Every donation helps to grow inclusive scouting

Outdoor Service Guides is a 100% volunteer-run organization so you know your entire contribution goes to scouts, groups, or organizing and running national programs.

OSG has one of the most affordable national registration fees of any scouting organization. But we never turn anyone away if they can’t pay. Your $25 donation provides a registration scholarship for one scout for a year. A $200 donation covers registration fees for a whole den, six, or patrol. Donate now! >>

Groups chartered through Outdoor Serivce Guides have some or the most affordable dues compared to other youth programs. Camping trips, craft projects, and s’more supplies cost money. OSG groups never turn anyone away due to financial need. Your $100 donation provides an annual “no questions asked” scholarship to a scout in need. Donate now! >>

OSG has one the most comprehensive scout adult leader training programs. Brownsea Training Camp (BTC) is a three day, two night weekend camping trip where adult leaders learn best practices for running every age level scouting program, youth protection guidelines, camping and cooking skills, and join in fellowship with other Rovers across the country.

Rovers who have finished BTC can attend an Advanced Leader Training the goes further in depth in the skills above, featuring the best ways to teach specific skills and requirements in the scouting program. Participants also begin a project helping their region or the national organization.

Your donation of $300 provides the funding needed to run a single BTC (which happen at a minimum once every two years in each of our seven regions, and as often as twice a year in more active regions) and provide essential leadership training to six or more adult leaders. 

And a donation of $50 provides a scholarship for a new leader to attend a BTC. Donate now! >>

As we grow nationally, one of the best ways folks find groups to join or start in their area is our online presence. Even when contacted through social media, most correspondence eventually points prospective members and new group scoutmasters to our website. All of our text material is provided online for free. Hard copies as well as badges, uniforms, and equipment are all sold through our online quartermaster store. Group registration is hosted online. A $400 donation keeps the lights on at the website, quartermaster store, and registration dashboard. Donate now! >>

Since OSG is an affordable program, no amount is too small. Even if you can’t fully support one of the funding levels mentioned above, even small donations can add up. Whatever amount you can donate today helps provide scouting to youth who may not be able to otherwise, comprehensive training for adult leaders, and promoting our program to new members. Donate now! >>

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Similar to Pathfinders

Many of these new badges mirror the badges for Senior Level Pathfinders from the new Pathfinder Handbook. As a result, Rovers and Pathfinders can earn the same badges! However, as a Rover it is important to look up the requirements for adults, as the language has been changed to incorporate prerequisite  requirements. The language for Rovers is also updated to account for adults learning instead of youth who need supervision. Finally, please remember that these badges are designed to appeal to Rovers age 18-108, which is nearly impossible. You may find that some badges do not appeal to you, and that’s okay.

The OSG Rover program still has all the self directed options of going on a quest as a Knight. These additional new badges are for those who would like more direction and specific requirements than a quest provides. They can also be earned before a Rover chooses to be Knighted, as part of their scouting journey with us. Earning badges is a foundational part of scouting and we hope that these new badges will bring our members joy and encourage them to take on new challenges.

Purple Badges

There are 5 new badges just for Rovers who want to use their skills in the arts to render service! These newest badges are outlined in purple, so that they stand out from the Pathfinder badges.  Some of these badges require service to your community and others encourage service to OSG, to help us complete our mission of “Scouting for Everybody.”

Wilderness First Aid

There is also a new badge for those who have completed a Wilderness First Aid Course. The WFA badge is to be worn on the front of the uniform, so that we all know who has this training in an emergency! Wilderness First Aid training is quite the achievement, so we are excited to acknowledge it with a badge.

Where to Wear

These badges may be worn on the sleeves of your Rover uniform. Badges with red, yellow or purple outlines are to be worn on the right sleeve. Badges with green or blue outlines go on the left sleeve. You may also choose to earn badges and not wear all that you earn. It is up to you.

Download the Rover Badge Supplement here: https://docs.guides4guides.org/Rovers/Rover+Badge+Supplement.pdf 

Changes or Recommendations

If you try out a badge and have feedback for that badge, you can send your feedback to RoverBadges@osg-us.org where we will be collecting information on how well these badges work out for our membership.  Please keep in mind, that badge requirements can be altered to meet your own special set of circumstances including access or disability issues. You can read more about altering badge requirements for special needs situation in our Accessible and Adaptive Scouting Guide. We do welcome feedback that will make these badges better for our community of Rovers.

Updating the Rover Program

There is a new committee forming to work on updating our Rover handbook. The youth program books have all been updated and we want to update the Rover program now. We are seeking committed members from every region with a variety of experiences to contribute to updating the Rover materials.  If you are interested, please email susanpz@clackamas.edu with your information including your scouting experience and relevant information.

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