My old camp (where I worked as camp staff during college summers).

http://www.mdscbsa.org/about/council/camp-wolfeboro/

6,000 above sea level feet in the Sierra Nevadas along the North Fork of the Stanislaus River with waterfalls at the upstream and downstream boundaries of camp. Warm when the sun is out; mountain cool when the sun is down with nonexistent humidity.

Young scouts can do young scout stuff and older scouts can rock climb, rappel, or organize a backpacking trek into the adjoining Carson-Iceberg Wilderness with some staff members.

Quite possibly my favorite place in the world.

Cima might be rough this year. It's the last year it will exist and I understand that experienced staff have bailed (there is no future there).

Hale. I've been there 3 times. Excellent. Adult staff (not high school kids).

Constantin. Miserable. Hot. Run by kids.Overbooked. Low quality.

I know folks that went to Camp Wehinahpay in NM and had only good things to say about it. Up in the mountains, lots of hiking up elevation (no flat areas in camp). Not a lot of different merit badges, so the program is somewhat limited.

This year my troop is scheduled for Trevor Rees. I don't know much about it, but what I do know makes me not want to go. It's probably going to be hot and humid and poorly run. I probably won't go.

Another vote/mention for Buffalo Trails here.

What exactly makes the Circle Ten camps poorly run?

I know in the 90's Constantin and Cherokee (Trevor Rees) were highly rated. I'm just now getting involved again, District Commisioner now. Heck, I still train the Constantin Nature and Ecology staffs.

ursusguy said:

---

What exactly makes the Circle Ten camps poorly run?

I know in the 90's Constantin and Cherokee (Trevor Rees) were highly rated. I'm just now getting involved again, District Commissioner now. Heck, I still train the Constantin Nature and Ecology staffs.

---

I assume this is based on two things:

1. Circle Ten although fairly well funded has to pay the upkeep on FOUR BIG camps. Wisdom, Clements Scout Ranch, James Ray, and Constantin. That's four waterfronts, four shooting sports areas, and many others. Now, I personally think that C10 does a great job with what they have and what they do (especially considering ScoutReach and similar programs) but they don't work particularly hard on upgrading the camps that they have and keeping them at the forefront of camping and alternative activities.

2. Lots of other councils have fewer camps and more Adult staffers at camps. I think the Adults can do an "overall" better job more easily with less external motivation. I think the leadership (adult AND youth) at the camps determines everything. If the leader (adult or youth) of the cafeteria is a dynamic person and can lead a high energy & enthusiastic crew while properly planning out the food and making sure it's quality grub - the cafeteria experience is great. Same with the waterfront, same with shooting sports, same with everywhere. If it's just a bunch of guys working to get hours or NYLT, it's not going to be the same as someone who knows their stuff and enjoys teaching it. Think of your favorite high school teacher vs another teacher from another year that you hated.

Makes sense. I do admit there is a very different feel to the staffs today vs 20 years ago. Be it shooting sports or the Nature Area, I was always very particular about the training of my staff, especially in nature. The pros had a habit of dumping first year staff there, yet that is the one area that is little activity and you have to actually know the subject matter.....certainly an area better covered by adults than a high school freshman.

Good thoughts, thanks.

Big difference when the staff are 16 year olds versus 22 year olds. I bet you have to pay 22 year olds more money to work the camp every summer.

It's like the difference between McDonalds and a nice restaurant. Circle 10 is McDonald's.

When I went to Constantin it felt like complete amateur hour. When I went to Hale it felt like "this place is run by professionals."

http://www.southplainscouncil.org/tres-ritos

Camp Tres Ritos in New Mexico. The primary focus is on the Cooking Merit badge. They offer many other merit badge classes. You get one day to pick a high adventure trip. Rafting and rock climbing are options. Trout fishing within walking distance.

Clayton Lake/ Ottari in Virginia. Clayton for older boys, Ottari for younger

Oh man....I still have memories of sweating my balls off at night while at Sid Richardson. Good times. Bad times.

Another vote for Goshen Scout Reservation in VA. The Lenhok'sin High Adventure option is great for the older scouts and you have some flexibility in selecting activities. Summer temps tend to be a bit more moderate, but it can get into the 90's. Had a couple chilly nights last year too.

We're about 90 minutes east from there. Our troop would be happy to help coordinate a multi-day trip on the AT for your older boys. (That invite is good for anyone with a scout troop on TexAgs)

proc said:

---

Worth Ranch is still one of the best Summer Camp programs around. Just go in June, and you won't have to worry so much about roasting.

---

This. Worked there for 6 summers.

Bmac04 said:

---

proc said:

---

Worth Ranch is still one of the best Summer Camp programs around. Just go in June, and you won't have to worry so much about roasting.

---

This. Worked there for 6 summers.

---

Much respect for a cedar smeller. 2 Summers, and proud member of the Brazos Club.

Side note: Not a suggestion for the OP but scouts in general once you have an older group. Head up to the Northern Tier. Most memorable and exciting thing I did camping-wise as a scout.

Quote:

---

It's like the difference between McDonalds and a nice restaurant. Circle 10 is McDonald's.

---

Well, to be fair - The two of the three other OK camps in that area are DUMPS that don't see nearly the traffic that the C10 camps get. Hale truly is a jewel. From top to bottom it is led well, designed well, run well, and staffed well! I'd say that TRJ is the best in Circle Ten even though I am incredibly biased toward James Ray's potential (which is only WRC & NYLT in the summers now).


Tehosa and Daniel Boone are all well thought of among the other people that I know that have been there.

A friend of mine will be directing El Rancho Cima this summer.

Shame that the camp will be gone forever.

Wish I could get my hands on THAT place!!

Do you remember a year there was a random storm overnight and everyone sheltered in the mess hall for a few hours?

Were you there when some scouts left a toilet on the roof of the mess hall overnight?

I miss that place!

Storms were an every year event. Evacuating TFC from their overnight to the dining hall happened several times.....got a specific storm in mind? When the prostaff was seriously contemplating sticking the staff in the frig and freezer with a tornado nearby was special (not kidding).

I remember the toilet on the roof a couple times.

What year are you thinking?

I think '93 or '94.

Based on (my memory of) the nervous looks I saw I believe we were there for the near tornado year.

I also remember those crappy cafeteria pizza slices tossed into the ceiling fan make a great projectile for starting a food fight. Camp staff encouraging us NOT TO START a food fight all day might have contributed.

My two favs (outside of Philmont and Northern Tier) are Camp A and BTSR.

Good luck - Be Prepared.

Yeah, I do remember the food fight. We, Shooting Sports, were off that night. But we got back in time to get our a-- chewed about the incident with the rest of the staff. Storms were bad that year.

I recommend Kia Kima in the Ozark Mountains near Hardy Arkansas. I camped there as a boy, and it is a perennial favorite for our troop in Round Rock. I was there as recently as last year (which was their 100th anniversary.) They have some very good high adventure options for the older scouts.

I haven't been back since I was a scout, but I still hear great things about Camp Orr on the Buffalo river in northwest Arkansas.

Another poster mentioned Spanish Peaks. I was there with one of my sons in 2015. The location is beautiful and we had a great time, but the camp was pretty rough. It had suffered a major fire the year prior, followed by floods and serious erosion the year we arrived. SPSR is owned by a council in Kansas and they don't staff it year around. They had discovered the damage late and had to spend staff week repairing the water system rather than preparing the program. We pitched in when we arrived, helping with plumbing, mowing program areas, etc.

I hope they have it all patched up now, but I would look into experiences from people who were there in 2016, and avoid the first week of camp.

In addition to Camp Alexander, my son's troop also has done summer camp at Camp Woodruff, Georgia. They loved it. Near the Tennessee border so not too hot, a big lake which allows for water skiing, motor boats, sailing merit badges, day trips to a nearby river for varying levels of white water rafting.... and Coke is a big sponsor so all of the facilities are top notch.

Worked at Cima (HB) two summers. Going to miss it.

A freaking luxury retirement community.

HumbleAg04 said:

---

Worked at Cima (HB) two summers. Going to miss it.

A freaking luxury retirement community.

---

I think that might have been a joke, however likely it may be, unless someone has some other information. It is still listed for sale as far as I can see?

http://republicranches.com/landlisting/el-rancho-cima/

proc said:

---

Much respect for a cedar smeller. 2 Summers, and proud member of the Brazos Club.

---

Member of the Brazos Club? As in CDLBDD?

Bmac04 said:

---

proc said:

---

Much respect for a cedar smeller. 2 Summers, and proud member of the Brazos Club.

---

Member of the Brazos Club? As in CDLBDD?

---

Correct.

Brad06ag said:

---

HumbleAg04 said:

---

Worked at Cima (HB) two summers. Going to miss it.

A freaking luxury retirement community.

---

I think that might have been a joke, however likely it may be, unless someone has some other information. It is still listed for sale as far as I can see?

http://republicranches.com/landlisting/el-rancho-cima/

---

Isn't pretty much everything West of Austin out to Abilene or so a retirement community.

I am as well... I guess we know each other

Bmac04 said:

---

I am as well... I guess we know each other

---

You clearly missed the barbeque pilgrimage. Were you at the basketball game while we were touring Kleberg?

Slightly off topic, does anyone remember the Pepper Mill in Graford? I don't remember why, but for some reason they banned boy scout summer camp staff (ok, we hit on the waitresses). Then it got amended to Constantin was allowed, but Worth Ranch staff were not.....and how they could determine one way or the other I don't have a clue.

ursusguy said:

---

Slightly off topic, does anyone remember the Pepper Mill in Graford? I don't remember why, but for some reason they banned boy scout summer camp staff (ok, we hit on the waitresses). Then it got amended to Constantin was allowed, but Worth Ranch staff were not.....and how they could determine one way or the other I don't have a clue.

---

When did this occur?

This would have been roughly 94-96.