Eastern State Penitentiary is thrilled to invite BSA and GSUSA scouts and all youth to participate in specially-curated — virtual and in-person — learning experiences. Led by our engaging staff, all participants will enjoy interactive discussions and activities. BSA and GSUSA scouts will also satisfy badge requirements.
Upcoming Scout Days:
In-Person Scout Day
Saturday, November 11, 2023 — In Person at Eastern State Penitentiary
Click here to purchase tickets!
Virtual Scout Day
Saturday, December 3, 2023 — Online via Zoom
Click here to purchase tickets!
Email us at [email protected] if you'd like to receive updates by email including notifications when tickets go on sale.
Considered the world’s first true penitentiary, Eastern State’s architectural design served as a model for over 300 prisons across the globe. Now a National Historic Landmark and criminal justice museum, Eastern State staff carefully navigate decisions around conservation and preservation while interpreting the past and present of prison reform in the building’s historic cellblocks.
All youth who participate will engage in interactive activities and conversations, learn about Eastern State's history and influence, and receive an introduction to the field of architecture and historic preservation. In addition...
BSA scouts who participate will satisfy all requirements for the Architecture Merit Badge; however, requirements 1a and 4 must be completed independently outside of Scout Day. Instructions are provided below. Ciara Sullivan, Supervisor, Evening Education Programs, is certified to serve as an Architecture Merit Badge counselor through the BSA’s Cradle of Liberty Council.
GSUSA scouts who participate will satisfy all requirements for the STEM Career Exploration Badge. Girl Scouts will also satisfy a portion of the Think Like an Engineer Journey by learning how engineers use design thinking to solve problems and use their skills to change the world. To finish this journey, Girl Scouts must also complete three hands-on design challenges independently. Examples provided below.
Still have questions about in-person or virtual Scout Days? Check out our FAQ below.
In-Person:
Our next In-Person Scout Day will take place in person at Eastern State Penitentiary on Saturday, November 11.
Timed entry windows for the event begin at 10:30 am and end at 2:00 pm. Please plan to arrive during the 30-minute window listed on your ticket. Once you enter, you are welcome to stay as long as you'd like. The Scout Day program will conclude at 4:00 pm, but you are welcome to stay until the penitentiary closes at 5:00 pm.
Get your tickets for In-Person Scout Day today!
Virtual:
Our next Virtual Scout Day will take place online via Zoom on Sunday, December 3 from 11:00 am to 2:15 pm ET.
In-Person:
In-Person Scout Day tickets are $21 for adults and $17 for BSA/GSUSA scouts, students, and children. For groups of 15 or more, all tickets are $15 each. Every person participating, chaperoning, or attending must purchase a Scout Day ticket to enter the museum.
Get your tickets for In-Person Scout Day today!
Virtual:
Virtual Scout Day passes cost $15 per participant, and all participating scouts and youth must purchase an online pass in advance to reserve their spot.
Yes! While Scout Days are designed with BSA and GSUSA badge requirements in mind, this program was also designed to be fun, engaging, and educational for all youth.
All are welcome to attend Scout Day!
In-Person:
People of all ages are welcome at In-Person Scout Day but we encourage caregivers and troop leaders to consider the following:
- Taking "The Voices of Eastern State" Audio Tour is a requirement for earning a badge at Scout Day. We recommend the audio tour for ages 7 and up.
- Participants will receive an activity packet that encourages reflection on Eastern State’s history and architecture. Questions and challenges in the packet are open-ended in nature and are designed to be answered by children ages 8 and up with help from an adult. BSA and GSUSA scouts must complete this packet to meet badge requirements.
- Scout Day also includes three architecture-themed activity stations. We believe these activities are fun at any age, but they are primarily intended to engage children between the ages of 7-14.
Virtual:
Virtual Scout Day is recommended for children between the ages of 7-18.
In-Person:
You can plan on staying for about three hours. Timed entry windows for the event begin at 10:30 am and end at 2:00 pm. The Scout Day program will conclude at 4:00 pm, but you are welcome to stay until the penitentiary closes at 5:00 pm.
Virtual:
This is a one-day program from 11:00 am to 2:15 pm ET. Learn more about the programming here. The day will be comprised of several sessions lasting 30-60 minutes each. There will be a 30-minute break for lunch midday.
In-Person:
When you arrive at Eastern State, you’ll receive a packet of materials that includes questions, reflections, and activities to complete as you move throughout the day.
First, you'll take our self-guided "The Voices of Eastern State" Audio Tour. An mp3 player and headphones will guide you through the penitentiary complex and give an overview of Eastern State's history.
Next, you'll listen to three additional audio stops, explore our exhibits The Big Graph and Prisons Today, and engage with staff and volunteers at three different activity stations.
- Activity Station 1: Prison Architecture Matching Game — This two-part matching game will introduce participants to five different prison designs and encourage them to examine the role architecture plays in our prison system.
- Activity Station 2: Eastern State Rocks! — Eastern State Penitentiary is famous for its massive stone walls and towering cellblocks. In this hands-on activity, participants will learn about the geology of Eastern State’s most common building materials.
- Activity Station 3: Eastern State Lego Contest — Eastern State’s radial plan influenced prison architecture around the world. Using a 37-piece Lego kit, participants will compete in a time trial to build a simple Eastern State replica.
Virtual:
Below is the schedule for our virtual Scout Day on Sunday, December 3. Click here for a more detailed description of the sessions. All times listed in ET.
- 11:00 am – 11:45 am - Let the Doors Be of Iron: A Virtual Tour of Eastern State Penitentiary
- 11:45 pm – 12:15 pm - ”A Model for the World”: The Ethics and Influence of Prison Architecture
- 12:15 pm – 12:45 pm - Lunch Break
- 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm - Building a Prison, Saving a Landmark
- 1:45 pm – 2:15 pm - Architecture and Historic Preservation Career Panel
In-Person:
Every person participating, chaperoning, or attending must purchase a Scout Day ticket to enter the museum.
In-Person Scout Day tickets are $21 for adults and $17 for BSA/GSUSA scouts, students, and children. For groups of 15 or more, all tickets are $15 each.
Get your tickets for In-Person Scout Day today!
Virtual:
Each participating scout or youth must purchase a separate online pass.
In-Person:
- BSA Scouts: All BSA scouts should complete the packet they receive upon arrival at Eastern State. At the end of Scout Day, BSA scouts should bring their completed packet to an Eastern State merit badge counselor who will approve the packet and provide a pre-filled Blue Card. Ciara Sullivan, Supervisor, Evening Education Programs, is certified to serve as an Architecture Merit Badge counselor through the BSA’s Cradle of Liberty Council.
Before BSA scouts can present their Blue Card to their troop leader and receive their Architecture Merit Badge, they must complete two requirements independently outside of Scout Day:
- Requirement 1a: Tour your community and list the different types of buildings you see. Try to identify buildings that can be associated with a specific period of history or style of architecture. Make a sketch of the building you most admire.
- Requirement 4: Measure a room such as one where you live or where your troop meets. Make an accurately scaled drawing of the room’s floor plan showing walls, doors, closets, windows, and any built-in furniture or cabinets. Neatly label your drawing with the following: your name, the date, what room you drew, and the scale of the drawing. (Drawing scale: 1⁄4 inch = 1 foot)
- GSUSA Scouts: All GSUSA scouts should complete the packet they receive upon arrival at Eastern State.
Girl Scouts may present their completed packet to their troop leader to self-report completion of the requirements for the STEM Career Exploration badge.
To finish the Think Like an Engineer Journey, Girl Scouts must complete the packet during Scout Day at Eastern State PLUS complete three hands-on design challenges independently at another time. Examples of appropriate hands-on challenges based on scout level can be found here. It is the responsibility of each Girl Scout to complete and report these activities to their troop leader.
Virtual:
All scouts will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] after the last session.
- BSA Scouts: BSA scouts will receive a prefilled blue card with their confirmation email; however, they must complete requirements 1a and 4 on their own to qualify for their Architecture Merit Badge. These requirements can be completed before or after Virtual Scout Day at Eastern State. It is the responsibility of the scout to review their building sketch and scale drawing with their troop leader before submitting their blue card for the Architecture Merit Badge. The blue card will have requirements 1a and 4 prefilled for convenience:
- Requirement 1a: Tour your community and list the different types of buildings you see. Try to identify buildings that can be associated with a specific period of history or style of architecture. Make a sketch of the building you most admire.
- Requirement 4: Measure a room such as one where you live or where your troop meets. Make an accurately scaled drawing of the room’s floor plan showing walls, doors, closets, windows, and any built-in furniture or cabinets. Neatly label your drawing with the following: your name, the date, what room you drew, and the scale of the drawing. (Drawing scale: 1⁄4 inch = 1 foot)
- GSUSA Scouts: GSUSA scouts can use the confirmation email to self-report completion of the requirements for the STEM Career Exploration badge to their troop leader.
To finish the Think Like an Engineer Journey, Girl Scouts must complete the packet during Virtual Scout Day PLUS complete three hands-on design challenges independently at another time. Examples of appropriate hands-on challenges based on scout level can be found here. It is the responsibility of each Girl Scout to complete and report these activities to their troop leader.
Yes! As long as scouts attend all sessions, and complete any additional requirements listed above, they will receive full credit for completing their respective badge.
In-Person:
Our In-Person Scout Day runs rain or shine.
Please dress for the weather and be sure to wear appropriate footwear. Sandals, flip-flops, open-toed shoes, and high heels are not permitted. Parts of the event take place inside; however, some areas are outdoors, and the penitentiary is not climate-controlled.
Both In-Person and Virtual Scout Day tickets are valid for a specific date and time. All sales are final. The in-person program runs rain or shine.
There are no refunds or exchanges, including for unused or partially used tickets.
Dates for next year's Scout Days will be announced in early 2024.
Please email us at [email protected] if you'd like to receive Scout Day updates by email including notifications when tickets go on sale.
If you have additional questions, please email us at [email protected] for assistance.
