For Boy Scouts, ages twelve and up, we offer.....

Boy Scout Cave Exploring

The staff assisted caving trip permits scouts to see over two miles of cave covering both the undeveloped cave and the lighted portion.  Trips depart at either 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM and take about three hours.  Most of the passages are between ten and forty feet high.  On this exploring adventure there is much climbing over rocks.  Injuries unavoidably occur from this kind of activity; thus, participants and their parents must sign a release form. Click here Lower Caving Release Form. Instructions for preparing for this high adventure activity are provided in this form.  Cost: $19.00 per person whether scout or adult.  (For boy scouts not yet twelve, your troop may wish to consider Upper Cave Exploration.  See our upper caving release form.))  upper caving form( (Note:  All pages of any Caving Release form must be submitted to Laurel Caverns for participation in the cave exploring activity to which it applies.)  

For all Boy Scouts (those older than Webelos)  we offer .......

The Climbing Merit Badge

Each class has a limited number of slots for participants and adult signups may be bumped at the last minute to make way for scouts.  Programs begin at 9:15 AM and conclude at about 1:30 PM.  Release forms are required for this activity and must be signed by both the participant and their parents or guardian.     Click here for release form.    

                                    Cost: participants $39 each, observers $8 each. 

The Following Requirements Must be completed before Arrival at Laurel Caverns

• All Scouts MUST Read "The Climbing Merit Badge Book"

• Complete requirement # 1 - First Aid and CPR

• Complete requirement # 7a-e - Knots for Climbing and Rappelling. Scouts may be tested on the spot on their knots.

• * Important!  Please bring signed blue card filled out for the Climbing Merit Badge.*

This program begins promptly at 9:15 AM with a two hour review, in the classroom, of the knowledge requirements.  Lunch is on your own, or with special arrangements made at time of reservation, after the scouts are finished with the actual climbing and rappelling requirements and have completed the merit badge.  Scouts must complete three rappels and three climbs in order to earn the Merit Badge.  Our staff does not issue Partials.

All instructors in the Climbing and Rappelling program are certified by the Boy Scouts of America as "Climbing Instructors" and follow the Boy Scout guidelines and requirements for High Adventure programming.  All equipment is supplied by Laurel Caverns and no experience is necessary.  Proper dress involves jeans, long sleeve shirt and shoes with a good climbing tread.  Do Not wear baggy loose fitting clothing, and long hair must be able to be secured tightly under the climbing helmet.  This is a very safe program but as with all High Adventure activities failure to follow instructions can result in serious injuries and horseplay will not be tolerated.

 Please Note: Due to high demand and limited capacity for this High Adventure activity,  reservation cancellations must be made at least two weeks prior to the reserve date to qualify for refund.   Adults do not participate in the Climbing Merit Badge, and Scouts that already have the merit badge do not participate in the Climbing Merit Badge.  A rappelling and climbing session can be scheduled before arriving to accommodate these people in your group.

The Boy Scout Geology Merit Badge

This three hour program is offered at either 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM and includes a one hour class, a one hour field walk and a one hour geology oriented cave tour.  Cost: $17 per scout and $8 per adult observer.  * Important! Please bring blue cards.*

The Boy Scout Forestry  Badge

This program takes between two and a half to three hours and is  usually offered as an afternoon activity beginning at 2:00 PM.  Many troops combine this afternoon program with a morning geology badge program.  The first hour is done indoors as a classroom and the second as a field walk.  There is no cave tour in this activity and thus, no charge for adult observers.  Appropriate dress for the day and season is suggested.  Cost: $10.00 per scout. * Important! Please bring blue cards.*

Tent Camping

The Laurel Caverns campground sits in the middle of our 435 acres geological park and it is exclusively reserved for scouts.  Amenities include modern restrooms with coin showers, picnic tables and fireplace rims.  Cost: $5.00 per person per night. 

Please keep in mind:

(1)  Lunch is not included in any of Laurel Caverns programs but arrangements can be made by calling 724-438-2070.  (2) Plan well ahead.  You do not have a reservation until we have full payment in advance and you have a written confirmation. 

Please be advised that our morning programs must stay to a strict time schedule in order for our instructors to meet their afternoon programs and for the scouts who are enrolled in afternoon programs to be ready for their class.

In the climbing merit badge the lunch break varies according to the instructor's plan. In all other morning programs, the lunch break is taken from noon until 12:30 P.M. and there is not enough time for a group to return to the campground for lunch. Campers must bring their lunches with them in the morning or an adult may prepare them at the campsite and bring them down to our Visitor's Center at noon. We also have a group lunch program that is available for your convenience. For $6.00 with prior reservations, we will provide our hoagie lunch at the appropriate time.

Thank you for cooperating with this very important policy.

Click here for the Boy Scout Reservation Form 

For Webelos we offer.... 

 Upper Caving

This three hour program is offered at either 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM and includes a 20-30 minute orientation on cave safety.  The following release form, which explains the spelunking activity, must be signed by a parent for each Webelo, or sibling of Webelos age, or older, participating  in this activity.  

No one of pre-Webelos age will be admitted to this program.  Cost: $16.00 per Webelo or sibling and $16.00 per adult.

The Webelos Geologist Pin

This three hour program is offered at either 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM and includes a one hour class, a one hour field walk and a one hour geology oriented cave tour.  The morning program allows for a 30 minute lunch break, though lunch  is not included in the program.  Participants should dress for the weather and wear suitable shoes.  Participating siblings will be charged  the same as the scouts, except for preschoolers.  There is no charge for preschoolers, but it is asked they be excluded from the classroom part of the program.  Cost: $14.00 per scout or sibling and $8.00 per adult observer.

The Webelos Forester Pin

The Webelos Naturalist Pin

These two programs are offered separately.  Each is designed to permit the scout to meet all the requirements of the pin program chosen.  The content of each of these pin programs is, of course, different; each has the same format and cost, so a single description works for both.  Each requires at least two to three hours and can be taken at either 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM.  Thus, both pins can be acquired in a single day, or one program can be selected and taken on the same day as geology.  The first hour is done indoors as a classroom and the second as a field walk.  There is no cave tour in either program and thus, no charge for adult observers.  Participants and siblings will be charged the same as the scouts, except for preschoolers.  There is no charge for preschoolers, but it is asked they be excluded from the classroom part of the program.  These pins are offered May through October.   Appropriate dress for the day and season is suggested.  Cost: $8.00 per scout or sibling per program. 

Please keep in mind:

(1)  Lunch is not included in any of Laurel Caverns programs but arrangements can be made by calling 724-438-2070.

(2) Plan well ahead.  You do not have a reservation until we have full payment in advance and you have a written confirmation. 

Please be advised that our morning programs must stay to a strict time schedule in order for our instructors to meet their afternoon programs and for the scouts who are enrolled in afternoon programs to be ready for their class.

In all other morning programs, the lunch break is taken from noon until 12:30 P.M. and there is not enough time for a group to return to the campground for lunch. Campers must bring their lunches with them in the morning or an adult may prepare them at the campsite and bring them down to our Visitor's Center at noon. We also have a group lunch program that is available for your convenience. For $6.00 with prior reservations, we will provide our hoagie lunch at the appropriate time.

Click Here for the in Webelos Reservation Form

For Tigers -Bears-Wolves we offer.... 

Fun Patch Program

This family oriented program combines our one hour family tour of Laurel Caverns with Kavernputt, a miniature golf game through the largest simulated cave in the world.  Siblings are invited as participants.  At the conclusion of activities participants receive a bat patch as a memento of their adventure.  (Many groups add panning for gemstones to this activity for an additional $4.00 per panner)  Cost: Participants: $11.00  Parents: $8.00 each  Pre-kindergarten siblings are not charged for the cave tour.

Free  Picnicking 

     Laurel Caverns has a free picnic area and shelter.  It is available only to groups participating in our scheduled programs. 

Note: Prepayment is not required for any program involving Tigers, Bears or Wolves but we do need notice of your plans so that we may be properly staffed.

For Reservations Phone 724-438-2070