Click each logo for a description of that program
Ages 5 -10 (Kindergarten – 5th Grade)
Ages 11 – 17
Ages 14 – 20
Ages 14 – 20
Ages 14 – 20
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1714 Everett Street
Alameda, CA 94501 | (510) 965-5631
1955 West Texas St. Suite 1
Fairfield, CA 94533 | (925) 674-6166
508 Contra Costa Blvd, Suite K2
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 | (925) 674-8500
6601 Owens Drive, Suite 100
Pleasanton, CA 94588 | (925) 674-6100
Cub Scouts is a family-friendly program for boys and girls who are in kindergarten through fifth grade (ages 5-10). Cub units, called “Packs” & “Dens”, follow a standard curriculum as an age group focusing on learning by doing. Activities are used to achieve the aims of Scouting; citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness.
Cub Scouts have the time of their lives making new friends and learning new things in an environment designed to help them succeed. From building their own Pinewood Derby® car to learning how to roast the perfect marshmallow with their best friends at a family camp out, your child will LOVE being a Cub Scout.
So, if your child is in the kindergarten through fifth grades, or 5-10 years old and ready for some fun, then it’s time for them to join Cub Scouts!
Scouts BSA is for boys or girls ages 11-17. Scout units, called “Troops”, follow a standard curriculum for youth but at their own pace focusing on learning in the outdoors. Scouts participate in a wide range of outdoor activities and educational programs in order to learn responsible citizenship, character development and self-reliance.
Scouts learn through the experiences of camping, hiking, building projects, and community service. These experiences allow the youth to grow and mature at their own pace. Scouting provides youth with a sense that they are important as individuals. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Scouting promotes activities that lead to personal responsibility and high self-esteem. As a result, when hard decisions have to be made, peer pressure can be resisted and the right choices can be made.
So, if your child is age 11-17 and ready learn some life skills, then it’s time for them to join Scouts BSA!
Venturing is a co-ed program for young men and women ages 14-20. Venturing units, called “Crews”, usually have a focus area; like outdoors, cooking, music, etc. Venturing’s purpose is to provide positive experiences to help youth mature and prepare them to become responsible adults.
Venturing is fun and full of challenge and adventure. They acquire skills in the area of their crew’s chosen specialty. They become a skilled training and program resource for other Scouting groups. They experience positive leadership from adult and youth leaders and are given opportunities to take on leadership roles of their own.
So, if your child is age 14-20 and ready for the next level of challenge and adventure, it’s time for them to join Venturing!
Sea Scouts is a co-ed program for young men and women ages 14-20. Sea Scout units, called “Ships” usually have a focus like recreational boating, marine industry, or military. Sea Scouts develop better citizenship and boating skills through instruction and practice in water safety, boating skills, outdoor, social, service experiences, and knowledge of our maritime heritage.
Sea Scout ships use a variety of boats from small outboard motorboats to large sailing yachts and vessels. No matter what their ship does, they will discover thrills you just can’t get anywhere else. Sea Scouts are recognized and rewarded for the things they learn and do. They can earn valuable certifications in SCUBA, boating safety, lifesaving, and CPR, as well as advance in rank from Apprentice to Quartermaster. Each certification and level of advancement marks their growth as a sailor and a leader.
So, if your child is age 14-20 and ready for the next level of challenge and adventure on the water, it’s time for them to join Sea Scouting!
.Exploring is a co-ed career learning program for young men and women ages 14-20. Exploring units, called “Posts”, have a focus on a single career field; such as police, fire/rescue, health, law, aviation or engineering.
Exploring is broken up into three separate programs: Business, Law Enforcement, and Fire & Emergency Services. Exploring’s purpose is to provide experiences that help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Explorers are ready to investigate the meaning of interdependence in their personal relationships and communities.
So, if your child is age 14-20 and ready to explore a potential career, it’s time for them to join Exploring!
The Golden Gate Area Council has instituted a refund policy to ensure our Scouts receive high quality programs & activities. A great deal of advanced planning and purchasing takes place for programs and events of the Golden Gate Area Council during the months and weeks prior to an event.
The Council will refund up to 100% of the costs for any event it cancels. In order to maintain the most cost effective and positive program impact activity, camping, and event refunds of 100% cannot be given. Refunds are not given for No-Shows, schedule conflicts, weather conditions, or behavior issues occurring before or during the event. Refunds are considered based upon the following criteria and timeline and are returned to the person or entity and in the manner in which they were received.
Time Until Start of Event | Percentage Refund |
Up to 14 days prior | 80% refund |
Up to 7 days prior | 60% refund |
7 days or less | No refund* |
*Participants who cancel from an event within 7 days will be considered for up to a 60% refund if the refund request is accompanied by a Doctor’s note. Requests under these circumstances will not be considered if not received at the Council Service Center less than 14 days after the start of the event.
The Golden Gate Area Council believes each Scout should be given every opportunity to attend Camp. At times it can be hard for a family to raise the money, and Camperships can help cover part of the cost of a week of Camp for Golden Gate Area Council members attending one of the Golden Gate Area Council Camps. Campership applications are due by March 27th for continuing Scouts and May 29th for newly bridged Arrow of Light Scouts.
ALL of our Camps are CLOSED and the Staff is off duty from 11:00 AM on Saturday to 11:00AM on Sunday each weekend.
No Troop……..No Problem! You don’t have to miss out on all the fun just because your troop isn’t going to summer camp or because other summer plans mean you won’t be able to go to camp with your Troop. You may even want to do an additional week of camp just because you had such a great time.
New Friends…….New Experiences! Provisional Camping is just like camping with your home troop, except you’ll have the opportunity to camp with new friends as you join Scouts from all over the council and beyond. You’ll meet new people and have the opportunity to develop friendships that can last a lifetime. Provisional Scouts will partner with a selected Golden Gate Area Council Troop with an experienced leader. You’ll have a full time Scoutmaster for the week that, just like your Scoutmaster back home, will make sure you have a safe and fun camp experience. Provisional scouts can participate in all of the camp’s exciting programs including advancement, competitions, and patrol events. It’s a great way to finish additional Merit Badges, or to try a new part of the program that you weren’t able to try before.
NOTE:
SO, sign up now if you’d like to attend camp as part of the provisional camping program!
Provisional Camping is the creation of a temporary Troop or an opportunity to work with another unit. Provisional camping allows youth to attend camp without their home unit. Provisional camping is not new; it is used during many different Scouting events including National Jamborees and High Adventure trips.
The Scout’s family is responsible for transportation to and from Camp. Please contact the Golden Gate Area Council Camping and Outdoor Programs Department ([email protected]) for questions or more information.
First, try to connect the Scout and counselor in Scoutbook. If that is successful, the counselor is registered and qualified. If unsuccessful, go to the counselor’s home council and search for their Advancement Administrators. Most will have an email address for either the Council Advancement Committee or Professional Advisor. Send an email asking if the counselor has been registered and qualified for the merit badge(s) in question and the status of their Youth Protection Training. Ask California councils if the counselor has completed AB506 training and LiveScan. The unit leader’s “blue card” signature verifies their counselor credentials verification.
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Order of the Arrow
