Boy Scouts

NorthStar Adventure at Dutch Springs hosts a wide variety of Boy Scout Merit Badge and Girl Scout Life Journey insignia programs for Scouts of all ages. Our facilities offer an open-air, natural environment that lend themselves perfectly to the ideals of Scouting and we welcome Scouts to enjoy overnight camping as well as our various team development and leadership programs.

Boy Scout General Information:

Climbing, First Aid and Nature Merit Badges require a minimum of 8 Scouts and are limited to 20 Scouts per program for maximum enjoyment.

We charge per scout; adults are always free for the badge portion of the visit.

Reservations are required; typically we ask for 2-3 weeks lead time.Please call or email us for current pricing.

Merit Badge Programs

Climbing Merit Badge.

Below are some quick facts about the logistics of the badge and the staff at NorthStar.

  • The badge requires 8 hours to complete. There are several breaks during the session including a 45-minute lunch break.
  • We have Merit Badge Counselors on staff.
  • NorthStar Adventure meets and exceeds the Climb on Safely requirements of the BSA.
  • This badge is recommended for Scouts as young as 10 years old.
  • For safety and accommodation purposes, we require a minimum of 8 and maximum of 20 Scouts per eight-hour session.

First Aid Badge

The First Aid Merit Badge is a requirement for Scouts seeking Eagle status..

  • It takes about four hours to complete the requirements for the First Aid merit badge.
  • NorthStar Adventure has a certified Merit Badge Counselor on Staff.
  • This badge is recommended for scouts as young as 10.
  • NorthStar Adventure can provide all of the required props and tools.
  • The minimum number of scouts is 8 with a maximum of 20.

Nature Merit Badge.

The Nature Merit Badge requires 2-3 hours to complete. There is a break during the session including a 45-minute lunch break if the program is scheduled over the lunch hour.

  • NorthStar Adventure has a Merit Badge Counselor with 15 years environmental education experience.
  • This badge is recommended for scouts as young as 8 years old.

SCUBA Merit Badge

Northstar Adventure provides the resources your Scouts need to become a certified diver, earn this exciting new badge and create a lifetime of fun activity exploring the underwater depths.

Northstar Adventure at Dutch Springs offers a 50-acre lake with submerged attractions at depths of up to 100 feet. Our spring-fed lake comes from an underground aquifer that filters water through limestone to provide excellent visibility. But even more exciting is what you can see underwater – fish and aquatic wildlife such as Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Bluegills, Palomino Trout, Koi, Yeller Perch, Goldfish and more!

Contact Dutch Springs for more on the SCUBA Merit Badge or to have one of our representatives visit your Council or Troop to show you what is involved in SCUBA – the tanks, masks, snorkels, regulators, wetsuit, drysuit, weight belt, fins, gloves, hoods and more – to help you or your Scout understand and achieve several of the key SCUBA Merit Badge requirements.

Other Activities

In addition, we also offer several programs that are ideally suited to training your troop (and Adult) leaders, including:

Team 101

Team 101 is a great introductory program for students and youth who have potential to work with others but they just haven’t realized it yet. This program focuses on all aspects of great teamwork. We can alter the specifics of this program based on the needs, age and physical abilities of each group.

Sky Splash

Sky Splash combines a half-day of hands on learning with our custom team building program and the refreshing water of Dutch Springs in one convenient package. Add a lunch provided by us and this “one-stop-shop” package means no worries for the one planning it; education, recreation, lunch and most importantly not having to worry about the mess all included in one package.

Sun Down/Sun Up

In “SDSU” the program packages the merit badge program and camping or Sky Splash and camping in one convenient and cost-effective package.