Merit Badges
- Exploration
- Metalwork (Must be at least thirteen years old; $12 fee required; selected based on lottery; completion requires some free time)
- Textile / Pulp & Paper (May require some out-of-class research)
- Wilderness Survival (Bring Ten Essentials to each class)
Activities
- Black Powder Rifle Shooting: The black powder rifle range is open Monday through Thursday from 2pm-5pm. Tickets are available in the Trading Post.
- The Frontiersman Program: Themed after skills used by Corps of Discovery on their journey west, to qualify as a Frontiersman scouts must complete requirements in blacksmithing, marksmanship, tomahawk throwing, frontier cooking, and more during open program time. Frontiersman candidates get to enjoy a Rendezvous feast at the fort on Thursday evening and may stay overnight at the Fort with Scoutmaster permission. There is a $12 fee, and participants should speak to the Fort Director before beginning.
- Candle-Making: Using a traditional dip method, make yourself a candle like the pioneers of old.
Special Events
- Candlelight Tour: Meriwether staff lead the Candlelight Tour, an interactive historical presentation about the Corps of Discovery’s winter of 1805, on Wednesday night. All are invited to attend, but it is required for those or working on their Frontiersman Award. Starting at the scheduled time, the Fort Clatsop staff will take tour groups through the Fort every few minutes until ~8:15pm.
- Wilderness Survival Overnighter: Whether completing the merit badge or simply wanting to test your mettle, all are welcome to participate in the overnight excursion on Wednesday night. Sleeping bags, pads, and other equipment are not prohibited during the overnighter, but we do encourage scouts to go without them to get the full experience. We may need help from adult leaders to provide adult supervision for the Wilderness Survival overnighter, particularly if your group contains under-18 females.
Safety
To enter the forge, participants must wear long pants made of natural fibers such as cotton. No synthetic clothing may be worn in the forge. We do have a few one-size-fits-all pants we can lend to scouts, if needed.
Eye and ear protection are provided at the black powder rifle range.
Just For Adult Leaders
- Stake Break: Come down to the Fort or to the Shotgun Range and compete to see who can be first to shoot a 2x4” in half with a black-powder rifle!