SCOUTING AT THE RMSC

• To schedule, call 585.697.1942 OR explore registrations links under program drop-down menus below. 
• Individual scouts may register for the program of their choice and programs may be made up of scouts for a combination of different troops to meet the group minimum.
• Programs can also be reserved for an entire troop or part of a troop.
• Scouting programs run at the following times:
  1. Daisy, Brownie Juniors and Tiger, Bear, and Webelo programs are available: Saturdays: 9am-12pm or 1-4pmSundays: 10am-1pm or 2-5pm 
  2. Merit Badge, Cadette, and Senior programs are available: Saturdays: 9am-4pm Sundays: 10am-5pm 
• Please arrive 15 minutes prior to class. 

• All programs that have not met the minimum group size of 8 scouts two weeks prior to the program date will be subject to cancellation. 
• Non-refundable payment in full is required upon registration. 
• In cases of inclement weather or another situation that interrupts the safe operation of the RMSC and mandates the closure of our campus, you will be notified as soon as any closure is confirmed. Credits for future programs will be issued accordingly.  

SUPER SCIENCE

Become a scientist for the day! Create static electricity and learn why things sink or float. Try your hand at mixing colors and make a sun catcher to bring home.

ENGINEER

Design, build, and test! This program explores all aspects of engineering. Learn about the different types of engineers and the jobs they perform. Practice the engineer design process as you try your hand at different challenges. Get hands-on in our Inventor Center exhibit.

EARTH ROCKS

Step back in time as you explore the Earth’s geology. Learn about how the Earth was formed, discover its rocks, minerals, and fossils, and explore fascinating Earth events like volcanoes and geysers. Take a look at our extensive geological collection and discover Rochester’s geology as you experience our Expedition Earth exhibit.

INTO THE WOODS

This program takes place at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center. Take a hike to discover local plants and animals and learn how they make up an ecosystem. Learn how to determine a tree’s age and create your own “Tree Ring of Life.” Explore all that the Nature Center has to offer both inside and out! (Program will run rain or shine, so come dressed for the weather.) 

INTO THE WILD

This program takes place at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center. Nature is all around us. Take a hike to discover local animals, learn about wetlands and other ecosystems, and make a mini terrarium. Explore all that the Nature Center has to offer both inside and out! (Program will run rain or shine, so come dressed for the weather.) 

SUSTAINABILITY

What can you do to “go green”? Learn all about sustainable practices being used today with water, food, energy, and everyday items that can help preserve the Earth’s natural beauty. Discuss the controversial side of the sustainability conversation, while you get hands-on with some sustainable practices. Explore our interactive exhibits.

*Please note prerequisites are required for this class. Download the Sustainability Merit Badge prerequisite information here and input the results of your projects here.

• November 4, 2023 | 9am–4pm

NUCLEAR SCIENCE

Discover the wonders of nuclear science. Learn about radiation and its harmful effects on humans, wildlife, and the environment. Explore the benefits of nuclear science and how nuclear energy is produced. Experience energy concepts hands-on with the Museum & Science Center’s Energy Trail.

• January 7, 2024

Reptile & Amphibian Study

Come meet the Reptiles and Amphibians of the RMSC as we learn about their differences, their habitats and how they sound and move.  Get hands on with our teaching animals and a special show with the animals of our Survival of the Slowest exhibit.  

*This Merit Badge requires a prerequisite for requirement 8a or 8b.  Please use the following links to input observations from either maintaining a reptile or amphibian for one month or observing a captive reptile or amphibian weekly for three months. Feel free to observe an animal in Survival of the Slowest or a livestream online. 

• January 27, 2024

ROBOTICS

Discover the world of robotics! Explore a robot’s function in the workplace. Learn about animatronics and investigate the similarities and differences between robots and humans. Try your hand at building and programming a robot. (Participants will be using Lego NXT Model robot kits).

• March 9, 2024 | 9am–4pm

GEOLOGY

Become a geologist! Learn about how the Earth was formed, discover its rocks, minerals, and fossils, and explore fascinating Earth events like volcanoes and geysers. Take a look at our extensive geological collection and discover Rochester’s geology as you experience our Expedition Earth exhibit.

• April 14, 2024 | 10am-5pm

SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION

Conservation is not just for those whose work focuses on environmental issues, it’s everyone’s responsibility to learn more about conservation practices and what they can do today to help protect and maintain our natural resources. Get hands-on with soil, erosion, water pollution, and alternative energy sources. Explore Museum & Science Center exhibits and view an Enviroscape demonstration.

• April 27, 2024 | 9am-4pm

INVENTING

Learn about the inventing process and inventions you use every day. Become an inventor as you complete the RMSC Museum & Science Center’s Inventor Center challenge and see if you can improve your invention. Learn about an inventor that works here at the Museum & Science Center!

• February 10, 2024

Save the Date: April 23, 2023 & October 21, 2023

Come visit the RMSC Museum & Science Center at a reduced rate for you and your family.  Enjoy all of our exhibits, and the Electricity Theatre. Our labs will be open from 11am-3pm with special activities just for Scouts. Visit the RMSC to ignite your curiosity!

DAISY DESIGN WITH NATURE 

Learn about the different types of nature at the RMSC! Count the birds, make a map, and go for a nature walk at the RMSC Museum & Science Center. Please dress appopriately for the weather, this program will take place rain or shine. 

DAISY NUMBERS IN NATURE

Explore numbers in nature at the RMSC! Learn about shadows, measurements, and sorting outdoors. This program will take place at the RMSC Museum & Science Center. Please dress appropriately for the weather. 

DAISY SHAPES IN NATURE

Explore the outdoors at the RMSC! Go on a nature shapes scavenger hunt as we look for patterns in nature and make your own shape art inspired by organic forms. This program will take place at the RMSC Museum & Science Center rain or shine. Please dress appropriately for the weather.

ROBOTICS

Complete all three Daisy Robotics badges in one session!  Learn what robots do, how robots move, and design your own robot in this hands-on class.

SPACE SCIENCE EXPLORER

Explore the sun, moon, and stars as we look up to the sky and learn about what we see.

A Planetarium show is not included in this badge program.  Add a planetarium show to your visit for an additional $10 per person(subject to availability).

BROWNIE SHAPES IN NATURE

Explore shapes in nature at the RMSC Museum & Science Center! Be a citizen scientist as we track birds and graph our data. Learn about symmetry and tessellations as we get up close and personal with our Inquiry Room animals. Please dress appropriately for the weather, this program will take place rain or shine.

HOME SCIENTIST

Get into some kitchen chemistry! Learn about chemical reactions that you can do with everyday household items. Try hands-on activities, explore the museum’s interactive exhibits, and enjoy a Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Social.

HIKER

This program takes place at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center. Head out on the trail! Learn about how to prepare for your hike, to spot trail signs, what to wear and pack, and the do’s and don’ts of hiking safely. Check out all that the Nature Center has to offer both inside and out! (Program will run rain or shine, so please dress for the weather.)

INVENTOR

Design, build, test! Discover the building blocks of becoming an inventor. Learn the design process and test your skills as you complete a design challenge. Get hands-on in our Inventor Center.

OUTDOOR ART CREATOR

This program takes place at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center. Use your five senses to explore nature and practice your art skills. Go on a nature detective walk and make a leaf rubbing. Brush up your painting skills to make a landscape painting.

The program will run rain or shine—come dressed for the weather!

BUGS

This program takes place at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center. What’s the difference between a spider and an insect? Become a junior entomologist and explore a bug’s life through the museum’s collection of creepy crawly critters. Learn all about what makes a bug a bug, where they live and what they eat.

Program will run rain or shine—come dressed for the weather!

OUTDOOR ADVENTURER

Have an outdoor adventure at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center! Go for a hike, play a game, and learn a new outdoor skill while learning about the environment around you.

PROGRAMMING ROBOTS

Experiment with simple machines and robot senses.  Learn about programs and algorithms in order to code your own robot.

DESIGNING ROBOTS

Learn the steps of the Engineering Design process while you make your own bug-bot.

SPACE SCIENCE ADVENTURER

Make a mini-planetarium and a pocket solar system as you learn about space and the night sky.

A Planetarium show is not included in this badge program. Add a planetarium show to your visit for an additional $10 per person (subject to availability). 

Wonders of Water Journey

Explore the world of water in the RMSC Museum & Science Center’s new Wonders of Water exhibit. Learn about the water cycle, our watershed, make rainbows, and experiment with ocean zones as you become a water protector and complete activities towards your Journey.

DETECTIVE

Become a super sleuth! Discover what it takes to be a detective and learn the skills and techniques used in the field to solve crimes. Test your memory and try your hand at fingerprinting. Solve a mini museum mystery!

FLOWERS

This program takes place at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center. Learn all about flowers as you dissect a flower and go on a flower identification hike at the Nature Center. Make your own flower bookmark to take home!

Program will run rain or shine—come dressed for the weather!

JUNIOR SHAPES IN NATURE 

Explore patterns in nature at the RMSC Museum & Science Center! Create your own nature journal as you learn about symmetry, fractals, and the Fibonnaci sequence. Please dress appropriately for the weather, this program will take place rain or shine. 

OUTDOOR ART EXPLORER

Get inspired by nature at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center.  Explore and how and nature interact as you create art inspired by the outdoors and even make your own terrarium to bring home. 

PROGRAMMING ROBOTS

Get to know how robots work, program a Mars Rover, and try your hand at coding your own robot.

DESIGNING ROBOTS

Learn about the future of robotics and use the Engineering Design Process to create a prototype of a robot to solve a problem.

SPACE SCIENCE INVESTIGATOR

Learn about our Solar System and explore the RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium as you become a Space Science Investigator.  Make a star wheel to take home and a scale model of the Solar System. 

A Planetarium show is not included in this badge program.  Add a planetarium show to your visit for an additional $10 per person (subject to availability). 

SPECIAL AGENT

Become a special agent and explore the world of forensics. Practice your observation skills and try out fingerprinting. Be a forensic biologist and extract DNA. Make some blood and see how it spatters! Test out your skills at being a sketch artist. 

TREES

This program takes place at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center. Learn about the importance of trees and go on a tree identification walk. Check out the Maple Sugaring house at the Nature Center and try a tree treat. Become a citizen scientist and help our trees!

Program will run rain or shine—come dressed for the weather!

OUTDOOR ART APPRENTICE

Go outside and see how art is inspired by nature at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center. Make your own seed paper and learn about nature sounds.

*Seniors programs available by request. 

9am–5pm with special programming from 11am–3pm

Come visit the RMSC Museum & Science Center at a reduced rate for you and your family. Enjoy all of our exhibits, and the Electricity Theatre. Special presenters will be stationed around the RMSC for our Haudenosaunee Days events. Boy Scouts will be able to complete several requirements towards the Indian Lore Merit Badge and Girl Scouts will be able to complete several requirements towards the WNY Iroquois Confederacy Patch. Packets to walk you through the provided requirements will be available when you arrive.

• Explore the  art of porcupine and moose hair embroidery for the public with Michael Galban. 
• Learn about  Haudenosaunee basketry with Tonia Galban
• Listen to  storytelling presentations  filled with traditional Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) legends that have been told for hundreds of years with Perry Ground.
• Explore  the binding truth to words “written” in wampum with Richard Hamell
• Attend a  cornhusk doll workshop telling the story of the No Face Doll and learning the significance of its lesson to all peoples with Veronica Reitter.

Cost: $10 for all scouts and family members.

5:30–11pm

• Make snail slime
• Dissect an owl pellet
• Create a plaster cast of an animal footprint
• Color an animal mask of your favorite slow creatures

Cost: $55 per scout, 1 free adult with every 10 children. $30 per additional adult.