An index of places we've been, and helpful things to know about them.
Philmont - Reservations open two years in advance.
- $100/seat to hold a place; overall cost ~$1000/seat, minimum 2 adults, 5 youth
- Must be 14 or above.
- Elevations above 10000 ft. Raton region of New Mexico.
- Hear there's ranching/wrangling facilities and opportunity too.
- Physically demanding.
- Facility opening up to a wider audience than BSA with changes in Scouting.
Lost Maples - Must book a year in advance to get desired date.
- Excellent hiking practice for pre-Philmont scouters: rocky terrain, camping on the trail, significant variations in elevation.
- Waterway conservation to be conducted in attempt to preserve resources required for the maples.
Enchanted Rock - Book up to a year in advance to get desired dates.
- Excellent hiking practice: rocky terrain, camping on the trail, significant variations in elevation.
- Several annual opportunities to participate in guided climbing and rapelling experiences.
- There is a cave excellent for a beginning caving experience.
Fort Parker - Historical Fort in hiking distance > 3 miles away.
- Facilities for canoing and swimming on a good-sized lake.
- Book early for group camping facility. Getting more popular.
- $15 for 3 hours per canoe. Includes paddles, PFDs.
- Very muddy lake bottom--not ideal for shallow swimming.
- Good fishing area by primitive group camp facility.
- Much wildlife.
Colorado Bend
SNA Hill Country - Extremely dry terrain.
- Horse, biking, and hiking trails -- long distances, modest variation in elevation.
Camp Alexander - Beautiful camp, stream, facilities at the foot of the Rockies.
- Well-organized staff and support.
- Provides for both high-adventure (biking, hiking, climbing, skiing, ...) and varied activities for merit badge camp--riflery, archery, canoing, climbing, camping, etc.
- Pikes Peak Council--not far from Colorado Springs.
- High adventure activities can include: camping in Pike's peak region, whitewater rafting, biking, climbing.
Sid Richardson Scout Ranch - Lake Bridgeport
- Long distances between activity centers.
- Strong on watersports, riflery, shotgun, archery.
- Hot.
- Well-regarded high-adventure program too. Pontoon boats from location to location.
- Strong community gathers in this region for Civil War re-enactments. Some summer sessions co-incide with those activities and events.
- One of the few to provide welding. Were converting to a natural gas forge last I heard (2014ish).
Camp Worth - Heart attack hill--quite the hike up to the dining hall depending on where your camp site is.
- Heart of Texas hot, hot, hot.
El Rancho Cima Horseshoe Bend - Being sold off by council.
- Too risky--floods seasonally these days.
El Rancho Cima Horse Camp - Horseback riding.
- TBD. Was this retained?
Lost Pines - Hot, hot, hot. Those pines block the breeze.
Bastrop - Long trails cool, well-shaded.
- A few bikers, but mostly joggers from the region.
- Long and short trails to choose from.
- Optional 12-13 mile hike from Bastrop to Buescher.
Sam Houston State Park - Hiking and biking over to Nails Creek park and back again.
Pedernales Falls - Awesome to play in when there's water.
- Awesome formations to climb around when it is dry.
Buffalo River Arkansas - 50 miles or more of canoing.
Quintana Beach - Nearby Coastguard facility can be tapped for facilities and equipment tour.
- Community annually places Christmas trees to counter & deter erosion. Much evidence to indicate it is actually helping re-establish their piece of beach.
- Shipping lane for some huge boats. An experience to see some come by when you are camped on an open coastal plain bordering the shipping channel.
- Carries a gun emplacement of equipment dating to WWII.
Bryan Lake - Excellent introductory biking trails.
- Sailing and boating can be arranged with TAMU club.
Lake Somerville, Pecan Lake (same system) - Boating, canoing place -- bring your own.
- Camping.
- This is a Corp of Engineers property and is therefore under different rules and guidelines than the state parks.
Camp Howdy - Always looking for service to maintain trails, equipment, bridges, pads, and environment.
- Nearby. Good for a hike from home to an overnight camp.
Camp Arrowmoon - Near Hearne. ~23 mile drive there; drop-off at Rabbit Run & TX-OSR makes a good 10 mi hike.
- Good for advancement.
- Webelos Woods and Camporee spring and fall [recruiting] activities occur here.
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