webelos Webelos Walkabout
Arrow of Light Elective Adventure: Into the Wild, Elective Adventure: Into the Woods**

**offered in fall and spring only.

Don’t see the badge you’re looking for? Contact Lauren, Director of Education, at lscull@thenatureinstitute.org for custom programs.

The Nature Institute can assist with the following Merit Badges:

  • Bird Study
  • Plant Science
  • Sustainability
  • Wilderness Survival
  • Hiking
  • Fish and Wildlife Management
  • Fishing
  • Environmental Science

We are also happy to work with Boy Scouts that need to complete projects. Please contact us at lscull@thenatureinstitute.org or (618) 466-9930 for more information.

Bring your troop out to experience an overnight camping experience on site! Overnights include badgework of your choosing in the evening, an area for camping, s’mores in the evening, and a light breakfast provided in the morning. Overnights are $25/scout with a minimum booking fee of $250 (10 scouts). 1 parents/guardian per scout is free of charge. Siblings are the same rate as scouts. Overnights run from 5 pm – 9 am. Maximum group size of 20 people. Limited dates are available.

General Overnight Timeline:

Evening

5 PM: Arrival and set up.

6 PM: Welcome to TNI! Meet your Education staff and get ready for an exciting evening.

6:15 PM: Work on your Badge activities, which could include hiking, exploring, investigating, and creating!

8:15 PM: Campfire and S’mores

9 PM: Good night! Education staff will leave your group so that everyone can get ready for a night of rest.

Morning

7 AM: Wake up! Begin putting away your things, getting dressed, and heading to the Main Office.

7:30 AM: A light breakfast is served at the Main Office, which may include bagels, fruit, or juice.

8 AM: Early morning hike. If there’s an additional activity that you requested prior to booking, it will take place during this time.

8:45 AM: Finish packing up and leave the space as you found it.

9 AM: Farewell!

Submit a scout program request below:

Scout Group Scheduling

  • You will be invoiced for the number of scouts that register. A $60 deposit is due at booking.
  • Start with your first choice and end with your third choice
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Frequently Asked Questions

We have enough tent rentals available for 20 people. These are available for a rental fee of $20 for 2 person tents or $30 for 3 person tents. You may opt to bring your own tents to use. If rental tents are damaged or destroyed, fees may incur of up to $100 per tent. Scouts must provide their own sleeping bags. There is a fire pit available, but it is roughly a half mile from the campsite. The fire pit can only be used under supervision of a TNI staff member.

No. Restrooms are available within a short distance, and the parking lot is fairly close to the campsite. Water coolers will be available.

Groups will camp near our Main Office on the Mississippi Sanctuary side.

TNI staff will provide and light a fire at our fire pit – fires are not permitted anywhere else on site. We also have roasting sticks available for use to roast hotdogs and s’mores. Troops must bring their own food supplies to roast for dinner, whether that be hot dogs, tin foil dinners, or another creative campfire dinner. We require dinners that are easy to clean up and minimal waste. Girl Scouts completing the Camper badge will need to bring food to cook in order to meet their badge requirements.

If there are thunderstorms or severe winter weather, we will reschedule your program or overnight to an agreed upon date. For small groups, we will move to an indoor space to sleep overnight.

We do not currently provide the physical badges. Please see the Official Website for your Scout Troop to order badges for your troop.

If you’d like to add a second badge in the morning, it is a discounted rate of $4/scout. Morning badgework begins at 8 am and usually wraps up around 9:30 am. An additional 30 minutes of clean up time is added to your reservation to ensure you have everything squared away and cleaned up by 10 am.

Yes! Please contact Lauren at lscull@thenatureinstitute.org. We are able to assist with most Outdoor badges and some of the STEM badges.