– Gettysburg Heritage Trails Program

Looking for an interesting activity for your Den?  Here is some information about the Gettysburg Heritage Trails Program – it’s a great educational program, and a great set of hikes.  (Due to the length of the hikes – not to mention the attention spans of Cub Scouts – this is likely to be something you would complete over multiple trips.  Maybe you can even have Ira come along dressed as a re-enactor!)

 There are five elements of this program:

 1.              Visitor Center/National Cemetary

  1. Question and answer exercises from the Trail Guide
  2. You earn the main Gettysburg patch

2.              Billy Yank Trail

  1. The Billy Yank trail is a 10-mile hike through the battlefield and takes approximately six hours to complete.  Please be sure to carry plenty of water with you as there are no water fountains along the trails.
  2. You earn a patch segment to go with the main Gettysburg patch

3.              Johnny Reb Trail

  1. The Johnny Reb trail is a four-mile hike and takes approximately 2.5  hours to complete.  Please be sure to carry plenty of water with you as there are no water fountains along the trails.
  2. You earn a patch segment to go with the main Gettysburg patch

4.              Eisenhower National Historic Site

  1. Question and answer exercises from the Trail Guide
  2. You earn the star patch to go with the main Gettysburg patch

5.              The Historic Gettysburg Trail

  1. The Historic Gettysburg Trail is a walk through the downtown area to help visitors imagine what it was like to live in Gettysburg in July 1863.  This trail is approximately three miles and takes 2-3 hours to complete.
  2. You earn a “Historic Walk” patch to go with the main Gettysburg patch

The Trail Guide is too big to attach on the website.  Leaders, you can purchase a new Trail Guide at the Gettysburg National Military Park or ahead of time from York-Adams Council (800) 569-5197 (outside York) or you can order the materials on-line at:  http://www.doubleknot.com/OrgStore/store/default.asp?OrgKey=691

Here’s what the completed patch looks like: 

Gettysburg Patch