New Birth of Freedom Council, BSA Website for the New Birth of Freedom Council, BSA
Summer Camp at Hidden Valley Scout Reservation is designed to be the culmination of an exciting year in Scouting. It’s a time to delight in the outdoors, to learn new skills, to earn advancements, and to have fun with friends. From the newest Tenderfoot to the most experienced older Scout, summer camp at Hidden Valley is the adventure that puts the “outing” in Scouting.
A full week of summer camp offers all Scouts the opportunity to experience the finest in long-term Scout camping. At Hidden Valley, Scouts will enjoy an outstanding Scouting environment and will develop leadership and outdoor skills, as well as achieving advancement and having fun with other Scouts. A carefully-selected, well-qualified, and dedicated camp staff is available to help the leadership of all troops to carry out a superb camping experience. Our goal is to balance the right amount of fun, training, and adventure.
At Hidden Valley, Scouts experience a diverse “traditional” summer camp program, combined with exciting facilities such as our 40-foot-high climbing wall, crystal-clear swimming pool, and air-conditioned dining hall capable of comfortably seating 300 campers at a sitting. At Hidden Valley, excellent facilities combine with carefully-selected and enthusiastic camp staff members to create an outstanding summer camp adventure for units who choose Hidden Valley for their summer camp experience.
At Hidden Valley, we also welcome Scout troops from outside of our council, with no extra fees for out-of-council units.
Camp Dates
Session 1 June 18 – 24, 2023
Session 2 June 25 – July 1, 2023
Session 3 July 2 – 8, 2023
Session 4 July 9 – 15, 2023
Session 5 July 16 – 22, 2023
Camp Rates
Scouts – $420 (if paid in full before May 1)
Scouts – $445 (if paid in full on or after May 1)
Adults – $195
Deposits
A deposit for all registered youth of $60 is due February 1. These deposits are non-refundable, so confirming your registration numbers (and making changes, if need be) is highly recommended. Fees increase $25 on May 1 and non-refundable deposits become $140.
Summer Camp Program Areas
Scouts will get to experience a variety of program areas, during their week of summer camp. Those participating in aquatics merit badges will get to swim in our 320,000-gallon swimming pool or row and paddle on Sherman’s Creek. For those Scouts who have just joined or crossed-over, we have the perfect first-year camper program for you. At our climbing wall, Scouts will get to climb to new heights and test their limits. Tree huggers and animal lovers alike will enjoy their time at our Nature Lodge. We will know when archery, rifle, and shotgun merit badges are happening as we hear them fire through the valley. Not to confuse Scoutcraft and Handicraft, those who enjoy basketry, metalwork, and wood carving will find their home at Handicraft, where those who enjoy camping, backpacking, and pioneering will be found at Scoutcraft.
Dan Beard Program
The Dan Beard program is designed for first and second-year campers. Two camp commissioner areas will cover many of the Tenderfoot through First Class requirements. Back in the campsite, Scouts must show troop leaders the skills they have mastered so leaders can sign off on the necessary requirements in their handbooks. The program sessions are scheduled in both the morning and afternoon, with a special Swimming merit badge class just before lunch. Scouts will learn knots and lashings, outdoor cooking, how to use woodsman tools, and how to make campsite gadgets. Also taught are first aid skills and how to use a compass. Thursday night, we will head on out for an outpost. Each pair of Scouts from the troop will need to bring a lightweight two-man tent or tarp to share, in addition to their personal gear.
Older Scout Program
New in 2021, we have developed a special program for older Scouts who already have many of their necessary merit badges and are looking to branch out beyond the limits of merit badges. This program is designed for Scouts 14 and older with a specialized program just for them. The program is a half-day program taking Scouts to our normal program areas (pool, climbing wall, waterfront, shooting ranges, etc.), but this time with new opportunities, experiences, and challenges for them to participate in. In its concept, the Older Scout Program changes every year, allowing Scouts to keep coming back to camp and forming memories and experiences that will last a lifetime.
Special Awards
Honor Camper Award – The BSA offers many recognition programs for Scouts. Ranks, merit badges, and other awards detail the record of a young man’s accomplishments. The Honor Scout Award is a designation created in the same spirit. We ask for your assistance in identifying those Scouts who truly go above and beyond normal expectations to become role-models for their fellow Scouts during camp. We accept nominations from all leaders, and from these nominations, our staff leadership will designate one (or, rarely, a few) campers to be recognized as the “Honor Scout(s)” of the week. These Scouts will be introduced to the camp and hear their record read at the Flag Lowering ceremony on Friday.
The Hillcourt Award – Generations of Scouts remember William Hillcourt, or “Green Bar Bill,” for his devotion to the Boy Scouts of America. Over the course of his long career in Scouting, he contributed mightily to the growth of our organization. He wrote many manuals, including the Handbook for Patrol Leaders and several editions of the Boy Scout Handbook, penned a popular column in Boys’ Life, and helped to develop the Wood Badge program. He also wrote the definitive biography of Scouting’s founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell. He received many honors for his distinguished service to scouts, but perhaps the most impressive was his informal but widely recognized nickname, “Scoutmaster to the World.” We are proud to honor our Camp Leaders with an award that bears his name.
The Baden-Powell Honor Troop Award – We proudly bestow our Honor Troop Award on those units which exceed ordinary expectations for troop activities in camp. Every unit should qualify for this distinction, but not without significant effort. Striving to meet the standards set forth will ensure that your unit makes the most of its program opportunities and should leave your troop organization stronger than before. All of the requirements must be completed by the youth of the troop.
Individual “Provisional” Scouts BSA Registrations
Scouts who wish to attend camp without their troop can attend camp as a “provisional” Scout. The Camp Director will make arrangements with troop leaders to have provisional Scouts attend camp as part of their troop for the week. (There will be an additional charge for each Provisional Camper.)
