Calling All Scouts!
NPS Photo/Benstead Interested in earning a Scout Ranger patch from the National Park Service? Look no further than the National Parks of Boston! Home to the Freedom Trail®, the Black Heritage Trail®, and the Boston Harbor Islands, the National Parks of Boston helps steward many natural and cultural resources in this revolutionary city. Complete a combination of the activities below to fulfill the 10 hour requirement for the patch. We encourage you to "mix and match" activities across the five themes. To contact us or schedule a time for your troop to participate in our virtual program, please email us at boaf_mail@nps.gov. This program is limited to scouts in Massachusetts, including: Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, Spirit of Adventure Council, Cape Cod and the Islands Council, Mayflower Council, Heart of New England Council, Narragansett Council, and the Western Massachusetts Council. For all others, please contact your closest National Park site. *There is no cost to participate in this program. Getting StartedPlease print or download an activity log to keep track of your progress. When you have completed the activities, send us your activity log at boaf_mail@nps.gov, or mail them to the National Parks of Boston, 15 State Street, Boston, MA, 02109. Don’t forget to include your address so we can mail you a patch! Color!Color one of the sites of the Freedom Trail® or Black Heritage Trail®! Want to color Faneuil Hall purple or the African Meeting House green? Now’s your chance! To print a coloring page, use the link below to open the gallery. Having an issue? Email us and we can send you the coloring sheets. Become a Junior Ranger!By learning about our sites and completing one of the Junior Ranger activity booklets, you can become a Junior Ranger in addition to getting your Scout Ranger patch! Please check each booklet for guidelines on how many activities to complete for your age group. Visit Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park's website for booklets in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole.
Participate!There are several ways you can virtually explore our park or join one of our programs! Troops are also welcome to attend any virtual programs open to the public. Take a Virtual Tour of our Park:Join one of our Park Rangers as they guide you through key sites within our park.
Matt Teuten Experience a Town Meeting:Help our Park Rangers host a historic event in Faneuil Hall! Choose a program from the list below that best fits the age of your troop. Email us at boaf_mail@nps.gov to schedule a program.
*Virtual programs are scheduled on a first-come first-serve basis as staff capacity allows. Attend a Talk or other Program:Throughout the year, the National Parks of Boston and its partners offer a variety of programs and events to the public. We invite you to attend one of these virtual programs and share your reflections with your troop. See our calendar for upcoming programs or visit Boston Harbor Now’s calendar for programs specific to the Boston Harbor Islands. Many previous programs are available online. Please check out the links below to find a program that interests you and your troop!
NPS Photo Care for Your Community!Community service and volunteerism are at the heart of the National Parks of Boston. There are many ways you can share your time and talents with the park or with your community. Think Local!Consider the public spaces in your community. Are there any that need a little extra love? Organize a clean-up with your troop or community! We encourage you to reach out to your local public parks department for guidance. Become a Citizen Scientist!Scientists are always looking for more information about the flora and fauna in communities. Choose an area within your community, such as a park or your own backyard, and host a “Bio Blitz!” Use the iNaturalist App to record your observations and share them with the scientific community. For more information about the app, please visit the iNaturalist website or watch our video. Learn!Put your Ranger Hat on and investigate! As stewards of historical, cultural, and natural resources, Park Rangers often complete their own research to learn more about the world around them. Hometown HistoryIs there a historic building in your town? Or have you walked by a historic plaque in your neighborhood? Do some research about it and share what you learned with your troop. Director’s Cut: Activism in BostonWe have several different videos and video series that dive into the history of social justice in Boston. Choose a video or a video series to watch and answer three of the following questions. Feel free to share your answers with us! Videos:
Video Series:
Respond to three of the five questions:
Build Your Own Activity!Have an idea for an activity that isn’t offered here? Discuss it with your troop leader or family member and create a new activity! Don't forget to share your work with us!Tag us on social media so that we can see your work!
Scouts should dedicate about 10 hours to completing a combination of activities. Participatory programs with the park service count for 2 hours. When you have completed the activities, send us your activity log at boaf_mail@nps.gov, or mail them to National Parks of Boston, 15 State Street, Boston, MA, 02109. Don’t forget to include your address so we can mail you a patch! To learn more about the National Park Service’s partnership with Girl Scouts of the United States of America and Scouts of America, please check out the Scout Ranger Program and Girl Scout Ranger Program. Here you can also find other parks involved in these programs. Questions?Please send us an email at boaf_mail@nps.gov. We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible. |
Last updated: November 24, 2023