Powhatan

I would like to recommed the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation in Virginia. www.bsa-brmc.org During the summer of 2005 we are set to close to 10,000 scouts and leaders on the reservation in three main base camps and 7 satelite programs. Though we are proud of the numbers we serve each summer, our true satisfaction is in the high percentage of returning units. One of the main reason they come is diversity. At the BRSR a scout can start in our Brownsea Island Adventure and continue coming to camp until he is 18 and never do the same program twice. This is also handy for larger troops who can bring 40 kids to one camp, and send them off to the four corners of the reservation for different programs. No need to go to 4 different camps at different times in one summer. Here is a summary of the programs the BRSR offers: The Brownsea Island Adventure - A program for first year scouts. It teaches the Basic Scouting Skills and Scouting methods using a program that National is now adopting and promoting through National Camp School. A fantastic start to a scouting career. Base Camps Powhatan and Ottari - Both traditional camps offer strong merit badge program, exceptional facilities, and top-notch staffs. With 32+ merit badges offered at both camps, you could easily spend 2-3 years in the merit badge program, but you wont because of our many High Adventure opportunities: The New River Adventure - A weeklong High Adventure program which includes 2 days of COPE, a day of Climbing/Rapelling/Mountain Biking, a day of Whitewater Canoeing, and a day spend on the Whitewater of West Virginia's New River Gorge, some of the best Rafting on the East Coast. The High Knoll Trail - often referred to as the Philmont of the East, we have over 100 miles of trail on our 22,000 acres. You can push and get a 50 miler done, or take it easy with a 30-40 mile trek. You will spend each night at a manned outpost experiencing Indian Lore, Horsemanship, Early Appalachain living, Rock Climbing, and more! Claytor Lake Acquatics Base - A smaller residential camping program on nearby Claytor lake where we offer Waterskiing, Sailing (small and large), Snorkeling, Lifesaving, Rowing, Sailboarding, Motorboating, and Scuba. The Moutain Man Camp - A week spent in the Woods learning primitive living skills. Dress the part, add a knife and sheath made during the week, and see if you can make it to Saturday without taking a shower, well, maybe not that last part... Fish Camp - Learn from fishing experts (or guys who just fish so much they lost their real job) about the many facets of Fishing. A week spent fishing, need I say more? Voyager Trek - A week long Canoeing/Rafting Program based around the lives of early Frontier trappers. As said earlier, this is kind of varietly lends well to Scouts who can come for many years and not see the same part of the reservation. It also makes life easy on units, who can bring all 40 scouts from their newest to their oldest to one camp, on one bus, for one week, and still give the little ones a model first year camper program, the 2nd years a strong merit badge camp with outstanding staff, and their older scouts a variety of High Adventure challenges that will leave them with stories to tell... This is a biased report, having served on Camp Staff at the reservation for many years, but I think most will agree with my assessment! Hope to see you guys at the BRSR in 2006! Scouting, A Way of Life... Micah

Though I am always interested in singing the praises of the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation, I dont think I can sell this one... Though we do have 22,000 acres for our camp programs, the majority of flat ground has allready been deceloped into our camping programs. We truly felt the squeeze earlier this summer when we had close to 1800 scouts on the reservation one week. I think 30,000 plus would be stretching it a bit, unless you like sleeping at a 90 degree angle. Let's hope our elected officials can come through and help us retain the use of AP Hill. I suspect the facility improvements at a new site would total near the millions we have allready poured into AP Hill ( and the millions that has been matched by the governement). -Micah

I would like to recommed the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation in Virginia. www.bsa-brmc.org During the summer of 2005 we are set to camp over 10,000 scouts and leaders on the reservation in three main base camps and 7 satelite programs. Though we are proud of the numbers we serve each summer, our true satisfaction is in the high percentage of returning units. One of the main reason they come is diversity. At the BRSR a scout can start in our Brownsea Island Adventure and continue coming to camp until he is 18 and never do the same program twice. This is also handy for larger troops who can bring 40 kids to one camp, and send them off to the four corners of the reservation for different programs. No need to go to 4 different camps at different times in one summer. Here is a summary of the programs the BRSR offers: The Brownsea Island Adventure - A program for first year scouts. It teaches the Basic Scouting Skills and Scouting methods using a program that National is now adopting and promoting through National Camp School. A fantastic start to a scouting career. Base Camps Powhatan and Ottari - Both traditional camps offer strong merit badge program, exceptional facilities, and top-notch staffs. With 32+ merit badges offered at both camps, you could easily spend 2-3 years in the merit badge program, but you wont because of our many High Adventure opportunities: The New River Adventure - A weeklong High Adventure program which includes 2 days of COPE, a day of Climbing/Rapelling/Mountain Biking, a day of Whitewater Canoeing, and a day spend on the Whitewater of West Virginia's New River Gorge, some of the best Rafting on the East Coast. The High Knoll Trail - often referred to as the Philmont of the East, we have over 100 miles of trail on our 22,000 acres. You can push and get a 50 miler done, or take it easy with a 30-40 mile trek. You will spend each night at a manned outpost experiencing Indian Lore, Horsemanship, Early Appalachain living, Rock Climbing, and more! Claytor Lake Acquatics Base - A smaller residential camping program on nearby Claytor lake where we offer Waterskiing, Sailing (small and large), Snorkeling, Lifesaving, Rowing, Sailboarding, Motorboating, and Scuba. The Moutain Man Camp - A week spent in the Woods learning primitive living skills. Dress the part, add a knife and sheath made during the week, and see if you can make it to Saturday without taking a shower, well, maybe not that last part... Fish Camp - Learn from fishing experts (or guys who just fish so much they lost their real job) about the many facets of Fishing. A week spent fishing, need I say more? Voyager Trek - A week long Canoeing/Rafting Program based around the lives of early Frontier trappers. As said earlier, this is kind of varietly lends well to Scouts who can come for many years and not see the same part of the reservation. It also makes life easy on units, who can bring all 40 scouts from their newest to their oldest to one camp, on one bus, for one week, and still give the little ones a model first year camper program, the 2nd years a strong merit badge camp with outstanding staff, and their older scouts a variety of High Adventure challenges that will leave them with stories to tell... This is a biased report, having served on Camp Staff at the reservation for many years, but I think most will agree with my assessment! Hope to see you guys at the BRSR in 2006! Scouting, A Way of Life... Micah

Another lurker deciding to go public.... Greetings! My name is Micah Englund. I am currently a Unit Commissioner with the Blue Ridge Mountains Council, out of Roanoke, VA. I am an Eagle Scout with strong ties to the OA, a 14 year summer camp staffer, a woodbadger, and spent 4 years serving scouting professionally. I am now a teacher and eagerly await new ways to serve Scouting. I have over the years had many opinions on many topics covered by this board, and hope that I can help some find answers while asking questions myself. So, I will be joining in on some of the discussions, and look forward to talking with you. Some of my interests include the OA, Summer Camp Program, Campfires, Songs, Stories, Council/Volunteer Relations, the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation, and just about anything else... To Scouting! A way of life... micah