SCOUTING PROGRAMS

Scouting Programs for All Ages

The Scouting experience is divided into five programs according to age and activities. Discover what programs are available to your scouts by selecting their age:

What is the Cub Scouts Program?

Cub Scouts is for boys and girls, kindergarten to 5th grade. It is a program where youth develop the foundations for leadership, citizenship, and personal fitness through fun activities involving parents and legal guardians. Ideally dens are organized by grade.

What Will I Do in Cub Scouts? 

Cub Scouting activities are designed for Scouting families to get in on the fun, and include exploring the outdoors, building projects, making friends, and developing a lifelong love of learning as Cub Scouts earn patches related to their grades. 

How Often Do Cub Scouts Meet? 

Cub Scouts meet twice a month or once a week depending on what times are convenient for families involved in the program.

Who Runs Cub Scouts?

Parents and legal guardians of Cub Scouts work together to run the Cub Scout program. Cub Scouting offers excellent support for parents and legal guardians to deliver the program as a team through national online training and resources to local in-person coaching and mentoring.

Why Join Cub Scouts?

Cub Scouting encourages family fun while providing youth with a safe space to make friends and challenge themselves through age-appropriate activities. It is a program where children and parents feel like they belong to an organization that consistently reinforces worthwhile values like honesty, good conduct, and respect for others. 

What is the Scouts BSA Program?

The traditional Scouting program, Scouts BSA is where youth develop outdoor survival skills, self-confidence, and ethics through youth planned activities with increased attention to service, community engagement, and leadership. 

What Will I Do in Scouts BSA?

Scouts BSA is where youth explore their interests and develop skills by participating in outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and canoeing. Scouts earn merit badges along the journey and work towards achieving Scouting’s highest rank—Eagle Scout. 

How Often Does Scouts BSA Meet? 

Scouts typically meet once a week. Troops may hold special activities, like service projects or outdoor experiences, in place of or in addition to one of the weekly meetings. 

Who Runs Scouts BSA?

Elected youth lead their troop and run the meetings at the guidance of the Scoutmaster and other adult leaders. Unlike Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA is a youth program planned mainly by the Scouts, not the parents. 

Why Should I Join Scouts BSA?

Scouts BSA prepares youth to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Throughout their time in Scouting, Scouts learn the value of hard work and experience the thrill of seeing it pay off. 

What is the Venturing Program? 

Created for boys and girls ages 14-20, Venturing is a youth-led program where Scouts experience positive mentorship and develop leadership skills in a fun, supportive environment.   

What Will I Do in Venturing? 

Venturers develop leadership skills like decision making, communication, and organization by choosing activities they are most interested in performing. Some of these activities include kayaking, volunteering at animal shelters, or designing robots—the Venturing activity is entirely up to the Scout! 

How Often Do Venturing Crews Meet?  

Up to twice a month at locations relevant to the crew’s high-adventure or activity of interest.

Who Runs Venturing?  

Elected youth lead meetings, set schedules, and plan activities under the guidance of adult advisors. Chartered organizations like religious institutions, youth groups, or service organizations typically sponsor Venturing programs.

Why Should I Join Venturing? 

Venturing teaches youth valuable leadership skills through fun, challenging, and age-appropriate adventures where they are encouraged to make ethical choices that adhere to the Scout Oath and Law. 

What is the Sea Scouts Program? 

Sea Scouting is a maritime program for boys and girls ages 14-20 providing a fun, safe environment for Scouts to learn, build friendships, and develop character while earning advancement. 

What Will I Do in Sea Scouts?  

Sea Scouts—organized into units called ships—recognizes Scouts for activities they learn and do, including paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and even SCUBA. Scouts earn certifications in SCUBA, boating safety, lifesaving, CPR—credentials that mark their growth as sailors and leaders throughout their time in the program. 


How Often Do Sea Scouts Meet?  

Sea Scouts meet weekly or every other week. 

Who Runs the Sea Scouts? 

Elected youth officers plan and conduct the program under the guidance of adult advisors. Coast Guard Auxiliary and Flotillas are among the chartered organizations interested in teaching youth activities in, around, or underwater. Each ship is typically sponsored by a business, service organization, religious institution, or other organizations within the community. 

Why Should I Join Sea Scouts? 

Sea Scouts prepares youth for the routine and unexpected challenges of seamanship while encouraging citizenship, developing boating skills, and promoting water safety through hands-on experience on a watercraft.

What is the Exploring Program? 

The Exploring program connects boys and girls ages 10-20 with mentors, businesses, and agencies within their communities to help them discover future career paths. 

What Will I Do in Exploring? 

Explorers step out of the classroom and into real-world work environments to gain hands-on experience and learn more about potential career paths. 

How Often Does Exploring Meet? 

Exploring programs meet up to twice a month throughout the academic school year. 

Who Runs Exploring?  

Businesses or organizations interested in helping youth gain experience in an area of expertise administer the Exploring program.

Why Should I Join Exploring? 

The Exploring program helps youth broaden career skills, gain leadership experience, and develop critical life skills like problem-solving, communication, and conflict resolution under the guidance of dedicated professionals.

About Longhorn Council

Longhorn Council is the local council of Scouting America serving North and Central Texas. As one of Scouting America's chartered local councils, it is responsible for delivering the mission of Scouting by providing programs, camps, training, resources, and support that help prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes through the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Our Vision

The Vision of Longhorn Council is to develop better citizens for the world, through mission-focused, innovative experiences, the vision of Longhorn Council is to serve North and Central Texas youth while diversifying revenue to ensure financial sustainability into the future.

Scouting Values

Scout Oath: On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Scout Law: A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
Scout Mission: The mission of Scouting America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.