Approved Cub Scout Camping Sites
A place for your pack’s next adventure
Bring families together for a night outdoors. Start with a Council-approved camping location, then plan the campout that works for your pack.
Use this page to choose a site or learn how to request Council review of another property.
INCLUDED UNDER COUNCIL POLICY
County and state parks
County and state parks within the New Birth of Freedom Council’s service area are automatically included as approved Cub Scout camping locations.
County parks
Choose a county park that offers overnight camping. Contact the park directly about group campsites, reservations and local rules.
State parks
Choose a state park that offers overnight camping. Check with the park about group camping areas, availability and reservation requirements.
Before you reserve: Confirm that overnight camping is permitted in your chosen area and that suitable facilities are available for your group. Follow the park’s rules and current Scouting America camping requirements.
Other Council-approved properties
Additional approved camping locations are listed below with the nearest town.
Approved site
Nearest town
Artillery Ridge Campground
Gettysburg, PA
St. Joseph Church
Hanover, PA
EXPLORE ANOTHER LOCATION
Request approval for another site
Have another property in mind? Ask the Council to review it before planning a Cub Scout overnight campout there.
Scouting America’s Pack Overnight Campout Site Appraisal Form helps the Council evaluate a property’s facilities and suitability for pack camping.
1
Review the site appraisal form
Use the form to understand the information needed about the property, facilities and site contact.
2
Request a Council appraisal
Send your site appraisal request to the Council using the email below. The Council reviews and designates locations; packs cannot approve a site themselves.
3
Confirm approval before camping
Wait for Council confirmation before using an additional property for a Cub Scout overnight campout.
Submit site appraisal requests to: camping@
Cub Scout Overnight Camping Guidelines
Cub Scout camping is family-centric. Scouting America’s requirements support a safe, quality experience.
- Leadership: Qualified, registered adults must supervise camping. At least one leader present must be current in Hazardous Weather Training for every unit type; all leaders are encouraged to complete it every two years.
- BALOO: Overnight packs, Webelos dens and Arrow of Light dens/patrols must have a BALOO-trained adult leader present. BALOO is recommended for all Cub Scout camping leaders.
- Locations: Use Council-designated sites with appropriate facilities. Councils use the site appraisal form (PDF) to review and designate sites. Units may request a Council appraisal but cannot conduct their own.
- Length: Pack campouts are limited to two consecutive nights.
- Tenting: Youth may tent with a parent or guardian and siblings under Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse. All Youth Protection policies apply.
- Lions and Tigers: Their adult partner must attend overnight camping, as with all Scouting activities.
- Other ranks: Only in exceptional circumstances may a youth whose parent or legal guardian cannot attend participate in a unit overnight campout. Another registered adult who is a parent of an attending Cub Scout may supervise, with agreement from the unit leader and the youth’s parent or legal guardian. Each adult may accept responsibility for only one additional nonfamily youth; all Youth Protection policies apply.
Since June 1, 2024, Webelos (fourth grade) and Arrow of Light (fifth grade) are separate programs. Arrow of Light prepares Scouts to join Scouts BSA; Webelos does not.
Den or patrol campouts
- Eligibility: Only Webelos dens and Arrow of Light dens/patrols may hold den-coordinated overnights, limited to two consecutive nights. Attendance is restricted to their youth members, parents and registered adult leaders.
- Requirements: A BALOO-trained adult leader must attend. Use Council-designated sites with appropriate facilities and follow all Youth Protection policies.
- Parents: Each Scout should attend with a parent or legal guardian. If neither can attend, at least two registered leaders may supervise with agreement from those leaders and the parent or legal guardian. All Youth Protection policies apply.
- Webelos restriction: Webelos Scouts and dens may not attend Scouts BSA troop campouts, camporees or other Scouts BSA events — day or overnight, even as visitors.
All Cub Scout camping requirements still apply, including a BALOO-trained adult leader present and all Youth Protection policies.
- Troop campouts: Attend with a troop the Scouts are eligible to join, as an Arrow of Light den/patrol with two-deep leadership from that den/patrol or pack.
- Camporees: Attend a council-coordinated, short-term Scouts BSA camporee (NCAP SA-001), during the day or overnight, either:
