Themes are a way to help your youth leadership plan an month of activities around a central skill or emphasis. This will help youth leaders focus during planning sessions and keep the program interesting. BSA provides a number of ideas.
These program features cover topics related to outdoor skills, adventure, emergency preparedness, hobbies, leadership, and more. Each program feature provides ideas for meetings which provide basic instruction for younger Scouts and more challenging activities for older Scouts.
Each of these themes also includes plans for a “big event”. This can be a day trip, a one night campout, or a weekend away. Scouts BSA troops can decide which activities fit their program the best. Or your younger patrols might do a simpler program while patrols with more experienced Scouts uses one of the more challenging plans.
So check out the list of Scouts BSA program themes below and pick one which interests your unit.
Emergency Preparedness Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Emergency Preparedness feature teaches Scouts how to develop the first aid and leadership skills needed to deal with an emergency. Scouts learn to be prepared for accidents and natural disasters and to make informed decisions.
Program Themes
Program themes let you add a focus to your Pack, Troop, or Crew program. You don’t have to do everything according to a theme, but adding a few theme based activities to your program will help tie things together.
First Aid Program Feature for Scouts BSA Troops
The focus of the First Aid troop program feature is learning to assess an emergency and practical first aid skills.
Safety Programs Feature for Scouts BSA
The Safety feature teaches Scouts to “Be Prepared” for hazardous situations in their homes, on the street, and while out in the woods with their troop.
Communication Program Feature for Scouts BSA Troops
BSA has a set of troop programs which can help PLCs plan activities around a theme. This communication program feature offers the opportunity to plan a month’s worth of troop activities which focus on giving and receiving information.
Paddle Sports Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Paddle Sports program feature helps Scouts learn how to safely enjoy non-motorized trips on the water. Scouts learn about canoeing, kayaking, or stand up paddleboarding.
Swimming Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Swimming program feature helps Scouts learn how to safely enjoy fun and physical activity in the water. Scouts also need to know how to swim to enjoy other aquatics activities such as boating and paddling.
Nature and Environment Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA Troops
The Nature and Environment theme focuses on plants, wildlife, and how we interact with nature. The program feature includes some general information and some more specific ideas for meetings:
Fitness and Nutrition Program Feature for Scouts BSA Troops
The Fitness and Nutrition program feature is listed in the Sports program features category, but fitness and nutrition are important for everyone, whether involved in sports or not. Topics include the Get FITT principle, the My Plate Way, Body Mass Index (BMI), and measuring flexibility with a sit and reach box. There are sample troop meeting plans and sample ideas for a troop outing or activity related to nutrition and fitness.
Living History Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Living History feature lets Scouts experience different cultures, times, and places in an interactive and hands on manner. They witness reenactments and learn about historical events and different ways of life.
Orienteering Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Orienteering feature teaches Scouts to navigate unfamiliar territory using a map and compass. It also introduces them to the sport of orienteering, where participants race to find markers called controls.
Pioneering Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Pioneering feature teaches Scouts how to build structures and gadgets using rope, spars, creativity, and knot skills.
Multimedia Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Multimedia feature lets Scouts explore their creative side using cameras, and other technology. They can shoot, edit and share a short film.
COPE (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The COPE feature teaches Scouts to go beyond their comfort zones They develop self esteem by facing challenges individually and as a member of a team.
Hiking Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Hiking feature teaches Scouts how to prepare for a successful and safe exploration of locations near and far. Scouts learn to appreciate everything they see and experience around them as they hike trails in parks, the back-country, and urban areas.
Soccer Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Soccer program feature helps Scouts learn how to enjoy the world’s most popular sport. While doing this, they learn about fitness, teamwork, and fun.
Special Needs Awareness Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Special Needs feature teaches Scouts to understand and appreciate the unique qualities and abilities of each person. Scouts learn to appreciate the challenges faced by people with special needs.
Cooking Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Cooking feature teaches Scouts how to make their favorite food and discover new recipes for use at home and at camp. Scouts learn the satisfaction of preparing their own meals.
Science Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Science troop program feature encourages Scouts to ask and investigate questions about the world. They learn how to form a hypothesis and test it.
Project Planning Program Feature for Scouts BSA Troops
The Project Planning feature helps youth leaders learn how to accomplish their goals, whether that be a service project or a troop campout or planning other activities together. The troop does a group exercise of planning and carrying out a recycle regatta.
Winter Camping Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Winter Camping feature teaches Scouts to prepare for a fun and safe campout in cold weather. With the right skills, Scouts can be comfortable.
Wilderness Survival Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Wilderness Survival program feature helps Scouts learn how to stay safe, warm, and dry when the unexpected happens during an outdoor adventure.
Fishing Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Fishing feature teaches Scouts helps Scouts appreciate the ups and downs of the sport of fishing. The program feature includes some general information and some more specific ideas for meetings
Wildlife Management Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Wildlife Management program feature materials point out that keeping the natural balance needed to promote the well being of wildlife involves more than biology. A wide range of STEM disciplines are involved. The program feature includes some general information and some more specific ideas for meetings.
Citizenship Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Citizenship feature teaches Scouts understand their rights as US citizens. It also demonstrates how these rights are balanced by duties like paying taxes and voting.
