The 18th Desert Rangers are proud to serve as the intermountain-west Outdoor Service Guides (OSG) scout group. The 18th Desert Rangers are located in southwest Utah in the town of St. George. Our playgrounds are the Utah National Parks, National Forests, Public Lands and the peaks, canyons and rivers of the High Rockies and the Virgin River and Colorado River watershed. Founded in 2006, the OSG has grown to be the largest traditional scouting group in the United States.

The 18th Desert Ranger’s four scouting programs are open to boys and girls, non-binary gender identity, adult men and women and all focus on a traditional, open and inclusive, outdoor program and adventure. We welcome everyone, regardless of race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion (or no-religion) or other differentiating factors. Our mission is to provide a positive learning environment within the context of democratic participation, community service and social justice. We foster the development of scouts in an environment of mutual respect and cooperation.

Scouting is an outdoor movement and that is part of its character. Historically, the appeal of scouting has always been to that element of the vagabond, pioneer and explorer which is part of our nature, and is at its most evident in youth. OSG retains scouting’s original focus on this aspect of the program; and encourages our scouts, parents and volunteers to plan programs that take advantage of being out of doors, whenever and wherever possible, and that means all two seasons in the intermountain west: Mud and Dust.

About the Outdoor Service Guides

OSG follows the original principles and practices of scouting laid down by Robert Baden-Powell in 1907, which had been developed and refined in Scout and Guide Associations around the world for over 99 years.

Our belief is that scouting’s original program remains universal, relevant, and adaptable. In Traditional Scouting, changes are primarily for advances in a) health and safety practices, b) environmental concerns, and c) lightweight camping technologies.

OSG is a volunteer-led organization with no paid staff. This approach keeps the focus on the scouting program and helps keep costs down to a minimum. Training handbooks are available, along with support material. A range of international opportunities exist for our members through the World Federation of Independent Scouts.

Visit the Outdoor Service Guides Website  for more info and resources on the OSG program.