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Camp Olmsted GENERAL INFORMATION Camp Olmsted is a Boy Scout resident camp located around 450-acre Lake Merriweather. Thomas Jefferson once called this area the "Garden of Eden of the United States." Food is served at Olmsted's dining hall. Youth sleep in two-man tents with cots. Camp is accredited annually by the BSA and must meet the State of Virginia standards. Scouts attend with their unit or may attend our provisional camp during the first four weeks. Camp Olmsted offers a wide variety of merit badge programs. The Technology Center has up-to-date equipment in a climate controlled environment! Open Program: Olmsted offers the unique opportunity that is loved by Scouts and leaders alike. Open program means no pre-sign ups required for merit badges. Scouts simply show up to their desired class with the merit badge card in hand. Asst. instructors will be made available for larger class sizes. Scouts may also start a merit badge any day of the week just by showing up. Classes limited by facility such as Small Boat Sailing will select Scouts by age and rank. X-PRIDE: Do you have scouts who have taken every merit badge they want but you need them for leadership? X-Pride is your solution. For any Scout 14 and over, X-Pride combines advanced Scouting skills, COPE, High Adventure, and Lenhok’sin outposts to create the best week at camp they have ever had. Only one night during the week will they be out of camp. Every other night they will be there as your senior Scout leadership. These Scouts will be given opportunities and experiences in the following areas: Kayaking, BSA, COPE, Geocaching, and skills to live off the land. The week will culminate in a Friday competition lasting all day, to determine the Camp Olmsted X-Treme Scout. This program is only for Scouts who want the X-Treme! Merit badges will not be offered during or as a part of this program. VENTURE, SEA SCOUT SHIPS, AND OTHER HIGH ADVENTURE UNITS: X-Pride can be an excellent addition to your program. A Ranger program or other high adventure program can be customized for your unit during any week at Camp Olmsted. This will be led by staff with experience in these programs. You just have to provide us with the information about the areas you want to work in, and we will work with your leadership to accomplish those goals. LDS Units: Camp Olmsted's program is set up so that when you arrive Monday morning, prior to breakfast, you will not have missed any program. You need to e-check in so that you will have your site assignment, and can go directly to your site on arrival. Please indicate on your e-check in form that you will be arriving on Monday morning. In addition, your buddy tags will be done so that swim check can be done during free swim or at the first meeting of any aquatics merit badge class the Scouts are taking. Medical recheck must be done prior to 9:00 Monday morning. Merit Badges Offered - Aquatics: Canoeing, Rowing, Kayaking, Swimming, Lifesaving, BSA Lifeguard (min. 15 years old), and Sailing (min. 13 years old).
- Scoutcraft: Orienteering, Camping, Wilderness Survival, Emergency Preparedness, Indian Lore Pioneering, Hiking, Backpacking, Fishing, and Citizenship in the World.
- Technology Center: Aviation, Astronomy, Electricity, Energy, Engineering, Computers, Electronics, and Journalism. Come on in and enjoy the air conditioning.
- Shooting Sports: Rifle, Archery, and Shotgun.
- Handicraft: Leatherwork, Basketry, Textile, Woodcarving
- Ecology: Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife Management, Mammals, Reptiles & Amphibians, Nature, Insect Study, Oceanography, Bird Study, Forestry, Geology, Weather, Soil and Water Conservation, and Archeology.
- The Grey Area: Art, Music, Sculpture, Cinematography, Photography, and Architecture
- Admin Area:Communications, First Aid, and Public Speaking
Trailshead: New Scouts also have the opportunity to participate in the "Trailshead" First-Year Camper Program. The First-Year Camper Program is primarily designed for the Scout who has recently registered and has not been completed many of the Tenderfoot and Second Class advancement requirements. TrailsHead is an all day every day program that will work on early rank advancement, instructional swim and the following Merit Badges: Swimming, Handicraft (basketry and/or leatherwork), Public Speaking, and Mammal Study. Scoutmaster involvement is encouraged and always welcome. Chesimus: (Chesimus is the Goshen First Year Camper patch. May be earned by completing the Trailshead program or completing a signed contract with the Scoutmaster on what he will accomplish.
COPE: COPE course and climbing tower is just a short hike away! Troop Opportunities: Troop programs include items such as rifle shoots, archery shoots, pirate's breakfast, swimming, boating, volleyball, hikes to Swinging Bridge for lunch, and much more. Continuing from last summer, the Cook-off Challenge:
This is a camp-wide event where troops can compete with each other to make the best dish at their site. We will provide Dutch ovens and cooking utensils if needed. Bring your own ingredients and have fun with it! Service Projects: Service projects are a great way to instill stewardship within your troop or crew. For more information on any of the programs listed above, please do not hesitate to contact Sean Turner the Camp Director of Camp Olmsted at Camp.olmsted@gmail.com.
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