Camping Update - November 2009

Acquire Life Skills on Camp Staff

Are you tired of doing the same old routine? Did you know that Greater Pittsburgh Council operates four Scout camps at Heritage Reservation including Cub Scout, Boy Scout and high-adventure programs? Each of these offers opportunities for a variety of summer camp staff jobs. Most Scout camp counselors are at least 16 years of age, but the Boy Scout and Cub Scout camps have a limited number of jobs for 15 year olds with previous Counselor in Training experience. The high adventure program employs young people who are at least 18 years of age. The Greater Pittsburgh Council, BSA is an equal opportunity employer that hires females and males, as well as people of all ages and ethnic groups, diverse cultures and mixed abilities.

Why Apply for a Camp Staff Job? Here are a few of the countless reasons that are frequently expressed:

• Make lots of new friends in your area and other states
• Spend a summer in the great outdoors where nature prevails
• Acquire experiential education (learning by doing) and new skills that will last a lifetime
• Learn how to lead others and to apply leadership skills
• Be part of an effective team and cooperate with others to get things done

2010 Summer Reservations Open

Reservations for summer 2010 at Heritage Reservation are now being filled on a first come, first served basis. A non-refundable reservation fee per camper is due with your reservation ($5/camper at Independence, $10/camper at Liberty and Freedom, $25/camper for High Adventure). These fees will apply toward your 2010 summer camp fees. To reserve space, register and pay your fees online, register online and mail in your fees or fill out the 2010 Reservation Form and return it to Flag Plaza with your deposit.

Register Online

Applications due December 1. Apply Online

2010 All-In-One Camp Fee

The Camping Committee of the Greater Pittsburgh Council, comprised of representatives from each district and the council, voted unanimously at the October 2009 meeting to establish an All-In-One camp fee at Heritage Reservation for the 2010 summer season.

The All-In-One concept means that regardless which programs a youth selects he pays the same fee for all programs of that length. The practice of additional fees for merit badges, activities or out of council Scouts goes away. The first year out of council Boy Scout taking Braddock’s Brigade, Basketry merit badge and woodcarving merit badge pays the same as a third year Greater Pittsburgh Council Boy Scout taking shotgun merit badge, COPE and water sports merit badge and the same as the older Boy Scout or Venturer that participates in one of our high adventure programs. This also eliminates the headache of calculating all the additional fees for each youth. The slight increase, averaging at 5%, covers the adjustments in expenses based on typical inflation and cost of living increases.

This All-In-One fee, which is used in camps across the country, has been approved for the 2010 season only. After completion of the 2010 season the success of this concept will be evaluated to determine fees for 2011.

*The ratio of youth to free adults and free den chiefs is still under review. This will be announced as soon as it is confirmed.

This change in fee structure has no effect on how units reserve space at camp for upcoming seasons. That process remains as it has been for several years:

Reservations for Camps Independence, Liberty and Freedom for 2010 begin on May 1, 2009 with units renewing the same site and same session. On June 1, 2009 reservations open on a first-come, first-served basis for all units regardless of previous reservations. Reservations for High Adventure open May 1,2009 on a first-come, first-served basis.

A per camper non-refundable but transferable deposit is due with your reservation. This deposit is $25 per camper for High Adventure, $10 per camper for Camps Liberty and Freedom and $5 per camper for Camp Independence.

Parent & Son Winter Weekend

This is a tremendous opportunity for you and your son to enjoy a fun filled weekend in the great outdoors when nature provides the beauty of winter. You and your son will stay at our conference center homes overlooking Lake Courage. Cafeteria style meals are provided in our dining area at Pathfinder Lodge. Come with your personal gear and enjoy winter with its exciting program features. Choose either weekend. Both weekends are open to Cub Scouts in first through fifth grades.

The weekend will include cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, 3 person sling shots, boot soccer, sled relays, an evening campfire and more fun than you have ever seen packed into one weekend. Program equipment will be provided by camp. We have slingshots, balls, snow shoes, cross country skis, ice skates and sleds. You are welcome to bring your own sled and or skates (no hockey sticks please). Moms enjoy this activity just as much as dads. If there is no snow alternate activities will be offered to enjoy a weekend with your son. 

The package includes lodging Friday and Saturday night, Friday snack, all meals on Saturday, breakfast Sunday, camp patch and program supplies. The cost for the weekend is $40 per person for dormitory style housing and $50 per person for a private 2-person room. Housing is on a first to register basis. All fees are non-refundable but are transferable to another Heritage Weekend or event if a medical or family emergency prevents you from attending. No-shows and cancellations will not be refunded.

You can register and pay online with an electronic check or credit card or if you prefer, register online and mail in your check. Individual parent and son teams only - no unit registrations will be accepted. Registration must be completed at least one week prior to the event.

More information and Register Online

Materials and Equipment Needs

The Greater Pittsburgh Council operates five camps and our Scouts deserve the best equipment. However this is often out of our price range so we rely on outside assistance. Have a look at our needs list and if you or someone you know could help us through a donation/gift in kind or special pricing, contact michael.oehmke@scouting.org or bill.park@scouting.org. The following are items that our camps could put to good use:

• Heavy duty washer & electric dryer for units/staff use (front load)
• Dewalt 18volt cordless tools, rechargeable fire extinguishers
• Sockets, wrenches, hammers and other hand tools
• Lawn and landscape rakes, bow saws, shovels and picks, clippers, posthole diggers, push brooms, Garden hoses (rubber)
• Push mowers, leaf blowers and weed whips (Gas)
• Riding lawnmower, tractor, UTVs, hydraulic dump trailer
• Scaffolding, mig welder, car ports
• Lumber (all sorts), Electric wire, Cat-5 Spool
• Stump grinder, log splitter, pressure washers (gas), vacuum cleaners (bagless)
• Ice skates, snow shoes, cross country skis and ski boots
• Air hockey or Fussball table
• Aquariums and Terrariums
• Shotguns, clay pigeons and shells, .22 caliber rim-fire bolt action rifles (can be used as single shot rifles), Muzzle loading rifles, BB Guns, archery bows and arrows
• Skiboats, canoes, sailboats, kayaks, rowboats, oars, canoe and kayak paddles, lifejackets
• Wireless microphones, radios for staff communication
• GPS receivers. digital video camera, LCD projectors and laptops
• Picnic tables for campsites
• Stackable chairs
• Commercial matting (showers)
• Spools of ¼ inch sisal/manila rope
• Art supplies, laminating supplies, blank DVDs and CDs…
  

... and your time to help with projects.

Heritage Reservation 2010

Heritage Reservation, 2,000 acres of unspoiled woodland is the ultimate laboratory for the experience of Scout summer camping. Every campsite is carefully nestled among the trees in Camp Freedom, Camp Liberty and Camp Independence. The activity areas are designed to challenge and thrill every Scout, offering merit badges along with special older Scout programs & high adventure opportunity.

With its 270-acre lake and six miles of shoreline, Heritage Reservation calls all Scouts for an unmatched summer of fun and adventure. The large, beautiful lake offers unlimited aquatics adventure, including all the water-related merit badges - Swimming, Fishing, Rowing, Motor boating, Water Sports, Canoeing and Small Boat Sailing. Heritage is much more than just aquatics. In the field sports area, Scouts can test their marksmanship abilities on the .22 rifle range, in addition to the target and action archery ranges. In the Ecology-Conservation area,

Scouts learn about the natural world in which they live. The Scoutcraft area offers Scouts the opportunity to hone skills in camping, hiking, axemanship, backpacking, wilderness survival and pioneering. The Handicraft area offers instruction in basketry, leatherwork, woodcarving and model rocketry as part of the Space Exploration merit badge. Handicrafts is also popular as the area for the exciting Heritage Reservation belt program, where Scouts can make their own customized belts and earn "brands" for various accomplishments during the week.

Camp Independence - Cub Scouts and Webelos - Camp Independence is the premier Cub Scout and Webelos summer resident camping destination. By allowing our unique annual theme to take complete control we deliver a program allowing challenge, creativity, adventure and learning. We provide many advancement opportunities that take advantage of our beautiful outdoor setting.

Activities include boating, fishing, archery, climbing, slingshots, BB-Guns, biking, swimming, campfires and more. Cub Scout sessions are 2 or 3 days while Webelos sessions are 3 or 4 days. Scouts and their parents, grandparents and leaders can choose a session that fits into their schedule. Packs are not limited to one session. They are welcome to have representation at some or all of the offerings.

Camp Liberty and Camp Freedom - Boy Scouts - With two camps to choose from we have it all. At Camp Liberty, the best in "patrol cooking" everything, provided for successful campsite cooking. Camp Freedom offers a 400 seat dining hall with family style meals. Each of the camps have 14 troop sites, a central area, waterfront, rifle and archery ranges, two troop showers, leaders' and staff shower and a campfire area. The central area consists of the Program Hall (adult centered), Commissary, Quartermaster and Trading Post building (boy centered), parade  ground with flagpoles, and a staff dining/lounge building.

The waterfront has both swimming and boating areas. The boating area is equipped with canoes, motor boats, rowboats and sailboats. Ski boats arrive at the camp for merit badge instruction. A pontoon boat shuttles Scouts to the climbing tower and shotgun range at Discovery.

High Adventure Treks - Boy Scouts and Venturers (14+) - If you are ready to experience true high adventure, then our week long treks are for you! Offered weekly from mid-June through mid-August; sessions start Sunday afternoon and end Saturday morning. These unique treks are available for Scouts and Venturers 14 years of age or older. Your entire patrol or crew can participate together, or sign up on your own to participate with other Scouts and Venturers. Crews are built with 6-12 members and participate in a plethora of high adventure. Choose one of our offsite programs: backpacking on the Laurel Highlands Trail and biking the Great Allegheny Passage Trail or participate in our base camp experience Micro-Trek: a week of mountain biking, caving, hiking, climbing and rappelling, white water rafting and more.