Scouting at Gettysburg

A group of boy scouts help push a veteran of the Battle of Gettysburg around in his wheel chair at the 75th Anniversary of the battle in 1938.

Library of Congress

 

Gettysburg Heritage Trails Program

The New Birth of Freedom Council, the National Park Service, and the Gettysburg National Military Park/Eisenhower National Historic Site are proud to offer Scouting groups the opportunity to participate in the Gettysburg Heritage Trails program, which includes a stop at the Visitor Center/National Cemetery, two hiking trails through the battlefield at Gettysburg, a walking tour of historic downtown Gettysburg and a tour of the Eisenhower National Historic Site.

 

The Gettysburg Scout Badge.

New Birth of Freedom Council

The National Park Service and the New Birth of Freedom Council have published a trail guide for each of these five trails and tours (the current edition was revised in June 2016, 19th edition). These trail guides can be ordered directly from the York or Mechanicsburg Service Centers and cost $2.00 per guide. In addition, a limited number of trail guides are also available at the Gettysburg National Military Park.

The five program elements are:

• The Visitor Center/National Cemetery
• The Billy Yank Trail
• The Johnny Reb Trail
• The Eisenhower National Historic Site
• The Historic Gettysburg Trail

For more information, visit the Boy Scouts of America: New Birth of Freedom Council website.

 

A boy scout places small American flags at the graves in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

Gettysburg Foundation