What does your unit do for Summer Camp

[Chief J]

My unit is beginning it's fourth year of existance. In the past, we have always attended our council's summer camp, the same week, same campsite, etc.

I would like to begin introducing the unit to other council summer camps and possibly introduce some alternatives (i.e., a week in Washington D.C. or a week at/on the ocean participating in organized/supervised activities).

What do other units Do?

Chief J

[Guneukitschik]

Our Troop has attended our council camp for the past 40+ years...it's close (approx. 1 hr travel) and offers an excellent program at an affordable price.

Once in a while the troop will plan an alternate activity so that if a scout doesn't want to attend the same ol' camp they don't have to or they can even do both because they never are at the same time?

I think it's important to support your council's camp as much as possible...if no one attends...it just might not exist in the future?


Fortunately our troop is located close to Gettysburg, Washington DC, etc. Many troops in my area plan trips to the ocean and camp on Assateague Island...they have wild horses and it's pretty fun to camp in an environment that your not used too...

[Lynda J]

Our Troop is thinking about going to either Oklahoma or Arkansas next summer. Don't know yet though. The boys will have to make the final decission.

[Rick Tyler]

We are fortunate two ways: one of the best camps in the country is in our council (Camp Parsons), and we live in the Pacific Northwest, which is full of outdoor activity opportunities. We typically alternate Camp Parsons with an out-of-council camp on the other years.

[cubbobwhite]

My council does not offer a summer camp program for Boy Scouts. Our council camp is much too small (only 200 acres) and is used by the Cubs for Resident camp during the summer. It is in constant use by the troops during the other three seasons.

Troops in my council attend one of the many camps in Michigan - usually Lost Lake Scout Reservation (Lake), Camp Tapico (Kalkaska), or Camp Rotary (Clare). My own troop did not go anywhere for summer camp this past summer But they were so brand new, it shouldn't be a surprise. Next summer they will be going to LLSR, if I have to take them there myself!

[wagionvigil]

Attending a Scout Camp each summer is very important for advancement. Scouts that do not attend camp usually do not advance and troops that do not attend summer camp are only fooling themselves. It is fine to do a super non scout camp trip every 3 or 4 years but it should never be a substitute for summer camp.Our troop did the boundry waters once and Isle Royale. This was an older scout activity as it required Swimmers and Canoeing.
If you are going to an out of council camp that is fine BUT you need to support your own camp also. Our camp gets many out of council troops and they usually come 2 years then attend their camp. Then we see them again.
We have a troop in our council that does Philmont every three years but when not at Philmont they are at our camp.

[t305spl]

Last summer was our Troops second year in existence. We go to a diffrent camp each year.

[diamondbackAPL]

this year, as we have for the past two years, our troop will be going to Skymont Scout Reservation. it is located around monteagle, TN. The only bad thing about it is that it rains almost every day of the week( not good if you're sleeping in a lean-to for wilderness survival MB)

[cballman]

our troop goes to Camp Crooked Creek in Shepardsville KY. to us it is a out of council camp. we would like to go to our council camp but they dont have a campsite big enough for our troop yet. they want to split us up into two close campsites but adult leadership is the problem for two campsites. but both camps are great. our council camp is Camp McKee out of MT. Sterling KY. we are located in the GREAT state of KENTUCKY.

[DPuck]

We try to stagger summer camp with High Adventure. Our goal is to for each scout to have the chance to attend 2 extended backpacking trips during his scouting carear. In 1994 and 2000 and in 2007 we hike the last 60 miles of the AT in Maine ending at the peak of mt katahdin. This summer we are going to Philmont for the 5th time. Ideally we shall go again in 2010.

In between we attend Curtis Read scout reservation in Upstate NY.

[saji1986]

Our troop attended Lost Lake Summer Camp this year (1st session). The boys had a blast, but it was my first summer camp as Scoutmaster and I made a few mistakes. I had 3 new scouts who should of taken Pathfinders, but had taken merit badges instead. While I was there we had a troop vote one night and decided we wanted to go back next year - so we reserved same site in 1st session next year.

Highlights included brand new Savage rifles at the rifle range, brand new fishing equipment that the scouts could check out any time, and a beautiful brand new refurbished fishing pier. Down side is being a small troop it's hard to get extra adult leadersip, it was myself and an ASM that went the whole week, we had a set of parents visit for one day and my wife who is on the commitee stay with us for a few days at the end of camp. It's nice to get a break if you have extra leadership to get away for a little bit, so we were confined to camp pretty much the whole time.

[Billiken]

I think it's important to support your council's camp as much as possible...if no one attends...it just might not exist in the future?

Excellent point.

[hacimsaalk]

for the past two years we have gone to Camp Hank Forker (French Creek Council). next summer we are planning a "big trip", where we pick a place to go (usually out of state) and find activites to do. usually the older scouts ( 13 and up, or first class and up) go on a high adventure type thing (usually backpacking rafting, that sort of thing). last time we went on our big trip, we went to Gorham NH. the younger scouts stayed there, while the older scouts (including me) went and hiked the hardest part of the AT (Manhossuc Arm). it was great fun.