Scout Programs in Arrow Rock

Three Boy Scout Merit Badges Can Be Earned in Arrow Rock
  • Citizenship in the Nation
  • American Heritage
  • Indian Lore (Osage Indians, includes hands on flint knapping) 
See below for details about each program

Girl Scout Pioneer Day
  • The Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland will hold a Pioneer Day in Arrow Rock on May 22, 2010.

For information, or to schedule a program, call Executive Director Kathy Borgman at 660-837-3231 or kborgman@iland.net


Program Schedule for Citizenship in the Nation Badge

The Friends of Arrow Rock will provide all education for a scout to successfully complete a Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge in 2.5 hours for a cost of $5.00 per scout and accompanying adult. A prerequisite to the Arrow Rock visit will be a scout’s monitoring of current events for 5 days immediately prior to the Arrow Rock visit .  Minimum number of participants 6; Maximum number 25. Number of scout leaders needed:  2 leaders for up to 8 scouts; 1 additional leader for each additional 4 scouts.

The program will include the following to meet the Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge requirement:

1 & 7.  The scout will learn about the rights, duties and obligations of a good citizen through the study of George Caleb Bingham’s painting, “The County Election.”  They will visit the recreation of the 1840 County Court House in Arrow Rock, Missouri, a National Historic Landmark. Here they will learn about the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branch of government. 

2.  They will learn about the National Historic Landmark village of Arrow Rock through an orientation film at the Arrow Rock State Historic Site Visitor Center and Museum.  They will also tour the United States Post Office in Arrow Rock which is located in a 1901 brick storefront building reminiscent of early day post offices.

3.  Prior to visiting Arrow Rock each scout should have watched the national evening news for five days prior, read the paper, or the internet for national news and come prepared with one national current event issue of interest to them personally.

4.  Prior to visiting Arrow Rock each scout should have read the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge booklet and answered a set of 10 questions provided on  The Declaration of Independence, the Preamble to the Constitution, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Amendments to the Constitution.

5 & 6.  The six functions of government as noted in the preamble to the constitution will be discussed in light of one of George Caleb Bingham’s most well known Civil War paintings, “Order No. 11.”   As a Unionist, Bingham opposed Missouri’s secession from the Union even though he adhered to the ownership of slaves.  This tumultuous time teaches us much about rights and freedom.

8.  Each scout will identify his two state senators and representative in Congress.  They will then write a letter to one senator and mail it from the Arrow Rock United States Post Office.  In the letter he will comment on an issue of national interest.

 Possible Schedule (could be in afternoon also)

10:00-10:30:  View Orientation slide show at State Historic Site and tour exhibits of Bingham’s political paintings.

10:30-11:00:  Visit 1840 log courthouse. Learn about rights of citizens and the three branches of government by studying Bingham’s painting “The County Election.”

Vote with quill pens, no secret ballot.

11:00-11:30:   Discussion of Bingham’s Civil War painting “Order No. 11” at Brown’s Chapel, the first African American church and school built after the Civil War.

11:30-12:15:  Write letter to senator or congressman about an issue of national importance.

Discuss current events of the past 5 days.  Turn in answered worksheet on Citizenship in the Nation.

12:15-12:30:  Mail letter at Arrow Rock’s 1901 United States Post Office.

Program Schedule for American Heritage Merit Badge

The Friends of Arrow Rock will provide all education for a scout to successfully achieve an American Heritage Merit Badge in 2 to 2.5 hours for a cost of $5.00 per scout and accompanying adult.  Minimum number of participants 6;  Maximum number 25. Number of scout leaders needed:  2 leaders for up to 8 scouts; 1 additional leader for each additional 4 scouts.

The program will include the following to meet the American Heritage Merit Badge Requirement:

1.  Find out when, why and how Arrow Rock, Missouri, was founded.  Discussion will include what national ethnic or racial groups played a part in its founding.  Discussion will be held about Arrow Rock’s change from a bustling Missouri River town of the 1800s to a historic village.

2. (a)  Explain what is meant by the National Register of Historic Places (and a National Historic Landmark).  Tell about Arrow Rock as a National Historic Landmark.  Describe how a property becomes eligible for listing.

3.  Describe the adoption of the State of Missouri Flag.  Tell about changes.

4.  (a) Learn about George Caleb Bingham, known as The Missouri Artist.  Tell something you admire about him, and do not admire about him.  Did he make a good or bad contribution to American’s heritage?
(g)  Collect and view copies of paintings about Bingham.  Discuss accuracy or symbolism.
(j)  Visit the George Caleb Bingham House, A National Historic Landmark.
(k)  Discuss a time line for George Caleb Bingham (1811-1879) 

5.  (b)  Discuss the Friends of Arrow Rock, an organization directly concerned with the preservation or perpetuation of local, state, or national history.  Participation in this merit badge program helps contribute to the funding of this organization. 

Schedule:

10:00-10:30:  View exhibits at State Historic Site about founding of Arrow Rock (Osage Indians and immigration of southerners and slaves into the Boonslick.  View Exhibit on George Caleb Bingham and portraits and engravings.

10:30-11:00:  Walk to Bingham House.  Stop at National Historic Marker on Tavern Lawn and at Bingham House

11:00-11:30  Tour of Bingham House

11:30-12:00  Discussion of Missouri Flag and take Quiz at Gazebo            

Program may go to 12:30.                      
Program could be conducted in afternoon also.

Program Schedule for Indian Lore Merit Badge

 

The Friends of Arrow Rock will provide all education for a scout to successfully achieve an Indian Lore Merit Badge in 2 to 2.5 hours for a cost of $5.00 per scout and accompanying adult.  Minimum number of participants 6;  Maximum number 25. Number of scout leaders needed:  2 leaders for up to 8 scouts; 1 additional leader for each additional 4 scouts.

 The program will include the following to meet the Indian Lore Merit Badge requirement:

1.  The history of the Osage Indian tribe will be given by visiting the Arrow Rock State Historic Site Visitor Center located in Arrow Rock, Missouri, an area inhabited by the Osage Indians in the 19th century.  Through exhibits and a lecture the scout will learn about the traditional dwellings, way of life, tribal government, religious beliefs, family and clan relationships, language, clothing styles, arts and crafts, food preparation, means of getting around, games, customs in warfare, where members of the group now live and how they live.

2.  Scouts will make the following two items:

a.  Under supervision the scout will make a flint artifact (small arrowhead, knife or scraper about the size of a half dollar) using a pressure flaker.  Scouts will also view historic and new flint tools.

Arrow Rock was thus named because Indians came to the bluffs to use the outcroppings of flint for the making of their tools.

b.  For a kick stick game the scout will decorate a six inch piece of wood with traditional Osage images.  This was done for good luck and to aid in the speed of running and kicking.

3.  Scouts will learn and play three games played by Indians:  Kick Stick Race, Tender of the Fire, and Knotty.  These games feature speed, endurance and cunning.

4.  Learn Osage legend of the People and the Spider.

Schedule:

10:00-10:30:  View exhibits at State Historic Site; Sketch 3 items that describe an aspect of the Osage way of life.

10:30-11:15:  Lecture, view historic and new flint artifacts (in 1830s log
academy)  take merit badge test.

11:15-12:00   Learn and play three Indian games, (decorate kick stick),  make flint artifact, complete Indian Lore merit badge requirements.

 Program could be conducted in afternoon also.