Ideas needed for Boy Scout outings

[CHPWife]

My son's Boy Scout troop is getting ready for their annual planning meeting and the boys have to pitch ideas for next year. I figure there are probably many former Boy Scouts and parents of Scouts here so maybe we could get some ideas.

So my question is - what are some of the outings for scouts you know of that the boys enjoyed? Anything from backpacking destinations, car camp locations and especially out of the ordinary trips live caves, snowshoeing or something. We are in the greater LA area but they travel from San Diego to Yosemite regularly.

While I'm at it what about any great Boy Scout Summer Camps outside the LA area (for a change).

Thanks for the help!!

[LAWNMUSIC]

Here's a link to my brother in laws company Alpine Training Services (ATS):
http://www.alpinets.com/ (http://www.alpinets.com/)

Here's a link to the Boy Scout programs:
http://www.alpinets.com/boy_scouts.html

I know he's worked with scouts before, teaching them rapelling, canyoneering, kayaking, etc. The website should have all the information you need to include what kind of activities are available, the physical capabilities needed for various training/activities, and price. Don't hesitate to phone/email (links are on the left side of the website). My brother and other directors are very accessible. Anyone else interested in outdoor activities should check it out too. Unfortunately, I don't have any power to obtain any discounts for you since he has been partnered with Sports Chalet for the last several years. However, I think you'll find the pricing to be very reasonable.

[TheForceCHP]

Summer camps:

Emerald Bay (Catalina Island, loved going to this place and a nice program for advanced scouts, called Rugged E) (http://www.bsa-la.org/camping/eb/emerald_bay.html)
Holcomb Valley (Another great place up near Big Bear)
Cherry Valley (Catalina Island, another great place and well known)

Camp Trask is another great local place to do all sorts of activities

We used to go camping all over in the local mountains of SoCal and would also go out to Joshua Tree.

[makakona]

my husband's been a scoutmaster for most of our marriage, but has only recently been one in california. lucky for him, he grew up in san diego and had a KILLER scoutmaster his entire childhood, so it's not totally foreign territory. they regularly hiked mt. whitney, half dome, and the john muir trails. they went white water rafting and did the catalina thing. they did shorter hikes at barker valley and san jacinto. they never did any car camping... my husband was confused the first time we went camping after we were married because he didn't understand how we'd backpack all of the stuff i had ready to go. his current troop (which he's very new to) is doing a four-day at camp pendleton in a couple of weeks. other than that, they currently only have overnighters planned, most of them in anza-borrego.

we camp a lot as a family, but because we have very small children and are now outnumbered, we only go places that are fairly developed. our favorite place is probably lake cachuma up in santa barbara. we used to backpack our oldest girls all over the place, but they're too big now and once we had a third kid, we were out free body space!

we've been surprised at how short the scout trips are now. it's almost exclusively one night and the longest trip they've done is four days (and they won't schedule anything longer). is this due to "schedules these days" or...? my husband used to go for two weeks at a time when he was in high school.

[retchp]

I spent a month at Lake Cachuma one night. It was the noisiest place I've ever been. I'll never go back unless I am a roaring loud mouthed drunk or have a car full of teens who don't care if they sleep or not.

Before I left the campground the next morning, I had my kids bang pots and pans together and scream out, "put this in the car!, Have you got the bowls?, etc.". they were young and didn't know what I was doing.

Predictibly, all of the yahoos who were up until 2:00 am poked their heads out of their tents and trailers and asked us to be quiet, although they were not the previous evening.

What a cesspool of a place! I've waited twenty-five years to write this!

Never go there!

[makakona]

eesh, you must've had a bad site, or something. my parents started going to cachuma in the early 70's and a good portion of my childhood was spent there. we spent a week and a half there this past april and had a great time. of course, with a 4yo, 3yo, 1yo, and pregnant mom trying in vain to keep her stomach on the INside, we were probably the ones everyone else complained about! we only stay on the back left side, right on the water. this trip, our only big complaints were the wind and freezing temps. and the er trip to remove the huge fishing lure that was deeply embedded in my husband's trigger finger (it went into the nailbed, so we couldn't push it through the other side).

of course, you can have a bad experience anywhere. i was born into a yellowstone family. the first time we went to yosemite, we had planned a week there and then a week in yellowstone. our first day and night in yosemite was hellacious, courtesy of our fellow campers. we packed up the next morning and went straight to yellowstone. we never went back as a family.

[retchp]

In fairness, it was quite probably a one and only experience. I probably shouldn't unfairly judge by my one bad experience when I was tired and arrived late with no reservation etc.
But when I saw the lake's name on your post it all came back in horrible detail LOL.
It's hopefully as you describe. Glad you are back on here also, if I neglected to tell you that in an earlier post. You always have something good or relevant to say.

[makakona]

Glad you are back on here also, if I neglected to tell you that in an earlier post. You always have something good or relevant to say.
thanks, retchp. although i read that last line as i always have something good or IRREVERENT to say... which is probably also true. :smile:

[22348(b)]

Let's See:

Emerald Bay is great, I went their twice.

Camp Wolfboro has a lot of good foxfire type activities.

Camp Fleishmann might be a long drive, but has excellent activities including black powder rifle shooting, and its own lake.

Camp Pico Blanco in Big Sur. -It hasn't been hit by the fire yet, but I had a lot of fun there in my youth.

Your son's troop should get in line for Philmont, it was by far the greatest trip I ever had in Scouting. It takes years on the waiting list, but it is well worth it. We hiked 144 miles, and I have great memories of that place, it's beautiful. You can take the train straight from Los Angeles.

A great hike is the Whitney Portal from Lone Pine to Mount Whitney, but you have to do it in the summer months, and preparation is necessary.

Good Luck!

[TheForceCHP]

Your son's troop should get in line for Philmont, it was by far the greatest trip I ever had in Scouting. It takes years on the waiting list, but it is well worth it. We hiked 144 miles, and I have great memories of that place, it's beautiful. You can take the train straight from Los Angeles.


That is a high adventure base for older/more experienced scouts. That being said I 100% agree that it is an amazing place to go to and a must for any scout. When I went we didn't do the backpacking, but did the horseback program. It was an amazing adventure that I will never forget. I hope that one day I will be able to go back and backpack there also.

Another base would be http://www.ntier.org/ which is all about canoeing. Another place that I will never forget.

The other high adventure base is in florida and is for sailing. Never had a chance to go (my troop went a couple of years before I became a boy scout), but hope to do it one day also

[CHPWife]

Our troop is about 80% 11-12 year olds so Philmont is in our future but a few years off.

Thanks for all the ideas - keep them coming!

[bcjack]

If you are close to one of the fires burning in the state, a day trip to fire camp might be a cool deal. They can see a lot of the inner workings of how a fire is managed, how the work gets done and learn a lot about teamwork.

Contact the Fire Public Information Officer at the fire you want to visit and they can usually set it up. Or PM me and I will see what I can do.

[AyatollahGondola]

I was in the Lake Cachuma area a few months ago, and it seemed nice, however we actually stayed at the thousand trails campground, but visited Lake Cachuma sites.
If you do take your troop there, I highly recommend a side tour of the indian painted cave in the area. It was humbling for me to get that close to thousand + year old artist work that wasn't hanging on a wall in a museum. And speaking of museums:
Santa Barbara has a natural history museum with some really good stuff, including some hands on items. We got there a little late, but managed to see most, but not all of it. Also, you can take the troop to sailing lessons out in the bay there. they have lots of matching rental boats (small)

My scouting years were so long ago it would take a while to conjure up where all the events were, but they were surely all up here in the north where camping out back then was but a 20 minute drive from home. Unfortunately, your troop might do well to learn how to survive in the concrete jungle, but I doubt many parents would see their way to putting them in harms way, even if it was to educate them well.
I do remember going gold mining for several days, and that was mighty fun. Plus, we got to take home some flakes. learned how to dredge, pan, and extract the metal. In the process, learned how to identify old river beds, waterlines, and certain minerals. Learned how to roll our own cigarettes there too, but now they have 'em pre-rolled, with Low tar and less nicotene I understand. Ain't worth smoking anymore....

[CHPWife]

I highly recommend a side tour of the indian painted cave in the area. It was humbling for me to get that close to thousand + year old artist work that wasn't hanging on a wall in a museum. ...


I would love details on this PM Me

Unfortunately, your troop might do well to learn how to survive in the concrete jungle.

We actually do A LOT OF BACKPACKING from 3-7 days as well as Rock climbing in Joshua Tree and Snowshoe backpacking in Yosemite every year. Car camping is only for twice a year Family camp. So, we really just need some things to round out the strong outdoor program.



The boys are at summer camp right now in Lockwood Valley with flash floods and road closure on the main road. They had 2 inches of rain in an hour and a solid inch deep river running thru their tent this afternoon - so I guess they are getting underwater camping covered.

[AyatollahGondola]

Here's a few pictures from the trip. That cave is a little off the beaten path on a windy road just off the main hwy on painted cave road of all things. I forgot the hwy number but it is the same one that runs by Lake Cachuma. Painted Cave Road is uphill from the lake about 10 or more miles if I remember. I may have some video too. I'll look. I didn't realize how polluted my putfile account was with photos until I had to search for something. If you just click on one of the pictures, it will take you to the album where there are some more you can view by clicking the "next" or "previous" link. I think there are a few pics of Cachuma also. Don't mind the rest of the album though. Just the rantings of a madman:wink:

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/3/7721352217.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/7845780) http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/3/7721352252.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/7845782)

http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/3/7721352263.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/7845784) http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/3/7721352282.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/7845790)

[CCWifeofCHPhopeful]

THe highway that runs through Cachuma is Highway 154

[FDandH]

Cave: Try "Packsaddle Cave" in the Sequoia National Forest. It's a 4-mile streneous hike from MTN 99 in Tulare County, north of Lake Isabella.

Also consider the Carrizo Plain National Monument. There are indian paintings accessable to the public on "Painted Rock" and the area also offers dramatic views of the San Andreas Fault.

[SemperPar]

Even though you troop currently has younger boys, never too early to start planning for Philmont. It would not be too early to start planning for two year from now.

Camp Chawanakee is great above Fresno as well as Whitsett (both offer horse back riding merit badges). Camp Josepho is a good local get away, off of Sunset and the 405. Camp Emerson in Idyllwild above Palms Springs is nice but have not been there in many moon. Speaking above Palms Springs, you can ride the Tramway up and Camp all over the place on top of San Jacinto, then hike down devils slide to Idyllwild and pick up there or do it in reverse, but it is a killer going up Devils Slide, but the Tram ride is free going back down. Don't forget rock climbing in Joshua Tree, if you are hooked up with someone who does scout certified climbing this is good. Emerald Bay and Cherry Valley are good camps at Catalena.

The National Boy Scout Jamboree is coming up next summer, great experience, but tends to be a little expensive not to mention hot and humid at Fort A. P. Hill. Then there is always the World Scout Jamboree in 2011 in Rinkaby Sweden. World Jamborees' are great for the boys as it is a very large social event (notice it is called Scout and not Boy Scout, most scouting programs outside the U.S. are coed).

The one thing the boys like to always do is laser tag and paint ball. Neither are scout sanctioned and you have to do them as an unofficial event.

Don't forget merit badge days and summer day camps for merit badges at places like Cabrillo in San Pedro, run through Pacifica District.

The San Onfre Power power plant also puts on a Merit Badge day every couple of months. All class room, talk about basic atomic principles and play with a giger counter.

All it take is time and money. "It's just an hour per week" (per scout)

Good luck

[TheForceCHP]

The San Onfre Power power plant also puts on a Merit Badge day every couple of months. All class room, talk about basic atomic principles and play with a giger counter.

Good luck



Do they still do this there? I did this and have to say it is one of the coolest memories that I have. If I remember right Scouts are the only ones allowed to tour the plant.

[CHPWife]

Do they still do this there? I did this and have to say it is one of the coolest memories that I have. If I remember right Scouts are the only ones allowed to tour the plant.

I found the info on the SCE web site today and e-mailed for the details. I thought it sounded pretty cool also. Only now it is the "nuclear science" merit badge.

[roaming_gnome]

I took my Scout troop to:

Summer camp in Hawaii. (Sounds expensive but really isnt, and it was one of the best outings ever.)
Summer camp near Strawberry (camp Hi-Serria, Santa clara county council, San Jose.)
Overnight at Alcatraz
Overnight at the USS Hornet (Oakland)

For starters.

[Tom]

Overnight on the USS Pampanito (Fishermans Wharf) Forget the skimmer! Do it on a submarine!

Camp Royaneh - Cazadero.....where I went to summer camp like 5 years in a row....great place!

[CHPWife]

I just want to thank everyone for all the ideas. I knew i could find some former Scouts and current Scouters here:biggrin:

[AyatollahGondola]

Overnight on the USS Pampanito (Fishermans Wharf) Forget the skimmer! Do it on a submarine!
!
No kidding? I wish I could have done that. I always tour that ship when I'm at the wharf.

[AyatollahGondola]

If anyone has a troop up north here, I'd contact the UC Davis marine laboratory in Bodega Bay for a tour, and maybe even an overnight campout. they had an open house a few weekends ago, and we went through the facility. The classrooms have fantastic views of the ocean, and there are aquariums housing all types of marine life. they have showcases full of jars, tubs, and boxes housing the carcasses of sea animals we don't find on the ends of our poles anymore too. they are also raising lobsters in tanks....I'm wondering if they eat well there. and to top it off, there was a herd of deer feeding just next to the building. quite picturesque, and very interesting stuff. I'd like to go back and stay longer. I'd also like to go back with a knife and fork:wink:

I'd post the pictures, but the host must be fed up with me, 'cause I cannot upload anymore

[makakona]

I took my Scout troop to:

Summer camp in Hawaii. (Sounds expensive but really isnt, and it was one of the best outings ever.)
where did you guys stay?

[JDTreon]

Overnight at the USS Hornet (Oakland)
we did that trip when i was in scouts. man that was fun!

[AyatollahGondola]

Here are some photos of the UCD marine lab at bodega bay. I recommend this site for a scout troop.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b207/AyatollahGondola/miscandBodega066.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b207/AyatollahGondola/miscandBodega073.jpg
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http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b207/AyatollahGondola/miscandBodega103.jpg

[CTCI08Wife]

I was just curious what age can boys start in boy scouts. Our oldest is only 3 1/2, but I am starting to look into "grade-school" activities for him, as I expect he will start Kindergarten next year...:think:

[CHPWife]

Cub Scouts starts in 1st grade. Most areas he can register the last month of Kindergarten and participate once K is completed. My son did his first Day camp the summer between K and 1. Learning to shoot a BB Rifle, wrist rockets and archery under very strict range conditions.

But, some councils may have a slightly different policy (may have to start 1st). Also LDS churches usually have their own Packs (Cubs) and Troops (Boy Scouts) and those packs usually go by age instead of by grade.

[28HopUp]

My son's BSA troop recently went camping at a local sporting clays range (privately owned). We brought along our own shotguns, ammo, and clays. The facility let us using their stations & throwers at no charge, because they recognized the opportunity to get new shooters involved in the sport. With food, the cost was $35 per head, and we ate very well! In addition to learning all aspects of gun safety and maintenance, my son was one of 4 boys who qualified for his shotgun merit badge. Right before Thanksgiving, he turned 13yo, and we bought him a used Remington 870 20ga pump. Along with his Mom (my wife), we've gone shooting twice already (her shotgun is nicer than mine!).

Other than Summer Camp, this is THE trip the boys look forward to each year.

[Tom]

When did they split up the "Rifle and Shotgun" merit Badge? Thats how it was way back when.

Eagle Scout and Bronze Palm Holder.....Still have my letter from Neil Armstrong....

[roaming_gnome]

Eagle Scout, Silver Palm. :)

When did they split up the "Rifle and Shotgun" merit Badge? Thats how it was way back when.

Eagle Scout and Bronze Palm Holder.....Still have my letter from Neil Armstrong....

[28HopUp]

When did they split up the "Rifle and Shotgun" merit Badge? Thats how it was way back when.

Eagle Scout and Bronze Palm Holder.....Still have my letter from Neil Armstrong....

Some time after you and I got it apparently. I'm an Eagle Scout too, and most likely got that merit badge in 1983 at Camp Rodney, located on the Chesapeake Bay.

[Tom]

1978 Camp Royaneh Cazadero CAlifornia

[roaming_gnome]

1986 Camp High Serria


I wonder how many officers are either Eagle Scouts or Gold Scouts?

[Tom]

Not enough! My personal opinion is that all Officers do military time as well.....but thats just me.....

[roaming_gnome]

To bad that being involved in Scouting today is viewed as being a bad thing....

Amazing how times have changed.....

[CHPWife]

To bad that being involved in Scouting today is viewed as being a bad thing....

Amazing how times have changed.....

I don't see that at all.

[emcviper]

I don't see that at all.
By "bad thing," I'm pretty sure he meant it's viewed as an "unpopular" thing. It's now often viewed as an alternative to other recreational activites for the unathletic kids. This is not always the case, but stereotypes are often loosely founded on reality.

Sadly, I'm very selective as to when I try to use my Eagle Scout (earned 2001) to sell myself, and when I omit it. In a job interview years ago, I got a really condescending look when I brought up that I was an eagle scout.

Contrary to the comment above, summer camp was my least favorite part of scouting. It seemed like nothing but a merit badge mill (basket-weaving, anyone?)

[TheForceCHP]

Eagle Scout in 98 at the ripe age of 14 and I'll be dammed if I am ever going to deny it. I only hope that if I have a son one day that he will also earn the honor.