The Roscoe Village Foundation and the Muskingum Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America developed this program and patch to encourage Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts to learn the importance the Ohio-Erie Canal played in the development of the state of Ohio.

Note to Leaders: Cub Scouts can complete electives for all ranks when they visit Roscoe Village. Several requirements for the American Heritage Merit Badge can be completed during your visit. Roscoe Village is close to the campsite at Muskingum Valley Scout Reservation. To make camping arrangements, contact Muskingum Valley Council at 734 Moorehead Ave., Zanesville, OH 43701. Phone:  1-800-934-2128.

Scouts must complete the requirements as listed below.  Information is available upon request for any of the activities listed below, and the Roscoe Village Historian will be happy to answer any questions. You may complete the optional activities either before or following your visit. These requirements were developed to encourage the Scouts to explore Ohio’s canal history through fun yet educational activities.

Cub Scouts – complete the three starred activities    

Boy Scouts – complete the three starred activities, plus three optional activities

«     Complete the Roscoe Village Living History Tour.             

«   View the theater presentation, “The Ditches of Destiny.” This may be viewed at the Roscoe Village Visitor Center during your tour.

«   Complete at least one of the following activities and discuss the type of person who would have made the related items during the 1800s. Resource pages can be provided for more information. 

Candle Dipping, Weaving, Ink Stamp Printing, Tin Punching, Rope making, or Top Painting

1.  Visit the Caldersburg Cemetery at Roscoe or a historic cemetery in your area. Make gravestone rubbings and compare the following: dates of birth, length of lives, etc. Resource pages can be provided for additional information.

 2.  Explore the Ohio waterways canal system. Using an Ohio       map, label the Ohio-Erie Canal system. Please refer to the provided resource packet.

3.      Walk the towpath along the canal, at either Roscoe or some other point.

 4.      Make one of the dioramas listed below.  There is supportive   information in our resource packet.

1. Canal Era home  (be able to identify the home furnishings)

2. Lock model  (be able to identify the function of each part)

5.      After your tour, write a story about a day in the life of a Canal Era person (child, boat captain, hoggee, store merchant).  Share your stories with the others in your pack or troop. You could also use a puppet to help tell your story. There is a Canal Era vocabulary list in the resource pack.

6.      Create or find a recipe containing at least one herb found in Dr. Maro Johnson’s garden (or a typical 1800s herb garden). Prepare the recipe and share it with your group. Discover other ways that herb can be used (medicine, dye, scent, flavor, tea, etc).

 7.      Visit another historic village, either in person or via the Internet. How does it compare to Roscoe Village? What era are they representing? Is it a restored village or a created one?

 8.      Construct a scale model (6 inches) canal boat. Be able to name the different parts of the boat. Pictures, a glossary and directions are available in the resource packet.

 9.      Read a story or book about the era when Roscoe Village was a thriving canal town (c. 1830-1880). A book list is included in the resource packet.

 10.  Investigate the restoration of Roscoe Village. Answer the following questions:

·        Who decided to implement the project?

·        How is it funded?

·        When was it started?

·        Are there any ways you can help? Clue: Did you visit the Founder’s Gallery at the Visitor Center? 

11.  Visit at least one of these other interesting places in Coshocton County. (Tour information and arrangements may be made through the Education Department).

·        Monticello III canal boat ride (Seasonal)

·        Johnson Humrickhouse Museum