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Scouts BSA and Girl Scouts can earn Astronomy/Space related badges through an overnight program at the Observatory!
- We offer the Astronomy Badge and the Electronics Badge Weekends to Scouts BSA
- Girl Scouts can earn the Space Science badges, from Daisy to Ambassador!
- There has been such a huge demand for Scout field trips that we have set aside select weekends for Scout Badge events. Scout groups are hosted for overnight trips ONLY during scheduled merit badge weekends. If the scheduled dates do not work for your group, we would be happy to work with your troop to coordinate a day field trip.
- There is no charge for the program except for a fee of $5.00/ scout which applies to the Electronic Badge weekend only, to help pay for the hobby circuit kit that the scouts will build and keep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Scout groups can elect to camp in our designated camping area, or stay in the Green Bank Bunkhouse. Only groups who camp may cook their own food using a provided fire ring, and wood that you gather on site. The cost for camping is the higher of these two options $5.00/scout/night, or $150/night (This is a minimum charge for fewer than 30 people). Scouts who are camping during our designated scout weekends may make use of the shower facilities in the bunkhouse.
Please take a look at our camping policy: Green Bank Observatory Camping Policy
The bunkhouse is an affordable and comfortable alternative to camping. The bunkhouse has 60 berths that are segregated into 30 bunks in two major rooms. One room can be further segregated by a retractable wall to accommodate adults. In addition there are 2 attached chaperone rooms that each contain two double beds. More information as well as links to our bunkhouse policy can be found here.
At the present time, we hold the total number of scouts to 45 or less. Adults are welcome to accompany scouts, but be aware that you may not be able to participate in all activities due to space constraints. Note that multiple troops can sign up for a given Scout Badge weekend, until we reach capacity.
The program for all scouts is fun and very fast paced, and consists of hands-on activities that meet the requirements for the badges. All scouts working toward Astronomy related badges have the opportunity to learn how to operate a working radio telescope to take their own data, and learn constellations in our inflatable StarLab planetarium. In order to accomplish all of the requirements for these badges we typically start at 9:00 on a Saturday morning, and end at around 11 AM the following day. Sometimes, scouts who have to travel some distance arrange to arrive Friday evening.