Scouts BSA Programs – Nature Center, Hiking Trails, Summer Break Camping, Outdoor Activities in Tenafly NJ

Scouts BSA Programs

TNC Environmental Educators can lead your scouts in an exploration of the wonders of the natural world and help your scouts earn any of several nature or environmental science badges. Hands-on learning, close observations with live animals and artifacts from our 380-acre living museum bring badges to life! Seasonal programs like apple cider making and maple sugaring and evening programs like night hikes and campfires are also available for scouts to participate in.

If a subject or badge that interests you does not appear below, please contact the Scout Coordinator for more information.

Scout BSA Field Trip Programs (at TNC)

Scout BSA Field Trip Programs
Scout BSA Field Trip Programs
Merit Badges
Merit Badges
Evening Programs
Evening Programs
Scout Field Trip Add-Ons
Scout Field Trip Add-Ons
Scout Field Trip Pricing
Scout Field Trip Pricing
Accessibility at TNC
Accessibility at TNC

Scout TNC to Go Programs (at your location)

Scouts BSA TNC to Go Programs
Scouts BSA TNC to Go Programs
TNC to Go Add-Ons
TNC to Go Add-Ons
TNC to Go Pricing
TNC to Go Pricing

Begin booking by filling out the form here

Scouts BSA Field Trips Programs

Designed to be taught at Tenafly Nature Center, however you can also schedule a TNC to Go program (at your location) to participate in some of these same experiences.

Sample Schedule	Field Trip Program	Evening Program
4:15 pm	Arrive at TNC & Light Snack
4:30 pm-5:00 pm	Program Option (ex. Tigers: My Tiger Jungle)
5:00 pm-5:30 pm	Campfire Add-on
5:30 pm	Depart TNC	Arrive at TNC
5:45 pm-6:45 pm		Campfire
6:45 pm-7:45 pm		Night Hike
7:45 pm		Depart TNC

Scout BSA Field Trip Programs Available All Year

(All program times are listed in description)
Click title to view description

Tigers

My Tiger Jungle
1.5 hours (best done in Spring, Summer, and Fall)

Get outdoors to discover bugs, birds, and animals that live at Tenafly Nature Center!

In the Wild
1.5 hours (best done in Spring, Summer, and Fall)

Take a hike! On this adventure, you will learn how to be a Tiger in the Wild.

Wolves

Finding Your Way
2 hours (best done in Spring, Summer, and Fall)

Maps and compasses are tools that have helped travelers for hundreds of years know if they are headed in the right direction. In this adventure, you will learn to read maps and use one on a hike. You’ll also get to make your own map and use a compass on a scavenger hunt.

Paws on the Path
2.5 hours (best done in Spring, Summer, and Fall)

Exploring far-away mountains. Traveling through deep, dark jungles. Crossing hot, dry deserts. The adventurers that mastered these journeys got their start on a short hike, just like the one you and your Wolf den are about to take! In this adventure, you will use your Scouting outdoor skills and learn more about the natural world around you.

Bears

Fur, Feathers, and Fern
2 hours (best done in Spring, Summer, and Fall)

Grab your binoculars and start exploring the natural world! In this adventure you will explore the world of mammals, birds, plants, and more. You will learn more about where wild creatures live and you will do your part to help them. You will practice the Outdoor Code by showing ways to be considerate in the outdoors.

Webelos

Castaway
3-3.5 hours (best done in Spring, Summer, and Fall)

To survive in the wilderness, you need to learn survival skills long before you have to use them. This adventure will help you learn some of these important skills in case you ever get lost. Learning these skills will make you a better Scout and increase your chances of survival in an emergency. Requirements that may be compleated are 1a, 1c, 2a, 2c, 2d, 2f, and 2g; with a Campfire add-on included the requirements that may be compleated are 1a, 1b, 2a, 2c, 2d, 2f, and 2g.

Into the Wild
2 hours (best done in Spring, Summer, and Fall)

Do you wonder what makes the howling, hooting, whistling, and humming sounds you hear at night? Do you wonder where flocks of birds are going when they fly overhead? When you go “into the wild,” you will begin to understand some of the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects that live with us day and night and how they contribute to the world in which we live.

Into the Woods
1.5 hours (best done in Spring, Summer, and Fall)

Trees and plants play important roles in nature. In this adventure, you will get to learn about the plants and trees in your community by exploring Tenafly Nature Center. As you go into the woods in this adventure, you’ll learn what trees and plants do for us and for animals and why taking care of them is important to our planet’s well-being.

Walkabout
3.5 hours (best done in Spring, Summer, and Fall)

Hiking is walking with a purpose. It is great exercise and a fun activity to do with your den or family. In the Webelos Walkabout adventure, you’ll learn how to prepare for a hike, what you should bring along, and what you should do if there is an emergency. During your den hike, you’ll also have the chance to do a service project.

Troop leaders and attending adults are required to stay with and assist the group.
Behavior management is the responsibility of
attendant adults, not the staff of TNC.
Troop leaders may attend for free, along with one parent, for every 5 scouts who may attend for free.
Additional parents and siblings are charged a per person fee.
Maximum group size is 30 participants per TNC educator (scouts, parents, and siblings combined).
In order to obtain adequate staff, advance notice of additional students and adults is required. We reserve the right to limit the number of non-registered participants on the trail to the number originally registered on the confirmation form.

Accessibility at TNC
Many of the programs Tenafly Nature Center offers can be altered to meet the needs of participants with disabilities or those who require accommodations. We ask that you provide pertinent information about any disabilities and/or required accommodations within a minimum of two weeks’ prior to the program. This helps us provide a quality program experience for all participants.

Program Length	Field Trip Minimum Fee
1 hour Program	$12/person ($120 min)
1.5 hour Program	$18/person ($180 min)
2 hour Program	$24/person ($240 min)
2.5 hour Program	$30/person ($300 min)
3 hour Program	$36/person ($360 min)
Program Length	Evening Programing <30 people
1 hour Program	$250
2 hour Program	$350
Program Length	Evening Programing <30 people
1 hour Program	$200
2 hour Program	$300

Add-ons:

Animal Sponsorship: $60
Campfire Add-on: $60
Butterfly House: $3 per person

Additional Program Fees:

Apple Cider Making Press Fee: $60
($) Scout Programs Materials Fees (for select programs
1. $25 for up to 15 scouts
2. $50 for more than 15 scouts
Additional Evening Program participants
(with approval of scout coordinator only):
1. 1 hour: $10 each
2. 2 hours: $15 each

Merit Badge Counseling

Members: Free for up to 3-hours (annually) for select individual Merit Badge Counseling with TNC Merit Badge Counselor (min. TNC for Two Level)
Non-Members: $35/hour

Merit Badge Workshop

See upcoming workshops below for current pricing.

Program Payment Policies

A non-refundable deposit for a program covers 10 scouts. Leaders are always free. Groups of fewer than 10 are welcome, but the deposit charge is required to secure a time slot.
Additional scouts are a per person fee based on program length to be paid for the day of the program.
It is the duty of the group representative to collect the fee from the participants and we will not accept individual payments from the participants.
Program Deposit is non-refundable.
If your refund otherwise totals less than $50, then a credit for future program fees will be issued.
If your funds are limited, please consider applying for a scholarship (we strive to make nature accessible to everyone).

Begin booking by filling out the form here

Seasonal Scout Field Trip Programs

(All programs are 1 hour)
Click title to view description

Apple Cider Making
(September-November Only)

Scouts investigate simple machines and the differences in plant parts, as they use an old-fashioned screw press to make and sample fresh apple cider. In the process, they learn about the history of the cider making from colonial times to the present.

Maple Sugaring
(February-March Only)

Scouts learn about the process of maple sugaring in North America by visiting our tapped Sugar Maple tree. (We encourage sap tasting, if enough has been collected.) We demonstrate both Native American and colonial syrup-making techniques. We challenge scouts to try to distinguish between corn syrup and 100% maple syrup by taste alone.

Pond Ecology
(late April through early October)

Using a variety of tools (dip nets, magnifiers, etc.) scouts will discover aquatic ecosystems and food chains participating in hands-on pond exploration. They will study diversity, adaptations and interrelationships among the organisms they find in the water, and will discuss how human activity impacts aquatic habitats.

Seasonal Discovery
(Fall/Winter/Spring)

Scouts will explore the wonders the season brings to the forest. On a walk along the trails, scouts will learn the forest plants and animals, and how they respond to seasonal changes! Check out tracks in the snow in winter, calling frogs and migrating birds in the spring, native plants and wildflowers in the summer and colorful autumn leaves.

Scouts BSA Merit Badge Workshops

A minimum of 6 scouts and maximum of 10 scouts are permitted at each workshop. Adults are welcome to join at the rate of one per scout.

Bird Study Merit Badge Workshop
5.5 hours

Enjoy the outdoors and learn how to identify some of NJ’s most common inhabitants. With a little pre-study (Participants must obtain and read the Bird Study Merit Badge Book), you’ll complete all of the requirements in this one day field class!

Environmental Science Merit Badge Workshop
5.5 hours

Learn more about protecting nature by understanding how it works.

Mammal Study Merit Badge Workshop
3 hours

Learn about classification, food chains, and do a service project to help local mammals.

Reptile and Amphibian Study Merit Badge Workshop
4.5 hours

This half day workshop is all about snakes, turtles, lizards, and alligators, as well as frogs and salamanders. Learning about these creatures will lead to an appreciation for all native wildlife. Scouts will study the different species and observe the native species present at the Tenafly Nature Center.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS (click link below to register)

Environmental Science Merit Badge Workshop
09/28/2024, 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Merit Badge Counseling
Other Merit Badge Counseling Offerings:
Insect Study, Nature Study, Fish and Wildlife Management Merit Badges.

Evening Scout Field Trip Programs

(All programs are 1 hour)
Click title to view description

Batty for Bats
(April-September Only)

One of the most misunderstood creatures this program concentrates on the one mammal that flies. After games and activities, scouts will journey outside to search for and listen to bats as they actively acquire their food.

Campfire
Available all year

Songs, stories and fun filled activities around a campfire where no one is left out and everyone participates! Learn about the seasonal changes and forest animals, roast marshmallows, sip hot chocolate or cider.

Night Hike
Available all year

Experience the forest without flashlights as you develop your night vision, play games, and listen for animals during a short walk on the trails. Stars, bats, frogs, and insects are just a few of the things you may encounter at night.

Owl Prowl
Available all year

New Jersey is filled with night life and one of the more audible creatures of the night are its owls. After a short discussion about these winged wonders we will go outside for a walk in search of our night time feathered friends.

Scout Field Trip Add-Ons

Click title to view description

Animal Sponsorship (all year)

Help support the animal ambassadors that live at TNC, in conjunction with a scheduled field trip. Enjoy a 30 minute up close visit and Q and A session with your sponsored animal. All school and summer group sponsorship’s receive a thank you package which includes: a group photo with the animal, certificate, photograph of sponsored animal, recognition in our newsletter, species information and animal’s biography.

Fee: $60

Butterfly House (available June – August*)

Come visit our beloved seasonal exhibit filled with live native butterflies. This add-on showcases beautifully colored butterflies sipping nectar and taking flight, offering students the opportunity to better understand and appreciate their life cycle and importance to the ecosystem. Inside you will be welcome to chat with staff or volunteers, ask questions, and enjoy the space while butterflies flit and fly about. Observe butterfly chrysalis in the chrysalis box. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see a butterfly emerge!

Fee: $2 per participant (15 min. per 10 students)

*The Butterfly House availability may change due to funding and weather. Butterflies are less active when temperatures are below 70 F or if it is overcast and/or raining.

Campfire (all year)

Enjoy 30 minutes of roasting marshmallows and making s’mores around a toasty fire.

Fee: $50 (30 minutes)

Guided Seasonal Walk (all year)

Before or after your scheduled programs, enjoy a guided trail walk along one of our trails, led by a TNC staff member.

Fee: $50-$75 (30-60 minutes)

Self-guided Seasonal Walk (all year)

Before or after your scheduled programs, grab a trail map and guide your students along one of our trails.

Fee: Free

Scout TNC to Go Programs

Designed to be taught at your location, however you can also schedule a field trip to Tenafly Nature Center to participate in these same experiences.

TNC To Go Programs Available All Year
(All programs are 45-60 minutes, unless otherwise noted)
Click title to view description

Creatures of the Night

Discover what really makes an animal nocturnal and what they need to survive. Meet several live animals who are most active at dawn, dusk, or night. Learn how the earths surface is affected by sunlight and about the amazing adaptations some of these animals possess to thrive as they roam the nighttime landscape.

Endangered NJ

Best for scouts in 3rd grade and up. Learn about the major factors that threaten animals with endangerment and extinction worldwide. Through use of artifacts and live animals, participants will learn the status of select native New Jersey fauna. Activities are designed to raise awareness of New Jersey’s over 60 endangered species, and inspire participants to practice how they can help prevent threats to local wildlife.

Hanging with the Herps

“Herps” (reptiles and amphibians) are among the most under-appreciated and misunderstood species of the animal world. This program will introduce students to live snakes, frogs, salamanders and turtles and highlight the characteristics which distinguish between reptiles and amphibians.

Remarkable Raptors

Students will observe live raptors up close and learn about their behavior, physiology, adaptations, ecological importance and natural history. Hands-on artifacts and demonstrations will capture the imagination of young and old.

Who Goes Whoo

Students learn how these nocturnal raptors have adapted to night flight, as they observe our live resident owl. Your class will learn about NJ’s owls’ status by discussing the pros and cons of human interactions with these powerful and efficient predators.

The World Beneath Our Feet

A hole in the ground is always mysterious as it invites curiosity and wonder. Learn about the creatures that live underground as we shed some light on the mysteries under our feet. Discover what other unseen organisms might share this world and how they affect our lives from below.

TNC To Go Add-Ons
Animal Sponsorship
Help support the animal ambassadors that live at TNC, in conjunction with a scheduled TNC to Go program.

Enjoy an additional 15-30 minute up close visit and Q & A session with your sponsored animal. All scout group sponsorship’s receive a thank you package which includes: sponsored animal sticker or collectible trading card for every student, a certificate, photograph of sponsored animal, recognition in our newsletter, species information and animal’s biography.

	30 min	1 hour	Consecutive Hour
Bergen County
Up to 30 participants	n/a	$275	$150
More than 30 participants	n/a	$400	$300
Basic Tabling	n/a	$0	$0
Live Animal Tabling	n/a	$275	$150
TNC to Go Event Program	n/a	$400	$300

Up to 1-Hour Away
Up to 30 participants	n/a	$300	$150
More than participants	n/a	$425	$300
Basic Tabling	n/a	$70	$35
Live Animal Tabling	n/a	$300	$150
TNC to Go Event Program	n/a	$425	$300

NYC Boroughs
Up to 30 participants	n/a	$400*	$150
More than 30 participants	n/a	$500*	$300
Basic Tabling	n/a	$205*	$35
Live Animal Tabling	n/a	$400*	$150
TNC to Go Event Program	n/a	$500*	$300

TNC to Go Add On
Animal Sponsorship	$60

No additional charge for scout leaders.
*Additional fee is included to the first program fee for all New York City boroughs visits to cover NYC permit requirements.
A mileage charge of the current IRS rate per mile round trip is added to the program fee.
One parking space must be provided near the entrance of your location (if no parking is available at your site then a fee will be added to cover any associated garage fees).
Consecutive classes are programs held one right after another, for different groups, in the same location with no more than a 60 minute break between two of the programs.
If your funds are limited, please consider applying for a scholarship (we strive to make nature accessible to everyone).

Begin booking by filling out the form here