IN-PERSON SCOUTING PROGRAMS
The National Museum of the Marine Corps offers exciting in-person scouting programs where scouts can discover Marine Corps history through creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving while working toward earning a badge.
Led by museum educators, these 2-hour programs give scouts the opportunity to explore the Museum’s galleries, discover stories from Marine Corps history, and participate in guided activities connected to badge requirements. Each program is designed to encourage curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking in a fun and welcoming museum environment.
Through gallery exploration, storytelling, creative projects, and group discussions, scouts will make meaningful connections to history while building new skills alongside their troop. Programs are offered on select weekends and are designed to support scouts as they work toward earning badges.
Through gallery exploration, storytelling, creative projects, and group discussions, scouts will make meaningful connections to history while building new skills alongside their troop. Programs are offered on select weekends and are designed to support scouts as they work toward earning badges.
How It Works
- Choose Your Badge Program: Browse our available scouting programs and select the program that best fits your troop’s interests and grade level.
- Register Online: Complete the registration form below to request your preferred date and program.
- Prepare for the Session: After registration, a museum educator will contact you with program details and arrival information. All craft and activity material is free and included in the program.
- Completion & Assistance: At the end of the program, scouts will have completed or made significant progress toward badge requirements. We do not provide physical badges. Museum educators are happy to answer questions and provide guidance for any remaining badge steps or how to purchase a badge.
REGISTER FORM LINK HERE
|
|
Available Programs
Daisy Art and Design Badge
Explore creativity through the Museum’s Combat Art Gallery while discovering how Marine Corps combat artists use art to document history and tell stories. Scouts will experiment with different artistic techniques, find inspiration from the gallery, and create their own art and design projects.
Daisy Petal Badges
Additional Daisy Petal badge opportunities may be available throughout the year.
Brownie Art and Design and Drawing Badge (Earn 2 Badges in 1 Program!)
How can an artwork tell a story? Brownies will find out as they explore the Museum’s Combat Art Gallery and learn how Marine Corps combat artists use art and design to communicate ideas and emotions. Scouts will learn about artistic elements, experiment with composition, and create a project inspired by Marine Corps history.
Brownie Painting Badge
Explore the Museum’s Combat Art Gallery while learning how Marine Corps combat artists use color, shape, and design to tell stories and capture history. Brownies will experiment with artistic elements and composition, create artwork inspired by the museum’s collections, and share their creative projects with others.
Brownie Craft and Tinker Badge
Step back in time and discover how Continental Marines lived during the American Revolution. While exploring the Defining the New Republic gallery,Brownies will learn what daily life was like for Marines and the tools, materials, and skills they needed to survive. Through hands-on activities, Scouts will investigate how useful objects were made, learn the basics of crafting and design, and create their own colonial-inspired projects using the same problem- solving mindset as early Marines.
How can an artwork tell a story? Brownies will find out as they explore the Museum’s Combat Art Gallery and learn how Marine Corps combat artists use art and design to communicate ideas and emotions. Scouts will learn about artistic elements, experiment with composition, and create a project inspired by Marine Corps history.
Brownie Painting Badge
Explore the Museum’s Combat Art Gallery while learning how Marine Corps combat artists use color, shape, and design to tell stories and capture history. Brownies will experiment with artistic elements and composition, create artwork inspired by the museum’s collections, and share their creative projects with others.
Brownie Craft and Tinker Badge
Step back in time and discover how Continental Marines lived during the American Revolution. While exploring the Defining the New Republic gallery,Brownies will learn what daily life was like for Marines and the tools, materials, and skills they needed to survive. Through hands-on activities, Scouts will investigate how useful objects were made, learn the basics of crafting and design, and create their own colonial-inspired projects using the same problem- solving mindset as early Marines.
Junior Playing the Past Badge
Scouts will step into the past to discover how women Marines have shaped Marine Corps history from World War I to the present day. They will explore different eras, learn what daily life was like for women in service, and connect history to real stories through a guided tour of the Museum’s galleries. Through hands-on activities, they will imagine life in another time, build their character, and experience history in a meaningful and engaging way.
Junior Art and Design Badge
Step in the Museum’s Combat Art Gallery to discover how Marine Corps combat artists use art and design to document history. Scouts will observe how art is used to communicate ideas and solve visual storytelling challenges, then create their own artwork inspired by the gallery. Through hands-on activities, they will experiment with artistic elements, explore composition, and develop their own creative designs inspired by Marine Corps history.
Junior Staying Fit Badge
Step into the Museum’s Making Marines gallery to discover how Marines stay physically and mentally strong. Scouts will examine the habits and routines that help Marines maintain their health and wellness, then participate in activities that demonstrate the importance of fitness, nutrition, and self-care. Through hands-on experiences, they will practice healthy habits, learn techniques for managing stress, and develop skills to help themselves to stay active and healthy.
Scouts will step into the past to discover how women Marines have shaped Marine Corps history from World War I to the present day. They will explore different eras, learn what daily life was like for women in service, and connect history to real stories through a guided tour of the Museum’s galleries. Through hands-on activities, they will imagine life in another time, build their character, and experience history in a meaningful and engaging way.
Junior Art and Design Badge
Step in the Museum’s Combat Art Gallery to discover how Marine Corps combat artists use art and design to document history. Scouts will observe how art is used to communicate ideas and solve visual storytelling challenges, then create their own artwork inspired by the gallery. Through hands-on activities, they will experiment with artistic elements, explore composition, and develop their own creative designs inspired by Marine Corps history.
Junior Staying Fit Badge
Step into the Museum’s Making Marines gallery to discover how Marines stay physically and mentally strong. Scouts will examine the habits and routines that help Marines maintain their health and wellness, then participate in activities that demonstrate the importance of fitness, nutrition, and self-care. Through hands-on experiences, they will practice healthy habits, learn techniques for managing stress, and develop skills to help themselves to stay active and healthy.
BSA | American Heritage Merit Badge
The United States Marine Corps has played a significant role in shaping America. At the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Scouts will learn about Marines who earned the Medal of Honor, meet and speak with veterans, and view the flag raised on Iwo Jima while discovering the story of the flag raisers. They will also walk the Memorial Trail to see monuments honoring Marines and units who served and sacrificed in battle.
Bear | Paws for Action Badge
The Marine Corps played a role in shaping America and Bear Scouts will learn about the significance of the Marine’s Eagle Globe and Anchor (EGA) emblem while crafting their own EGA. The flag that was raised on Iwo Jima is a symbol of Marine perseverance and bravery and the Bear Scouts will visit the actual flag and then draw and paint their own American flag.
The United States Marine Corps has played a significant role in shaping America. At the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Scouts will learn about Marines who earned the Medal of Honor, meet and speak with veterans, and view the flag raised on Iwo Jima while discovering the story of the flag raisers. They will also walk the Memorial Trail to see monuments honoring Marines and units who served and sacrificed in battle.
Bear | Paws for Action Badge
The Marine Corps played a role in shaping America and Bear Scouts will learn about the significance of the Marine’s Eagle Globe and Anchor (EGA) emblem while crafting their own EGA. The flag that was raised on Iwo Jima is a symbol of Marine perseverance and bravery and the Bear Scouts will visit the actual flag and then draw and paint their own American flag.
BSA | Art Merit Badge
Ever wonder how the Marine Corps is remembered and memorialized through art? Scouts will learn from Marine Corps combat artists and explore how their work tells powerful stories of service and history. Scouts will be introduced to a variety of art techniques, including sketching, painting, principles of design, and comic-style storytelling.
Webelos | Art Explosion Badge
Combat art is an important part of telling the Marine Corps story. Webelos will meet with an actual combat artist and explore the different techniques of drawing and media. Webelos will visit the combat art gallery to gain inspiration to design their own piece of art using different media.
Ever wonder how the Marine Corps is remembered and memorialized through art? Scouts will learn from Marine Corps combat artists and explore how their work tells powerful stories of service and history. Scouts will be introduced to a variety of art techniques, including sketching, painting, principles of design, and comic-style storytelling.
Webelos | Art Explosion Badge
Combat art is an important part of telling the Marine Corps story. Webelos will meet with an actual combat artist and explore the different techniques of drawing and media. Webelos will visit the combat art gallery to gain inspiration to design their own piece of art using different media.
BSA | Aviation Merit Badge
Did you know that Marines are jet and helicopter pilots, just like those in the Navy and Air Force? Scouts will explore the history of Marine Aviation, including notable pilots and aircraft. They will learn the forces of flight, practice sectional chart reading, study control surfaces, and build and test-fly FPD-9 models as part of this hands-on badge workshop.
Wolf | Air of the Wolf Badge
Wolf Scouts will learn about the Forces of Flight while exploring the different aircraft that Marines fly. Scouts will design their own paper airplanes to test using the knowledge they learned about the forces of flight. Wolf Scouts will also design other flying objects using various items including foam plates, cardboard, and craft sticks to test fly and compare to their paper airplanes.
Did you know that Marines are jet and helicopter pilots, just like those in the Navy and Air Force? Scouts will explore the history of Marine Aviation, including notable pilots and aircraft. They will learn the forces of flight, practice sectional chart reading, study control surfaces, and build and test-fly FPD-9 models as part of this hands-on badge workshop.
Wolf | Air of the Wolf Badge
Wolf Scouts will learn about the Forces of Flight while exploring the different aircraft that Marines fly. Scouts will design their own paper airplanes to test using the knowledge they learned about the forces of flight. Wolf Scouts will also design other flying objects using various items including foam plates, cardboard, and craft sticks to test fly and compare to their paper airplanes.
BSA | Signs, Signals, And Codes Merit Badge
Communication has always been an essential part of the Marine Corps, from signal flags used during the Civil War and Spanish-American War to specialized codes and visual signals. During this interactive workshop, Scouts will practice a variety of communication methods, including Morse Code, Wig Wag Flags, Semaphore Flags, aircraft carrier signals, and the Navajo Code. They will also test their skills by comparing military hand signals with those used by sports officials.
Wolf | Code of the Wolf Badge
Wolf Scouts will dive into the secret world of codes and communication. Wolf Scouts will learn about the Marines who used the Navajo language to create secret coded messages to help fight against the Japanese in World War II. Wolf Scouts will learn different coding methods and use those methods to create coded messages to send to each other. After they have learned a few different codes they will use them to make their way around the Museum using a coded scavenger hunt.
Communication has always been an essential part of the Marine Corps, from signal flags used during the Civil War and Spanish-American War to specialized codes and visual signals. During this interactive workshop, Scouts will practice a variety of communication methods, including Morse Code, Wig Wag Flags, Semaphore Flags, aircraft carrier signals, and the Navajo Code. They will also test their skills by comparing military hand signals with those used by sports officials.
Wolf | Code of the Wolf Badge
Wolf Scouts will dive into the secret world of codes and communication. Wolf Scouts will learn about the Marines who used the Navajo language to create secret coded messages to help fight against the Japanese in World War II. Wolf Scouts will learn different coding methods and use those methods to create coded messages to send to each other. After they have learned a few different codes they will use them to make their way around the Museum using a coded scavenger hunt.
Bobcat | Personal Badge
Marines complete a rigorous 13 weeks of Boot Camp that includes physical, mental and nutritional training. After Marines complete Boot Camp, they continue to maintain their personal and nutritional fitness. Arrow of Light Adventures will meet Marines and learn the physical training requirements, participate in physical training such as push ups, planks, and ammo can lifts. Scouts will also learn about the uses and importance of MREs (Meals Ready to Eat).
Art Badge
Ever wonder how the Marine Corps is remembered and memorialized through art? Scouts will dive into the history and amazing artwork created by Marine Corps Combat Artists from an actual Marine Corps Combat artists. Scouts will learn various art techniques from sketching, painting, learning the principles of design, to comic art styles.
Aviation Badge
Did you know that Marines are jet and helicopter pilots too just like the Navy and Air Force. During this session, Scouts will explore the history of Marine Aviation including famous pilots and various aircraft. Lessons on the forces of flight, sectional chart reading, control surfaces, building the FPD-9 models to test fly, and many other requirements are all part of this badge workshop.
For more information or to register, email Anna Polanco at [email protected] or Nicole Lutz at [email protected].
We are always happy to hear from you Get in touch
PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE.
National Museum of the Marine Corps
1775 Semper Fidelis Way Triangle, VA 22172 Official U.S. Marine Corps website
Contact Webmaster
|
VISIT
|
LINKS
Accessibility/508
USA.gov No Fear Act FOIA External Links Disclaimer Marine Corps University U.S. Marine Corps Veterans Crisis Line 
|
JOIN US ONLINE!
|
