As you start mapping out fall activities, there’s one experience that offers fun, friendship, leadership, outdoor adventure, and real-life skills all rolled into one: Scouting with the Simon Kenton Council.
Part of Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America), the Simon Kenton Council (SKC) serves more than 11,000 youth including right here in Columbus—and they’re welcoming new families this fall.
Scouting is so much more than campfires and merit badges. It’s where kids build confidence, independence, and compassion through hands-on learning and fun. Programs are youth-led, where they take the reins in planning, decision-making and problem-solving. Scouting offers “modern-day survival skills,” ranging from self-sufficiency, leadership, and teamwork learned early on in Cub Scouts to advanced skills like project leadership, rocketry, robotics, coding, and combating cyberbullying as youth move through the Scouting program.
From kindergartners to teens, for boys and girls, there’s a program for all youth where they can discover what they’re capable of:
- Cub Scouts (Grades K–5): Perfect for younger kids, Cub Scouts is all about fun, friends, and family—building resilience and teamwork through outdoor activities, games, and adventures.
- Scouts BSA (Grades 6–12): Older youth take the lead, planning their own activities while earning merit badges in everything from first aid to robotics. It's leadership training wrapped in outdoor fun.
- Exploring & High Adventure (Ages 14–20): Teens explore careers through real-world mentorship in fields like healthcare and engineering—or head to the mountains for epic high-adventure treks.
- ScoutReach: Scouting is for everyone. Through partnerships with local schools, SKC offers Scouting programs for under-resourced communities at no cost to families.
Safety and inclusivity are non-negotiables. SKC runs background checks, requires annual Safeguarding Youth training for volunteers, and ensures every person feels welcomed and valued. That way, Scouts can focus on having fun, learning, exploring and growing!
Whether your child dreams of hiking trails and camping, learning STEM skills, or making new friends who’ll last a lifetime, Scouting is the perfect place to start. They'll learn how to tackle challenges and achieve things they never thought possible.
Ready to learn more or find a troop near you? Visit skcscouts.org or BeAScout.org, and follow on Facebook and Instagram to see the fun in action.
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