Scout Programs
Scout Programs at METC
The museum staff has developed a number of programs for cub scouts and girl scouts that fulfill all or part of different badges. These hands-on programs take advantage of our collection and offer a historical perspective on the history, art, science and citizenship aspects of scouting. These programs can be scheduled year-round, from Tuesday through Saturday, and can be adapted for your troop’s needs. The links below lead to the program offerings for each rank.
Girls Scout Programs at METC
Daisies (Grades K-1)
From a blue sky to a bird’s song, nature can give you lots of ideas for art! Get ready to explore the outdoors and use what you see and hear to make a nature-inspired collage using recycled and found materials. *Weather permitting*
Come to the METC for two petals in one program! Together we’ll go on an adventure with one of our petal friends and learn valuable lessons along the way. All scouts will leave these adventures with a mural, collage, or gallery to take home!
Your options are:
- Using Resources Wisely (Make a collage using old resources to practice using resources wisely)
- Be a sister to every girl scout (create a mural with your troop about girls around the world)
- Be friendly and helpful (practice being friendly and helpful and then make a mural on ways you can be friendly and helpful)
- Be Courageous and Strong (create your very own Guatemalan worry doll to help you through the difficult times)
Learn all about local, state, and federal government at the METC! Learn to draw the White House and then write a letter to the governor.
Brownies (Grades 2-3)
Learn all about local, state, and federal government at the METC! Learn to draw the New Jersey capitol building and then hold a mini scout troop election!
From a blue sky to a bird’s song, nature can give you lots of ideas for art! Get ready to explore the outdoors and use what you see and hear to make different kinds of art projects. *Weather permitting*
NOTE: For this badge, scouts will need a phone or picture taking device of some kind.
Juniors (Grades 4-5)
Be inspired by the grounds around METC and explore the differences between functional and artistic uses of nature. Try out sun prints and other nature-inspired pieces of artwork. *Weather permitting*
NOTE: To complete this badge each scout needs to bring a device that takes photographs (cell phone, camera, iPad/Tablet, etc.)
Learn all about local, state, and federal government at the METC.
Become a Detective at METC! Learn to take and analyze fingerprints, handwriting and communicate in code. Then use your knowledge to solve The Case of the Missing Artifact!
Cadettes (Grades 6-8)
Learn all about local, state, and federal government at the METC.
Investigate how our government makes compromises when they create laws and statures. Then pick a topic to debate with your troop and come to a compromise using the same skills used by government officials!
Find out how to observe and collect things outdoors that will drive your art and creativity. Take home a landscape painting and resin coaster using objects found outside! When you’ve earned this badge, you’ll have been inspired outdoors and created nature-themed art. *Weather permitting*
Note: This badge would entail a member coming back to the Museum 24 or more hours after the event to pick up the coasters.
Become a Forensics Agent at METC! Learn to take and analyze fingerprints, analyze handwriting and different power consistencies. Then use all your knowledge to solve The Case of the Missing Artifact!
Cub Scout Programs at METC
Tiger (Grade 1)
The METC is a work of art! Explore the various artistic (and often shape-driven) elements of our architecture and discuss various types of art. Create your own works of art inspired by our building and other works of art.
Come play at the METC! Play games by yourself, with partners, and your whole pack!
Wolf (Grade2)
Explore the wonderful world of coins through METC! Identify aspects of coins and see coins from METC’s collection. Use the METC’s education collection to do a coin weight investigation. Finally, make a few rubbings of different coins and make then play a coin counting game!
Become a paleontologist at the METC! Play Dinosaur Jeopardy, create your own dinosaur then carefully work as a paleontologist to uncover a dinosaur in a dinosaur dig!
Note: this badge comes with an edible craft. Please talk to the museum representative about allergies or edible concerns.
Bear (Grade 3)
Woodworking was an important craft in the 18th and 19th centuries and continues to be practiced by many today. Examine historic tools from METC’s collection, then try out some modern versions as you make a creative wood project to take home.
Learn about the many ways that children had fun in the 18th and 19th centuries, including playing with marbles. Try out reproductions of 19th century tools, as well as popular marble games from this time. Make your own clay marbles to take home and design your own game to play with them.
Become a Forensics Scientist at METC! Learn to take and analyze fingerprints, analyze handwriting and different power consistencies. Then use all your knowledge to sole a case and find the dognapper!
Become a scientist at METC! Learn about the different kinds of scientific thinking and participate in different experiments testing your own hypotheses!
Webelos / Arrow of Light Electives (Grade 4 and 5)
Be inspired at METC! Explore the wonderful world of art through different mediums and choose your own projects. Culminate in a pack art show!
Program Pricing
$12 per scout (minimum of 10 scouts/$120), no charge for leaders/chaperones
Planning Your Program
- Programs are approximately 1.25 hours in length.
- Programs are available Tuesday through Saturday.
- Scout Leaders and chaperones must remain with their children during the sessions.
- One adult for every 10 children is recommended.
- Scout programs will primarily take place in the Education Annex, but can include a visit to the main museum building and museum shop if requested ahead of time and only if the program takes place during the hours the museum is open
- The Museum will make every effort to reschedule programs canceled due to inclement weather.
- Final confirmation of the number of participants is requested in advance.
- Please note: We do not provide the physical badges, just the requirements needed to achieve them.
To begin the scheduling process for our programs please complete the online form.
If you have additional questions, call our Education Department at 973-377-2982, ext. 12 or email [email protected].