Scout Programs
| Cub Scouts | Boy Scout Merit Badges | Girl Scouts |
| Fees and General Information | ||
Our staff can help your scouts earn their rank achievements and special awards. The Preserves provide the perfect setting for historical, environmental, and plant-related scout badges and patches. Our programs offer unique, hands-on opportunities to experience nature and history in an interactive environment.
If you don’t find the exact program you are looking for, please contact us. We may be equipped to offer a specialized program for your group.
We also offer a variety of resources, including loan backpacks, loan kits, self guided trail brochures and more.
| Museum tours | ||
| Katie Riopelle | kriopelle@ccfpd.org | (217) 586-2612 |
Other Scout Programs, and Interpretive Center Tours |
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| Savannah Hampson | shampson@ccfpd.org | (217) 896-2455 |
Choose one, two, or three electives to design your own 60- or 90-minute program:
Boy Scout Merit Badges
The Museum and Education Department would be happy to assist you in earning the following badges, working with your counselor.
Bird Study: Learn the parts of a bird and how birds are important indicators of environmental quality. We will explore why birds call, and identify different birds by their songs and appearance. Create your own field notebook, practice using a field guide and binoculars, and take a hike to look for native birds. (2-3 hours)
Environmental Science: We will perform experiments to discover how living things respond to changes in their environment and how to reduce the effects of an oil spill. Explore the history of environmental science, learn some ecological terminology, and review an environmental impact statement. Find out what the CCFPD has done locally to protect threatened and endangered species, and discuss related career opportunities. (3-4 hours)
American Heritage: We’ll assist you in doing genealogy, finding places on the National Register, or researching an event of historical importance in the area. Find out how your town or neighborhood started or take part in a program about history with the staff of the Museum of the Grand Prairie.
The Champaign County Forest Preserve District can enhance your Daisies' next field trip! Here's how:
Journey: Welcome to the Daisy Flower Garden (It's Your World - Change It!)
Journey: Between Earth and Sky (It's Your Planet - Love It!)
Journey: 5 Flowers, 4 Stories, 3 Cheers for Animals (It's Your Story - Tell It!)
For full descriptions of these programs, click here
The Champaign County Forest Preserve District will enhance your Brownies' Journey with programs ($25 for 60-90 minutes) to help them earn their Skill-Building Activity Badges. Free resources are also available-see below!
Journey: WOW! Wonders of Water (It's Your Planet-Love It!)
Journey: A World of Girls (It's Your Story-Tell It!)
Journey: Brownie Quest (It's Your World-Change It!)
For full descriptions of these programs, click here
Journey: aMuse (It's Your Story-Tell It!)
Journey: Get Moving! (It's Your Planet-Love It!)
For full descriptions of these programs, click here
| 60- to 90-minute program | $25 for up to 20 scouts + $1.50 for each additional scout |
| 2- to 4- hour program | $50 for up to 20 scouts + $1.50 for each additional scout |
| (These programs may require 2 sessions to complete.) | |
| Guided Hike (45-60 minutes) | $25 (maximum capacity: 20 scouts per hike) |
| Guided Tour of the Homer Lake Interpretive Center (20 min): | FREE (maximum capacity: 30 scouts per tour) |
| Self-Guided Tour of the Museum of the Grand Prairie (30-90 min): | FREE (maximum capacity: 15 scouts per tour) |
| Self-Guided Tour of the Homer Lake Interpretive Center and/or the Nature Playscape at Homer Lake (30-90 min): | FREE (groups of 10 scouts or more must contact shampson@ccfpd.org or 217-896-2455 at least two weeks before your visit) Self-Guided Tour |
Reservations for all programs and tours must be made at least two weeks in advance. To better serve you, we require that scout leaders provide 1 adult chaperone for every 5 scouts. Nametags are appreciated.
For scout programs that take place outdoors, participants must dress for the weather. Some scout programs are only offered seasonally and at specific locations.
Please note: Participation in these scout programs does not fulfill all requirements for a badge or patch. Scouts will need to complete additional work in their pack or troop. Scout leaders must provide their own badges, patches, pins, belt loops, or awards.
