Colorado Scouting

Summer Camps in Colorado

Colorado is home to some great scout camps, combining excellent staff, facilities, and locations. George Newman of Troop 200 has put together some basic program and contact information for local camps.

Ben Delatour Scout Ranch, near Red Feather Lakes, is operated by Longs Peak Council, Greeley

Camp Alexander, near Lake George, is operated by the Pikes Peak Council in Colorado Springs.

Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch, near Elbert, is operated by the Denver Area Council, Denver.

San Isabel Scout Ranch is operated by the Rocky Mountain Council in Pueblo.

Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch, near Walsenburg, is operated by the Santa Fe Trail Council in Garden City, Kansas.

Nearby Out-of-State Camps

Medicine Mountain Scout Ranch, near Custer, South Dakota is operated by the Black Hills Area Council. This camp provides a great opportunity to see Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and many other attractions in the Black Hills.

Camp Buffalo Bill, near Cody, Wyoming is operated by the Central Wyoming Council. This camp is located near the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, offering a chance for excursions to the nation's first national park.

What other out-of-state summer camps are worthy to visit? Send your suggestions to coloradoscouting@comcast.net

National High Adventure Bases

Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico offers mountain treks, horseback calvalcades, winter kaniks, and many other programs.

Planning a trip to Philmont? Check out these three valuable resources:

Get lots of advice from the Philmont discussion list at US Scouting Service Project.

Check out Selden Ball's collection of Philmont lore and information links.

Email Cooper Wright for the lastest copy of his Philmont Advisor's Guide. This unofficial 84 page publication, packed full of information and advice from experienced Advisors and Rangers, is updated each year based on the past summer experience. It is available as a MS Word email attachment for a $10 donation to Venturing Crew 1519.

Northern Tier is really three canoe bases in Minnesota and Canada.

Sea Base provides sailing, kayaking, and scuba adventures in the Florida Keys.

The following subtopics are under development.

Council High Adventure Bases

Tahosa High Adventure Base, near Ward, is operated by the Denver Area Council.

Okpik Winter Camping at Camp Tahosa

Laguna Station, High Adventure on the Texas Gulf Coast. Laguna Station on South Padre Island is operated by the Rio Grande Council.

Impeesa Extreme. High Adventure in the Canadian Rockies. Operated by the Chinook Council, Scouts Canada.

Favorite Camping Spots

Leave No Trace

The Camp Dale Resler Grace

We thank thee Lord for daily bread,
As by thy grace our souls are fed.
Grant us to grow more like to thee,
This day and through eternity.

One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.

James Russell Lowell
(1819-1891)
Writer

Skippy before Breakfast?

Now there's olfactory relief for Scoutmasters that hike behind their odiferous Scouts! Downing a spoonful of peanut butter 10 minutes before breakfast may be the best way to prevent flatulence on the trail. (Backpacker Magazine, 12/02)

Check the weather for your next outing

Weather Hints:

For weather information and forecasts near major cities, I prefer to use Weather Underground.

But for the best weather forecasts for mountain and rural destinations, use Accuweather, navigate to your nearby city, and then select NWS Forecasts.

The only sure thing about Colorado weather is that it will change. Your mileage may vary. Be Prepared.