Scouting at Gettysburg

Gettysburg Heritage Trails Program

The New Birth of Freedom Council, the National Park Service, and the Gettysburg National Military Park/Eisenhower National Historic Site are proud to offer Scouting groups the opportunity to participate in the Gettysburg Heritage Trails program, which includes a stop at the Visitor Center/National Cemetery, two hiking trails through the battlefield at Gettysburg, a walking tour of historic downtown Gettysburg and a tour of the Eisenhower National Historic Site.

The National Park Service and the New Birth of Freedom Council have published a trail guide for each of these five trails and tours (the current edition was revised in June 2016, 19th edition). These trail guides can be ordered directly from the York or Mechanicsburg Service Centers and cost $2.00 per guide. In addition, a limited number of trail guides are also available at the Gettysburg National Military Park.

The five program elements are:

• The Visitor Center/National Cemetery
• The Billy Yank Trail
• The Johnny Reb Trail
• The Eisenhower National Historic Site
• The Historic Gettysburg Trail

For more information, visit the Boy Scouts of America: New Birth of Freedom Council website.

Scout Ranger Patch Program

The National Park Service and Boy Scouts of America have teamed up to get our scouts and their troops involved in park stewardship! Being a Scout Ranger allows you to discover your national parks. Whether you are visiting a natural park like Yosemite National Park, or a historical site like Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site in Pennsylvania, we hope you will learn something about the national park and yourself!

By being a Scout Ranger you will be able to:

• Learn about the mission of the National Park Service
• Help protect the nation's natural, cultural, and historic resources
• Explore your national park

And of course, you can earn a certificate or patch. Check it out! For more information, visit the Scout Ranger Program website to learn more.