Cost

The cost is about $450 for the week. That includes registration, meals at camp, hat, supplies, and gratuity for the camp staff. It also covers the cost for some of the adult chaperones to attend camp for the week (one chaperone for every two or three Webelos). The free chaperone spots are reserved on a first-come basis with the $250 deposit for a Webelo.

Additional costs for the week are lunch on the way to Goshen, breakfast on the way back, and snacks/souvenirs at the Trading Post.

The Pack will begin taking deposits at the January Pack meeting. Full payment is due at the February Pack meeting.

Requirements

• All Webelos and chaperones attending Goshen Camp PMI must have two copies of a physician-signed BSA Medical Form with NCAC Health Advisory completed prior to camp. An exam within a 12-month period of the week of camp is required for all Webelos and chaperones.

  • Council name is National Capital Area

  • Council number is 82

  • Unit number is Pack 255

• All adult chaperones attending camp must complete BSA's new Youth Protection Training (YPT) prior to June 1.

  • Click here for instructions to complete the BSA YPT training module

  • Once all modules are completed, you will receive a completion certificate via email

  • Forward your completion certificate to a Goshen Coordinator

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Go To Camp?

Most importantly, it's fun! This is, for many Scouts, a gentle first exposure to long-term camping and sleep-away camp. It is an extremely valuable part of their maturity, development, self-confidence, planning, and their future advancement in Scouting.

What is the Camp?

Goshen Scout Reservation comprises six camps located around beautiful Lake Merriweather near Goshen, Virginia. Camp PMI and Camp Ross are the two Webelos camps. They offer similar programs, but are different in layout and personality. Camp Ross is mostly flat, wide open terrain, while PMI is more compact, steep, and heavily wooded. Camp PMI slopes towards the lake, and also has a creek/ravine down the middle, so you are almost always either walking up or down rocky trails.

What about Adult Leadership at Camp?

The Pack will need a minimum of 2 adults per 5 scouts, although 3 adults per 5 scouts are better. Quite often adults have to split off for this reason or that, so this ratio is not excessive. Adults are referees, line judges and shepherds. They are not required to run Program (Camp Staff does this) and may find the week to be a rustic vacation (though one where they’ll get a lot of exercise!). Adult chaperones help coordinate what the Scouts do outside of structured program blocks, such as a service project, Diamond W award oversight, or s’mores at the campfire.

What are the Parent Chaperone Expectations?

This is not a “Parent/Child” experience. Adults who attend are more backdrop for the purposes of safety and support to the camp staff. Cubs are expected to share a tent with other Cubs (as they will in Scouts BSA) and may not, under any circumstances, share a tent with an unrelated adult, or sleep alone in a tent. In the event of an odd number of Scouts, or special needs, it may be necessary for a scout to share a tent with a parent or legal guardian.

All BSA-registered adults will already have completed BSA Youth Protection Training. All non-leader parents attending must take BSA Youth Protection Training prior to camp.

How will we get there?

The Pack will appoint an adult to coordinate transportation to and from camp. (These arrangements might be different, as some adults will come and go during the week.) Some considerations:

• Parking at camp is limited. The Pack is encouraged to carpool.

• Most activities will be within Camp, but a few (such as visiting Jolly Hole) require transportation. Consider this as adults (and their vehicles) come and go during the week.

• 15-passenger vans, and trailers for gear, are especially useful.

We will stop for lunch on the way to camp, about mid-way along I-81. We will also stop for breakfast after leaving camp on the return trip. (On departure day, you are to be GONE by 7 AM. The continental breakfast the camp gives you on your way out will not last you very long!). From previous trips, we have typically done:

• Lunch on the way to camp @ I-81 Exit 283 (Woodstock), where there are many fast food restaurants (we will pick one to minimize herding cats)

• Breakfast after leaving camp @ I-81 Exit 200, McDonald's (is combined with gas station & convenience store)

What Activities will we do at Goshen?

The cubs will experience a full range of fun and challenging activities, including swimming, boating, archery, BB guns, Scoutcraft (fire building, knot tying, etc.), handicrafts, nature hikes, and more. The first two days (Monday and Tuesday) are planned in advance by the Camp Staff; subsequent activities are scheduled with input from Pack leadership on what activities they would like to do. Possible activities include:

• Working on specific Webelos Activity Badges (Aquanaut, Into the Woods, Earth Rocks, etc.)

• Hiking to Viewing Rock and/or Jump Rock

• Visiting Troop 255 at Marriott Scout Camp on Lake Merriweather

• Visiting the main Trading Post at Camp Post (Goshen HQ)

• Visiting Jolly Hole (a fun place to splash and play in a cool stream), near Camp Post

• Working on a Service Project (see below)

What should I Pack?

See the Packing List for specifics; here are some additional suggestions:

• Pack LIGHTLY – your child may have to carry gear several hundred yards depending on the campsite. Most campsites are not accessible by vehicles. Wheelies/roll-a-boards do not work well.

• Have your child PACK HIS/HER OWN GEAR. This helps everyone know what is packed, where it is, and (maybe) keep the gear relatively neat.

• For towels (swim & shower), consider getting a synthetic towel, available in the car wash section of Walmart, Target, etc. They fit neatly into the backpack without getting anything wet. Large towels don’t dry and will get everything wet after swimming.

• Mark EVERYTHING with your child’s name. (Last name is usually sufficient.) This includes clothes, underwear, towels, books, water bottles, EVERYTHING. You’d be amazed at what a 10-year-old can lose!

• You will spend a LOT of time walking. Closed-toe shoes are required (by BSA policy); a comfortable pair of hiking boots will keep your feet happy. Sneakers and crocs are not recommended, though some Scouts (or their parents) will ignore this suggestion; for them, make sure the Pack first aid kit is equipped to treat blisters.

• Use cheap, refillable water bottles. (These are the most commonly lost items.)

• NO ELECTRONICS. Period.

Should we bring Uniforms? Yes!

Scouts and leaders should wear their Class A uniforms for traveling to and from camp. At camp, they’ll only need their Class A shirt for flag ceremonies. (Leave neckerchiefs and slides at home; these will only get lost at camp). It’s a good idea to bring a single clothes hanger along to keep the Class A shirt neat.

The rest of the time, scout t-shirts, ordinary t-shirts, athletic "wicking" shirts, etc. are fine, just send items that can get dirty!

What if My Child gets Homesick?

Homesickness is not a fatal disease. Mom and Dad will survive. Your child will too. They will not call home as this is proven to exacerbate the situation, not improve it. About one-third will cry by Tuesday or Wednesday, but they’ll be fine by Thursday.

What Adult Jobs are there?

A busy Scout is a happy Scout, and the same is true for the adults. There are enough simple jobs to do to let all the adults help keep things running smoothly. Below are some suggested adult jobs (feel free to add, subtract, combine or split according to the number of adults):

• Transportation coordinator (to and from camp)

• Pack Postmaster (handles Scouts’ mail—see below)

• Pack Banker (handles Scouts’ money—see below)

• Pack Medical Officer (handles medical forms, prescriptions, etc.—see below)

• Pack Inspector (cleanliness, hygiene, etc.)

• Religious program coordinator

• Service project coordinator

• Skit/song leader (the Pack might want to perform at the dining hall)

• “Diamond W” award coordinator (see below)

• Whittlin’ Chip instructor (for Scouts who haven’t already earned it)

• Photo coordinator (after return from camp—collect everyone’s photos and burn CDs to share)

What about Mail during Camp?

Mail is important for the Cubs, for many of whom this will be their first extended period away from home and family. Encourage parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc., to write. Even if one parent is attending camp, the other can write!

The Pack will not be there long enough for Postal Service to matter. Instead, the Pack should collect mail ahead of time. Please write letters in advance and bring on Departure Day, each with a notation as to which day (Monday-Friday) it should be delivered. One of the adults will serve as Postmaster and distribute each day’s mail.

Should the scout bring Money?

Your Scout will need some spending money for souvenirs, replacement gear, snacks, etc. Goshen staff recommend $50, but Scouts have done OK with as little as $20.

• We strongly recommend designating an adult as Pack Banker to hold your Scout’s cash, using a lockable box or file with separate Ziploc bags for each “account”; Scouts can make deposits and withdrawals as needed.

• Another way to “meter” your Scout’s spending is to include additional cash in the daily mail.

• Or, you may give your Scout all spending money up front. We call this the “Learn a Valuable Lesson” option.

• Separately from the above, your Scout needs money for meals during the drive down & back.

  • Lunch on trip down: fast food; $5-10 depending on appetite.

  • Breakfast on return trip: $5-10; this money should be sealed in a marked envelope and given to the Pack Banker, lest your Scout spend it all before Saturday!

What Medical Forms are required?

Everyone attending camp (Scouts & adults) will need a complete Medical Form, Parts A, B and C. Part C is a Physical Exam administered by a medical doctor. There is now a second form for your doctor to sign called a Camp Health Advisory. We recommend parents schedule these NOW as the wait can be long depending on the doctor. If you have a Well-Child coverage through your insurance, take the form with you as part of that normal exam and the doctor may complete the form free of charge as part of that exam. (You might also combine it with exams needed for school athletics.)

The Pack should collect TWO copies of everyone’s Medical Forms. One will be turned in to Camp Staff (and returned at the end of the week); the Pack can hold onto the other. Both copies should be returned to families, or destroyed, at the end of the week.

The Pack should plan on keeping routine prescriptions in camp. We suggest appointing a Medical Officer to oversee administration. Prescriptions will be kept in a lock box per BSA requirements. (Camp Staff have facilities for prescriptions requiring refrigeration.) Epi-pens must be carried in daypacks and Pack Leadership notified of location.

The Camp Staff includes a First Aider, and Goshen Scout Reservation has seven licensed EMTs on staff and a Nurse available for any injections required. Emergencies are evacuated to Stonewall Jackson Hospital.

How will we communicate with the Camp?

• The Pack should appoint emergency contacts among the adults at camp, in case families at home need to reach a Scout quickly.

• Adults may carry cell phones. Note that Verizon is the only carrier with reasonably reliable coverage at Goshen. In June 2014, Verizon had strong 4G service, and AT&T had ZERO coverage.

• Pack leaders may wish to post pictures, stories, etc., to the internet each night for the families back home to enjoy. If you do this, make sure to follow BSA guidance to protect privacy.

• The camp Administration building (adults only) has WiFi, with limited bandwidth, for those who can’t quite cut loose from their electronic leash.

Do we need to bring Food?

• Meals are included. Most meals will be served in the camp dining hall.

• Some allergies addressed (peanuts, etc.), but special cases (gluten intolerance, etc.) may require that you bring your own supplies. (Camp will offset with cost adjustments, and arrangements can be made for refrigeration, etc.) We recommend coordinating in advance with Camp Staff.

• One cookout (foil dinners) on Tuesday. Pack may want to supplement with s’mores, dutch oven cobbler, etc.

• If the Pack goes on an extended hike, etc., the camp kitchen will provide sack lunches.

• Make sure Scouts do NOT keep food in their tents. This will attract wildlife!

Will there be a Service Project at Camp?

The Pack should consider doing a service project during their stay at camp. This is usually a brief (one-hour) job, so it shouldn’t be too ambitious. The camp staff Quartermaster can help with ideas as well as materials and tools. If you have a particular idea ahead of time, you might consider bringing the needed materials and your own power tools to get a head start on the project.

What is the “Diamond W” Award?

The Pack has the opportunity to earn the coveted “Diamond W” award at camp. There are a number of requirements, such as keeping the campsite neat, conducting a flag ceremony, performing a skit or song, participating in religious services, doing a service project, etc. Most of the requirements are things the Pack will probably do anyway, but it can be a good idea to appoint an adult to keep track so nothing falls through the cracks.