SCOUT PROGRAMS

SCOUT FIELD TRIPS

Visit our beautiful wildlife refuge and outdoor classroom for a unique and memorable experience! We offer field trips for Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and multi-age troops. Our environmental educators will guide scouts through exploration hikes and interactive activities. Field trips can be designed to fulfill nature-related badge requirements, or customized to your troop's specific interests. Please continue reading to learn more information about scheduling scout field trips to Bluff Lake.

EDUCATOR MEETING VISITS

In addition to field trips to Bluff Lake, we also offer visits from our environmental educators right to your scout meetings! Please contact education@blufflake.org to schedule an off-site scout meeting visit.

EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS 

We are grateful for the many meaningful contributions that have been made to our site through the leadership service projects of Eagle Scout candidates! Due to the large number of project requests we receive,  and our commitment to working in conjunction with the scout through all steps of the project, we are only able to accept two Eagle Scout projects per year. If you are interested in completing a project at Bluff Lake, please contact Executive Director Rachel Hutchens at rachel@blufflake.org and Natural Resource Manager Tess Robeson at tess@blufflake.org.

Scheduling Guidelines

  • Standard trips are between 60-90 minutes. You may also add an additional 30-minute service component to your trip for an additional fee

  • Trips must have a minimum of 8 scouts (or you can pay a fee to cover the difference)

  • Must provide at least 1 chaperone per 8 scouts (and one chaperone per age group for multi-level troops)

  • Siblings are welcome to attend, but any over age 3 will count toward the total scout number and cost

  • Attendance is free for parents, chaperones, and siblings under age 3

  • Any age group or gender may register for any trip type

  • Please Register Here.

Scout Field Trip Fees

  • $13 per scout and any siblings ages 3+

  • FREE for chaperones, parents, and siblings under age 3

  • $2 each to purchase iron-on Bluff Lake patches ($3 each if no field trip is scheduled)

  • NOT AVAILABLE - Official Girl/Cub/Boy Scout badges or merit patches

  • If fewer than 8 scouts/siblings attend, $13 fee for each that is missing

  • $25 to add an additional 30-minute service component to your trip

  • $300 to schedule a Night Owl Party (up to 25 people, with fire pit-- bring your own S'mores)

You may pay by cash or check on the day of your trip, or mail a check to our OFFICE LOCATION: Bluff Lake Nature Center, 4760 Oakland St. #200, Denver, CO 80239. Please contact education@blufflake.org if you would like an invoice.

Preparation & Location

  • We will fulfill badge requirements during the trip, but we ask that troop leaders purchase and distribute the badges or merit patches themselves

  • Please bring your own water bottles! We do not have running water on the site--only porta-potties and hand-washing stations.

  • Please dress for the weather - think layers!

  • Shoes should be comfortable for walking. Please be prepared for the possibility of muddy trails if there has been recent rain or snow.

  • Typical hike length is between 1/4 mile to 1 mile (depending on age)

  • Sunscreen and bug spray are advised during warm months.

  • You will meet your field trip leader at the building next to the parking lot at Bluff Lake Nature Center. Our address is 11255 MLK Jr. Blvd., Denver, CO 80238.

  • Please note that construction on MLK makes the driveway difficult to see, but the entrance IS OPEN and parking is FREE!

Girl Scout Trip Options

DAISIES (60 minutes)

  • EcoLearner: We will talk about how to prepare for an outdoor hike, learn about some of the wild animals we might see, and get first-hand practice protecting nature as we explore the site.

  • Outdoor Art Maker: We will find inspiration through exploring the colors and sounds of a natural space, then create our own nature art.

BROWNIES (75 minutes)

  • Outdoor Adventurer: We will practice the skills of reading a map and compass (provided), play outdoor games such as "Camouflage" or "ISpy Flora and Fauna," and explore and protect the natural world during a hike of the site.

  • Bugs: We will go for a bug-search hike, armed with butterfly nets, magnifying glasses, and bug boxes (provided). We will draw and identify the species we find, then weave a spiderweb craft.

JUNIORS (90 minutes)

  • Animal Habitats: We will learn about the different habitats and animals of Bluff Lake, then explore and protect them during a nature hike. We will also complete an animal homes scavenger hunt and build milk-carton birdhouses.

  • Flowers:  We will dissect flowers, learn about each part, and discuss the  ways that flowers benefit people and the environment. We will create flower-petal sun catchers, and search for wildflowers during a nature hike.

MULTI-AGE TROOPS (75-90 minutes)

  • The simultaneous multi-badge program that we offer at no additional cost is Ecolearner (Daisies) + Outdoor Adventurer (Brownies) + Animal Habitats (Juniors). For this program, you need a minimum of 1 chaperone per age group, and 8 scouts total.

  • If you request any other combination of simultaneous badges, you will need a minimum of 8 scouts per badge earned (or pay a fee to cover the difference). Age groups can be of different sizes, as long as you meet a minimum total of 16 scouts (for two badges) or 24 scouts (for three badges).

  • 75 minutes for any troop that contains Daisies

  • 90 minutes for a Brownie/Junior troop

CADETTES

  • Earn your Night Owl badge by hosting an evening party at Bluff Lake! Your troop will get to see the site after sunset when it's closed to the public, explore the natural world after dark, warm up around our fire pit, and enjoy lessons and games about nocturnal animals.

  • Bring your own s'more making supplies, we will provide roasting sticks

  • $300 for scouts, chaperones, and family members up to 25 people ($10 per additional guest)

  • We recommend a 2-hour party

Cub Scout and Boy Scout Trip Options

Bluff Lake Nature Center is the perfect setting for scouts to explore and protect the natural world! Tour our beautiful wildlife refuge as you learn outdoor skills or complete volunteer projects. We are happy to discuss field trips or service days for all ages and program types.

Due to Scouts having a wide array of merit badges, we believe that Bluff Lake can best support its scouts through request-based programming. In collaboration with our educators, scouts can learn and perform specific aspects of merit badge requirements at our site. Below is a list of merit badge categories that we believe Bluff Lake can best accommodate:

  • Leave No Trace

  • Astronomy

  • Bird Study

  • Environmental Science

  • Forestry

  • Geology

  • Insect Study

  • Mammal Study

  • Nature

  • Plant Science

  • Reptile and Amphibian Study

  • Soil and Water Conservation

  • Sustainability

If you would like to register for a program, please Register Here. In the “any customization requests or other comments” section please specify which badge you are working towards and if you have specific sections of the badge that you would like to work on. Following this, an educator will reach out to help create your custom program.