Exploring

WINTERFEST 2026
Feb 6-8, 2026 Rocky Top Sports World
Winterfest is approaching fast—and so is the deadline.

⏳ Early Bird Registration pricing ends January 5.
After that, rates increase, and space in some program
areas may become limited.

If you or your unit plan to attend Winterfest’s 50th Anniversary, now is the time to lock in your spot and save.

Early Bird Rates (through January 5):
Participants: $70
Advisors: $25

Winterfest is the largest older youth program event of the year, bringing together Explorers, Venturers, Sea Scouts and traditional Scouts from across the region for competition, training, leadership development, and celebration in Gatlinburg, TN.

Once Early Bird pricing closes, it’s gone.

👉 Register now before rates increase:
www.bsawinterfest.org

We look forward to celebrating 50 years of Winterfest with you.

Thank you for registering!
Winterfest 2025 Staff

WINTERFEST 2026 Feb 6-8, 2026 Rocky Top Sports World

***DRONE AVIATION EXPLORING PROGRAM***

We are pleased to announce the creation of a new Drone Aviation Exploring program.

We have partnered with the FAA Youth Drone Initiative and have a partnership with the Academy of Model Aeronautics. Through this partnership we have received 500 free drone kits (up to 20 per council) to be used for newly formed Drone Clubs or Posts.

Information about Drone Aviation and Guide to Starting a new Unit(s) is available here. After reading, please reach back out and let us know at [email protected] if you have any additional questions or how we may be of assistance.

Winterfest 2026, Feb 6-8, 2026 Rocky Top Sports World. Save the Date.

June 10, 2025 -- Exploring Ride Along Standard Change

Learning for Life, Exploring, and Scouting America are updating the standard regarding Ride-Alongs for all programs, including but not limited to Law Enforcement Exploring. When youth under 18 years of age participate in Ride-Alongs, all parties involved must adhere to all current Safeguarding Youth policies and guidelines (formerly known as Youth Protection) for all participants. This includes ensuring that at least two registered adult leaders, each 21 years of age or older and trained in Safeguarding Youth or Youth Protection, are present for the Ride-Along. If the Ride-Along includes a female youth participant, at least one of the registered adult leaders participating in the Ride-Along must also be female.

This standard is mandatory and takes effect on June 30, 2025; however, it should be implemented as soon as possible. While we acknowledge that this change may pose challenges in certain Ride-Along scenarios, it must be strictly enforced to guarantee the safety of both our youth participants and adult leaders.

We will update other documents that refer to Ride-Alongs soon. In the meantime, please ensure that your units participating in Ride-Alongs are notified about the standard and its effective date. Additionally, remind the Participating Organization to verify that all adults, including young adult participants (aged 18-20), are current with their Youth Protection Training or promptly complete the Safeguarding Youth training. You may access the training at: https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/

If you have any questions concerning this update, please reach out to your local council.

Youth Protection Learn about the Boy Scouts of America's Youth Protection program, including training resources, the Cyber Chip, barriers to abuse, and more.

2025 Exploring Live Hour Schedule Released.

The schedule for the 2025 Exploring Live Hour Teleconferences has been released. The first session will be held from 1:00 to 2:00PM Central time on April 9, 2025 with main topics: Introduction, Overview of the State of Exploring, and the National Exploring Program Committee Structure. The entire 2025 schedule can be found athttps://www.exploring.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-Exploring-Live-Hour-Flyer-03_20_2025-Final-Version.pdf .

www.exploring.org

2025 Healthcare Explorer Summer hosted by Monmouth Council, NJ

🔥 Exciting New Events at Winterfest 2025! 🔥
Join us February 7-9 in Gatlinburg, TN, for all-new action-packed experiences:

Friday Night Fire Academy: Hands-on fire and rescue skills!
Homeland Security Demos: Learn from special agents in action.
First Responder STEM: Dive into drone tech, forensics, & more!

Don’t miss your chance—register now at bsawinterfest.org! Download the Event Guide on our site to get more details.



https://wix.to/fro8AQR

It's No Trick! REGISTRATION FOR WINTERFEST 2025 OPENS TOMORROW!! NOVEMBER 1st....

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:�
Marcia French
Winterfest Marketing and Brand Engagement
Northeast Georgia Council, Scouting America
847.532.0195
[email protected]

Winterfest 2025: A Regional Scouting America Event for Exploring, Venturing, Sea Scouts and Scouts BSA, ages 14-21

Jefferson, GA – October 11, 2024 – Winterfest 2025 is set to be a landmark event as we celebrate our 49th year! Join us in Gatlinburg, TN on February 7-9, 2025, at the Rocky Top Sports World for a weekend that last year drew participants from 17 states and 37 councils across the nation. We hope to exceed last year’s 2,000+ attendees for this exciting and one-of-a-kind regional gathering.

This year features a keynote speech by Glen Pounder, Chief Safeguarding Officer of Scouting America™ who will share valuable insights on leadership and safeguarding in youth programs. Glen Pounder, along with Homeland Security Investigations will also present training on our new partner program Know2Protect™. Additionally, the event will include the 2nd Annual Winterfest 5K Fun Run promoting personal fitness open to all youth and adult attendees.

Winterfest will host more than 90 events, including competitions, training sessions, hands-on demonstrations, and exhibits. These activities cater to the diverse programs of Scouting America™,
including Exploring, Venturing, Sea Scouts, and Scouts BSA. Participants aged 14-21 will have the opportunity to compete within their Exploring fields, develop leadership and teamwork skills, explore enriching new experiences and adventures, and build lasting connection with their peers from across our program offerings.

Join us as we inspire the next generation of leaders and celebrate the power of youth engagement in the beautiful surroundings of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

For more information about Winterfest 2025, visit bsawinterfest.org or contact [email protected]

** # # #
About Winterfest:**
Winterfest is an annual event committed to the growth and development of young adults through competitive and educational experiences. Hosted in Gatlinburg, Tennessee by the Northeast Georgia Council, the event emphasizes leadership, teamwork, and personal growth among youth aged 14-21. For more information, visit bsawinterfest.org.

For media inquiries, please contact the Northeast Georgia Council, Scouting America at 706-693-2446 or [email protected].

If you have an Exploring event that you would like to publicize or report on, please email [email protected]