Scout Badge Weekends

The Green Bank Observatory offers overnight badge weekends for Girl Scouts and Scouting America. Scout groups are hosted overnight during scheduled scout badge weekends ONLY. Day Visits/Field Trips and Virtual Visits may be scheduled anytime.

All overnight scouting weekends scheduled in January 2027 and thereafter, will require a $10 per scout registration fee that confirms participation and covers the cost of educational materials. This fee is non-refundable.

If you have any questions after reading the information below, feel free to email us at gro.yrotavresbobg@snoitavreser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Girl Scouts: Juniors (10 years or older), Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors can earn their respective Space Science badges during an overnight experience, which includes Radio Astronomer for a Day activities. Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors may schedule a field trip outside of badge weekends to complete their respective Space Science badges.

Scouts BSA: All Scouting America, Venture Scouts, and Sea Scouts 10 years or older can complete the majority of requirements toward their Astronomy or Electronics badges. Astronomy and Electronics badges involve different programming and are held on separate weekends.

Scouts may reserve spots in scout merit badge weekends on an individual basis or a troop may reserve multiple spots.

Girl Scouts:

The Green Bank Observatory Girl Scout Weekend includes the Daisy Space Science Explorer, Brownies Space Science Adventurer, Juniors Space Science Investigator, Cadettes Space Science Researcher, Seniors Space Science Expert, and Ambassadors Space Science Master badges.

Scouts BSA:

The Green Bank Observatory Scouts BSA Weekend includes either the Astronomy or the Electronics Merit Badge.
Please note that there are separate weekends for the Astronomy and Electronics merit badge. Troops can choose which to complete by signing up for the date that badge is offered.

We host scout merit badge weekends for overnight trips on scheduled weekends only, our dates are listed below and are posted the FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER each year. Guided activities begin promptly at 9:00AM on Saturday and continue all day until 17:00. We resume at 9:00AM on Sunday and finish between 11:00AM and 12:00PM. If your troop is based a good distance from the Observatory, we recommend arriving Friday night.

UPDATE November 9, 2026

Thank you for your interest in our merit badge weekends! The dates for 2027 merit badge weekends are below and require participants to go through a new registration process. Any requests submitted through the GBORS platform will not be honored. Instead, all troops will be required to purchase tickets for their scouts through our online shop. These tickets are now available and linked below. Once purchased, tickets are non-refundable with the exclusion of extenuating circumstances.

Please call (304) 456-2368 with any questions.

Thank you,

GBO EPO Staff

2027 Scout Weekend Dates

Direct links to tickets are now connected to each specific weekend. This will help you navigate to the correct ticketing page for your desired weekend. If you should navigate away from the linked page, it may result in the purchase of incorrect tickets so please double-check your cart prior to check-out. *Purchasing tickets incorrectly will not constitute a refund.

Below are example schedules of various scout merit badge weekends. We will plan programming to satisfy most badge requirements for the respective badge and provide all materials. Scheduling of activities is dependent on the number of scouts participating, staffing, and the scouts levels (in the case of Girl Scouts, who have different requirements depending on scout level).

Astro.SampleSchedule_2026Download

Scout troops have two options for staying onsite: the bunkhouse and the campground. Due to limited capacity and the need to comply with Scouting Policies, we are only able to guarantee accommodations for 2 adult leaders per troop in the bunkhouse. In the example of a co-ed troop, this guarantees a bed for a male adult leader and a female adult leader in the Bunkhouse. Once a weekend is fully booked with scouts, Observatory staff will reach out to inform each troop whether all adults will be accommodated in the Bunkhouse or if additional rooms in the Residence Hall are needed. The Residence Hall offers hotel-style rooms that can be occupied by an individual ($75/night) or two individuals ($90/night). It is 50 yards away from the Bunkhouse.

The bunkhouse costs $10 per person per night, with a $200 per night minimum (if you’re bringing twenty-one people, that is $210 per night, and so on). A $100 deposit is required. The bunkhouse includes showers and bathrooms and can be arranged in these configurations:

  1. 45 male scouts and 10 adult leaders
  2. 45 female scouts and 10 adult leaders
  3. 30 male scouts, 15 female scouts, 4 female leaders, and 6 male leaders
  4. 30 female scouts, 15 male scouts, 4 male leaders, and 6 female leaders

The campground costs $5 per person per night, with a $150 per night minimum. A $100 deposit is required. Please review the Comet Campground Policy before camping onsite.

The Green Bank Observatory has a cafeteria that can provide meals. Timing and rates are as follows:

  • Breakfast ($8/person) – 8-9:00
  • Lunch ($10/person) – 12:15-13:00
  • Dinner ($12/person) – 17-18:00

Scout troops are not required to purchase meals on site and are allowed to bring their own food and meals. There is a full-sized refrigerator in the bunkhouse available for use.

All troops will be required to purchase tickets in order to register their troop for the weekends offered. Links to purchase tickets for each specific weekend are posted in the “When” tab. If you should navigate away from the linked page, it may result in the purchase of incorrect tickets. When double-checking your cart:

  1. Ensure you have selected the correct badge-type, weekend, and quantity and type of tickets,
  2. Include the first and last name of any adult leaders, and

3. Select “Pick-up” for the delivery option prior to checking-out.

Registration for Girl Scout troops open in November and close 2 weeks prior to the merit badge weekend start. Registration close dates are posted below:

  • March registration closes on March 5th
  • November registration closes on October 22nd

Due to the co-ed nature of Scouting America, registration for these opportunities open in November and close 6 weeks prior to the merit badge weekend start. At that time, Observatory staff will organize and assign overnight accommodations and determine whether more male and/or female scout tickets can be made available. Priority for any additional tickets will be given to the troops already registered and then will be posted publicly until final close 2 weeks prior to the event start. Registration close dates are posted below:

  • Preliminary close for January Weekend – November 27th
    • Opens for registered troop additions on December 4th
    • Final Close on Dec. 25th
  • February – December 25th
    • Opens for registered troop additions on January 1st
    • Final Close on Jan. 22nd
  • April – Feb. 26th
    • Opens for registered troop additions on March 5th
    • Final Close on March 26th
  • September – August 13th
    • Opens for registered troop additions on Aug. 20th
    • Final Close on Sept. 10th
  • October – August 27th
    • Opens for registered troop additions on Sept. 3rd
    • Final Close on Sept. 24th
  • December – October 29th
    • Opens for registered troop additions on November 5th
    • Final Close on Nov. 26th

How do we get to and from the 40 ft telescope?

The 40 ft telescope is located 0.8 miles from the bunkhouse and residence hall. During instruction, scouts and chaperones are bussed down to the telescope for their hands-on lesson. Afterwards for data collection, scouts may walk the 0.8 miles to the telescope (1.6 miles round trip from the Bunkhouse). Additionally, a diesel vehicle will be provided and may be used by adult leaders between the Bunkhouse and the 40′ telescope ONLY.

Can I take pictures at the 40 ft or of the other telescopes?

Digital photography of any kind – such as using a phone or digital camera – is not permitted as the telescope is located in the Radio Instrument Zone and will cause RFI that disrupts our observations. Film photography – such as using a disposable film camera – is allowed and encouraged.

I have or use an electronic device for a medical purpose – can I participate in a scout merit badge weekend at GBO?

Yes! Devices that are medically necessary for the user, such as a pacemaker or insulin pump, are allowed in the Radio Instrument Zone.

I’m so excited to visit GBO with my troop, but I need to access the internet while I am there – how do I do that?

There are ethernet cables in the bunkhouse chaperone rooms for chaperone use, as well as ethernet cables in the residence hall rooms. The classroom in the Science Center also has ethernet cables available for student and chaperone use. If you do not have an ethernet port, you will need to purchase an adapter such as this, prior to your visit. The Science Center Computer Lab can be used by groups depending on availability. If you are interested in allowing access to the Computer Lab for your students during their free time, please inquire.

What about safety? How can I contact my scouts guardians, and how can they get in contact with us?

There are landline phones across the site available for student and chaperone use, including in the bunkhouse, at the Science Center, and in the 40 ft telescope bunker. If a guardian needs to reach a scout between 9:30 and 17:30 they can call the Science Center at 304-456-2150 as this is where most programming takes place.

When are merit badge dates posted?

Scout merit badge dates for the following year are posted During the first week of November. For example, the 2028 merit badge dates will be posted between November 1-5 of 2027. Merit badge weekends are open for registration as soon as the dates are posted.

Are there are any prerequisites for participation in a merit badge weekend? Do scouts need to complete anything or bring anything with them?

There are no prerequisites for participation in a merit badge weekend at GBO, we will schedule programming to provide scouts the opportunity to satisfy all of their badge requirements. Scouts do not need to bring anything with them other than their blue cards and a good attitude! GBO will provide workbooks, writing utensils, and all materials associated with programming. GBO does not provide the actual patch badges for scouts after completion.