Massachusetts summer camps

[HashTagScouts]

1 hour ago, Laxplr21 said:

Reviving this thread about recommended Massachusetts summer camps.    For a new Scouts BSA troop of girls new to Scouting (but not all new to camping) have you any recommendations of great camps readily accessible from the Boston suburbs or the middle of Massachusetts?   In particular any  comments on recent year's experiences at Resolute,  Treasure Valley, or Wanocksett?

 

The closest one to Boston in the suburbs is the Camp Sayre or also known as New England Base Camp.  This location was the camp at the old Boston Minuteman Council in Milton.  There are places for camping and cabins.  The camp is updated with an indoor swimming pool (used by a local swim club), high adventure course, and other programs that units and groups can pick and choose.  Last but not least the camp is also available to the public.  Groups throughout the area can use the facilities.  business retreats, YMCA weekend camp outs, church groups,  everybody has access to it.  When I had my woodbadge weekend there, a YMCA group was using a couple of the cabins.  The new Spirit of Adventer council has really made it a goal to spread scouting opportunities to the public and invite them in.

 

Here is a link of the council camps with any information you may need.  http://www.scoutspirit.org/camping-properties/

Sorry, you are looking for comments on MA summer camps? I ask, as Sayre is not a traditional summer camp- they have a summer program, but it is not setup as overnight camping.  While I can grasp your comments about Sayre, the reality is SoA did that open program so the property gets used as much as it was to get interest in Scouting.  It isn't a camp that was getting a terrible amount of usage, especially considering how close it is to the major roadways.  Units in their council on the other side of Boston would rather go their properties in NH than try and make the commute through Boston on a Friday night to get to Sayre.

 

For summer camp programs, the following are CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT camps that have summer resident programs.  If you haven't already booked in mid-April, availability may decide where you go versus where you wish to go (many are going to have weeks that are full at this point):

Camp	Location
Camp Squanto	Plymouth, MA
Camp Resolute	Bolton, MA
Treasure Valley Scout Reservation	Rutland, MA
Moses Scout Reservation	Russell, MA
Yawgoog Scout Reservation	Rockville, RI
JN Webster Scout Reservation	Ashford, CT
Camp Mattuck	Plymouth, CT
Camp Sequassen	New Hartford, CT
Camp Workcoemen	New Hartford, CT
Ed Strang Scout Reservation	Goshen, CT
Camp William Hinds	Raymond, ME
Camp Bomazeen	Belgrade, ME
Camp Roosevelt	Eddington, ME
Camp Wanocksett	Dublin, NH
TL Storer Scout Reservation	Barnstead, NH
Wah Tut Ca Scout Reservation	Northwood, NH
Hidden Valley Scout Camp	Gilmanton Iron Works, NH
Camp Bell	Gilmanton Iron Works, NH
Mount Norris Scout Reservation	Eden, VT

 

As far as reviews: I wouldn't rank Wanockset or Resolute at the top part of my list of favorite camps, but to each their own.  Every Scout should feel "their camp" is the best camp.  My own preferences if I were trying to narrow down options to be helpful, I would look at Hidden Valley, Yawgoog, JN Webster, Squanto, Treasure Valley and Wah tut Ca.  Yawgoog, Hidden Valley and JN Webster especially have put a lot of money in recent years to improve infrastructure and modernize the camp.  I'll keep favoritism for Squanto out of this (my son will be staff there) 😀. 

 

If you are looking for other New England BSA camps for weekend camping:

Camp	Location
Camp Norse	Kingston, MA
Camp Sayre	Milton, MA
Cachalot Scout Reservation	Plymouth, MA
Camp Buxton	Rehoboth, MA
Nobscot Scout Reservation	Sudbury, MA
Camp Greenough	Yarmouthport, MA
Camp Split Rock	Ashburnham, MA
Camp Duarte	Martha's Vineyard, MA
Camp Richard	Nantucket, MA
Champlin Scout Reservation	Cranston, RI
Buck Hill Scout Reservation	Pascoag, RI
Camp Aquapaug	South Kingston, RI
Sandsland Scout Reservation	Block Island, RI
Camp Pomperaug	Union, CT
Deer Lake Scout Reservation	Killingworth, CT
Camp Wah Wah Taysee	North Haven, CT
Hoyt Scout Reservation	Redding, CT
Seton Scout Reservation	Greenwich, CT
Camp Nutter	Acton, ME
Camp Gustin	Sabbattus, ME
Camp Carpenter	Manchester, NH
Lone Tree Scout Reservation	Kingston, NH
Camp Sunrise	Benson, VT

 

 

 

 

Edited April 25, 2019 by HashTagScouts