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Boy Scout Summer Camp
For parents, the best part of Boy Scout camp is that Scouts attend with their troops (or Venture crews), not individually like at most summer camps. Your son (or daughter, in a coed Venture crew) will be at camp with Scouts and adult leaders he (or she) already knows. Your first resource for information should be those adult leaders, many of whom may have been to camp in previous years. They can answer both general camp questions, and also tell you about the specific plans for your Scout's troop or crew.
Mail and Phone
Scouts like to get mail! For Camp Pioneer, the mailing address is:
[Scout's Name], Troop [Number] or Crew [Number]
Camp Pioneer
Massawepie Scout Camps
Box 65, Massawepie Road
Tupper Lake, NY 12986
For the Adirondack High Adventure Trek Center, the mailing address is:
[Scout's Name], Troop [Number] or Crew [Number]
Adirondack Treks
Massawepie Scout Camps
Box 65, Massawepie Road
Tupper Lake, NY 12986
Some mail hints for parents
It takes several days for mail to get to camp, so mail early (maybe even before they leave home!) and don't mail anything after the Wednesday before they come home.
If parents want mail from camp, send along a self-addressed, stamped postcard or envelope in your Scout's camp supplies.
It's natural for some Scouts to have a bit of homesickness at camp. Don't make it worse by sending long letters telling how, "we all miss you, Suzie misses you, the dog misses you," etc.
The camp phone for incoming calls is in the camp office, some distance from where the Scouts camp. The number to call for EMERGENCIES ONLY is: (518) 359-2281. Be prepared to leave a message with your Scout's name and troop number.
A public pay phone is located outside the camp business office. The phone is accessible 24 hours a day. Parents who expect their Scouts to call home might want to send a pre-paid phone card to camp with them, as collect calls can get expensive.
Health and Safety
The health and safety of your Scout is Massawepie's primary concern. Massawepie has a trained Health Officer on duty at all times, a fully stocked camp Health Lodge, and arrangements with nearby medical facilities for more serious cases. The camp is inspected several times per season by the New York State Health Department, and is also reviewed by the local and regional Boy Scout organizations. Emergency procedures are in place for every conceivable situation, and practice emergency drills are held regularly at camp.
Each Scout and leader must come to camp with a copy of a Medical Form signed by a doctor (within three years for Scouts and adults under 40; within one year for adults 40 and older). The Medical History section of the Medical Form for Boy Scouts must be updated annually. Keep the original form and send a copy – it must be kept on file and cannot be returned. Any medicines must come to camp in their original containers with instructions for use. A record of all medication dispensed is kept in accordance with Health Department standards.
Additional camp safety information is available on the New York State Health Department Children's Camps web page available through our Resources page.
Meals
Troops and crews at Massawepie have a choice of two meal plans. Many groups eat in the Camp Pioneer Dining Hall, with meals prepared by a professional food service company. Others cook in their own campsite, using food and cooking equipment that the camp supplies. Either way, the menus are nutritious and balanced. If your Scout has special dietary needs, please discuss these well in advance with your troop's leader so that the camp can be made aware of these needs.
What to Pack
To help your Scout prepare, use the handy "Personal Equipment Checklist" available for download on the Resources page. Some tips:
- Parents can help, but if the Scout packs he will know what he has and where it is packed.
- Pack only in a backpack and/or duffel bag.
- If packing in a plastic bag to keep items dry, put the bag inside a pack or duffel bag or sleeping bag stuff sack.
- Avoid use of a footlocker or trunk, which will be awkward to carry at camp.
- Make sure all clothing and other items are labeled with the Scout's name!
- NOT ALLOWED: aerosol cans, electronics, fireworks, sheath knives, archery and shooting equipment.
- DO NOT SEND food beyond what is needed for lunch on Sunday. Extra food attracts unwanted animal visitors!
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Other Notes
For more information, check the helpful "Camp Pioneer Information for Parents", available for download on the Resources page.
Remember
Your Scout will get more hours of the Scouting Program in one week at summer camp than in all of the year's troop or crew meetings. And have a great time, too!
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