Goshen Scout Reservation

Early Bird Extension for Summer Camp!

April 2, 2020 by Aaron Chusid

Plans are still on for summer camp, because we’re all going to need some extra time outside this summer! Planning that far out is difficult right now for many families so to give you more time to decide National Capital Area Council is extending the Early Bird signup period for all of our camps through April 30, 2020!

Check out our 2020 Summer Camp Guide for info about all our programs, then find your favorite below and reserve your tent!

Day Camp

NCAC offers about 20 local day camps every summer so that every Scout has one nearby. Each camp’s program is a little different, but each offers some combination of the all-time favorite Scout camp activities; things like BB guns, archery, sling shots, arts and crafts, nature, field sports, fishing, and aquatics.

This year’s Day Camp theme is On The Farm, so get ready for a barn-raising, sheep-herding, egg-hatching good time! To find a camp near you and sign up, go to gotodaycamp.org!

Go To Day Camp

Camp William B. Snyder

The closest Scout Camp to Washington, D.C., Camp Snyder will have a variety of programs for Packs to enjoy this summer, including day camp, weekend Cub Scout camps, STEM programs, and full-week programs for Cub Scouts and Webelos!

This year’s camp will be truly out of this world a Cub Scouts go on an astronaut adventure! Learn more and sign up at gotosnyder.org

Go To Camp Snyder

Goshen Scout Reservation

Goshen offers programs for Scouts BSA, Webelos, and Venturers on the shores of beautiful Lake Merriweather. With three Scout camps, two Webelos camps, and the Lenhok’sin High Adventure Base, there is an adventure waiting for you this summer that will thrill and challenge you.

To keep in line with the extension of the early bird dates, merit badge registration has also been delayed until May 1, 2020. We hope that will give your Scouts more time to make their plans for the summer. To learn more, get important updates, and register for Goshen, please click gotogoshen.org.

Go To Goshen

Refund Policy

One question many leaders have is what will happen if the COVID-19 pandemic requires us to cancel summer camp. Please assure your families that if camp is cancelled by NCAC they will receive a 100% refund. We hope this will give your families the chance to make their plans without worrying about the financial risks.

Further updates about our plans for summer 2020 will be coming as the situation develops. Until then, stay home, wash your hands, and keep on #ScoutingAtHome!

Meet your 2020 Goshen Camp Directors!

February 4, 2020 by Goshen Scout Reservation

We are pleased to announce the team of Camp Directors for Goshen Scout Reservation 2020! If you ever have any questions about camp or the programs we provide, please visit www.GoToGoshen.org to get in touch with your camp director.

Phil Barbash, Goshen Scout Reservation Director

Phil is excited to begin his 18th summer working on staff at Goshen Scout Reservation. It will also be his 5th year as the Director of Operations. Beforehand, he worked 10 summers at Camp Bowman, with the last three as the Camp Director. He has served in various positions including Ecology Instructor, First Year Camper Director, and Camp Commissioner. He currently serves as NCAC’s Director of Camping with oversight over Goshen, Camp Snyder, Camp Airy, and Camp Wall.

Carl Trocki, Camp Bowman Director

This will be Carl’s 19th summer as a Goshen staff member, and 14th summer at Camp Bowman. Carl has experience in many different areas of camp, including: Camp Director at Bowman and Lenhok’sin, a myriad of program staff positions and even as an NCAC District Executive. When not at Goshen, Carl lives in Australia, working as a high school teacher/administrator/outdoor educator, and runs a successful watersports business at the beach. Carl is excited to return to Bowman as Camp Director for another summer, and hopes to help maintain the many traditions which have made Camp Bowman such a powerful and positive influence on so many young people.

Chris Warner, Camp Marriott Director

Chris is going on his tenth year working at Goshen. He started coming as a scout to Camp Bowman in 2008. He worked on staff at Bowman in Scoutcraft, Aquatics, and Facilities. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2015. Chris is very excited to be continuing the tremendous program that Camp Marriott offers. In the months outside of summer camp, he attends the Business school at Salisbury University.

Tom Van Patten, Camp Olmsted Director

This summer will be Tom’s 9th year on the Goshen staff and his first at Camp Olmsted! Tom previously worked at Camp Bowman as the Program Director. He also worked in several areas including Nature and Scoutcraft. He has also served on the National Camping School Ecology staff. Outside of Scouting, Tom is a recent graduate of Lycoming College and an avid birder. He resides in Montgomery County, MD and works as a cabinetmaker. Working with scouts is a deeply gratifying experience for Tom and he looks forward to positively impacting the lives of young people this summer through the methods of Scouting.

Michael Filmonchik, Camp PMI Director

This will be Michael’s 4th summer at Goshen Scout Reservation and his first as Camp Director. He has worked in areas such as scoutcraft and shooting sports and is excited to be PMI’s Camp Director this summer. He loves Goshen Scout Reservation and values the everlasting experience it provides to scouts. When Michael is not at Goshen he is enrolled in the Masters of Teaching program at VCU. Michael attended PMI as a scout and is very excited to continue the legacy that made him fall in love with Scouting.

Richard Holtslander, Camp Ross Director

Richard attended Ross as a scout, and joined the Camp Ross Staff as early as he could. Since Richard’s first Summer in 2011 he has worked in various positions at camp, learning what it means to be part of the Ross Staff. This will be Richard’s tenth Summer working at Ross and first Summer as Camp Director. When Richard is not at camp he attends Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and is studying for a Bachelors in Mathematics with a Minor in Environmental Science. Richard is excited for the new challenges the position will bring, and is looking forward to working with Scouts to have a great Summer and introduction to Scouting!

Griffin Linehan, Lenhok’sin High Adventure Director

This will be Griff’s 3rd year at Lenhok’sin. He has worked at BSA camps of all sorts since he was 13 years old. He has specifically worked at a lot of trek based camps and interpretive camps in leadership roles. Outside of camp, Griff teaches seventh grade enriched science. He is currently working on his Doctorate for Educational Policy, Measurement, & Evaluation. He is looking forward to working hard with the staff and providing a quality program this summer.

Learn more about our two Webelos Camps, three Scouts BSA & Venturing Camps, and Lenhok’sin High Adventure and all the adventures they have to offer on our website at www.gotogoshen.org.

Help NCAC Celebrate 100 Years of Camping!

January 30, 2020 by Craig Weston

The Council celebration of 100 years of NCAC summer camps is well underway, as we continue to celebrate the opening of Camp Roosevelt on the Maryland western shore as our first council summer camp in 1919!

To honor the long history of summer camping in the Council and to highlight the importance of the outdoors to the growth and development of Scouts, throughout 2020 we are encouraging Families, Webelos, Scouts, Venturers, Explorers and Sea Scouts to get involved by attending a camp (or cruise) overnight —- for a weekend or for a week (or two) at one of our summer camps!

Here’s what happening in the coming weeks:

Districts can hand out the free Camping Centennial Logo patch to those who attend the District Klondike Derby or Winter Camporee. Contact your District Executive before the event.
New to Scouting or camping and want to learn what gear you need and where to go? Sign up for Course ELC135 “Camping Opportunities in the NCAC” at the University of Scouting on February 29th.
Also, at the University of Scouting, take a walk-through history! Stop by the midway area to view displays of rare council camping memorabilia dating back over the past century.

Visit gotogoshen.org/summercamp or gotosnyder.com/summercamp and register today!

Stay tuned to WeOwnAdventure to learn about future special events and commemorative merchandise.

Seeking Camp Staff: Summer 2020!

December 19, 2019 by NCAC Camping Department

Do you like camping and the outdoors? Did you have a great time at camp? Why not go there for the whole summer?

Be part of an awesome group of people and work at one of the coolest summer jobs you could ever have!

Ready to engage your imagination and lead Cub Scouts into the stars? Apply to work at Camp Snyder! The 2020 Camp Theme, Space, is carried through archery, nature, crafts, swimming, boating, and all camp activities as Cub Scouts and their leaders explore the outdoors.

Want to escape to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains for the summer? Apply to work at one of seven Goshen Scout Reservation Camps! Join our energetic and goofy staff at our Webelos Camps – Camp PMI and Camp Ross. Want to teach your favorite Merit Badge? Choose one of our three Scouts BSA/Venturing camps – Camp Bowman, Camp Olmsted, or Camp Marriott. Looking for adventure? Become part of our elite staff at Lenhok’sin High Adventure Base. Want to support camps in retail or in emergency medicine? Our administration camp – Camp Post – might be the place for you.

Staff must be 15 years or older to be an instructor and 16 or older to work at Goshen’s Lenhok’sin High Adventure. Not yet 15? If you’re 14, you can be a Counselor-in-Training at any of our Cub Scout, Webelos, or Scouts BSA/Venturing Resident Camps. We’re also on the lookout for those 18 years of age or older to take on leadership positions.

Have friends or family that love the outdoors, but aren’t in Scouting? Tell them about it! Prior experience with the Boy Scouts of America is not required.

Employment dates are from June 13 to August 4, 2020 for Goshen Camps and June 29 to August 14, 2020 for Camp Snyder.

We’re coming up on hiring season! Apply online and get more information on our website. Visit www.gotogoshen.org/staff for Goshen Camps and www.gotosnyder.org/work for Camp Snyder.

Celebrate 100 Years of Camping at Goshen!

October 18, 2019 by Goshen Scout Reservation

National Capital Area Council is celebrating 100 years of camping that began in 1919 with Camp Roosevelt. To this day, you can still see signs made by Camp Roosevelt campers on display at the Camp Olmsted Handicraft pavilion.

Registration for Summer 2020 at Goshen Scout Reservation is now open. Join us to celebrate these 100 years of camping!

Camp Olmsted Week 1 has already filled up. Register soon to save your spot for your week! Stay up to date on week availability, get all the latest information, and reserve your spot at www.gotogoshen.org/registration.

Learn more about our two Webelos Camps, three Scouts BSA & Venturing Camps, and Lenhok’sin High Adventure and all the adventures they have to offer on our website at www.gotogoshen.org.

Labor Day Family Camp at Goshen

September 4, 2019 by Goshen Scout Reservation

Goshen’s Labor Day Weekend Family Camp was a great experience once again! Families and friends came from near and far to camp out and enjoy all the activities at beautiful Goshen Scout Reservation. In addition to the standard Family Camp activities of swimming, shooting, boating, archery, and crafting, families were able to fly through the sky on the giant swing at COPE. Volunteers Tony and Chuck from the COPE and Climbing Committee, along with camp staff and staff alumni, opened up rappelling on Goshen’s climbing tower – a new Family Camp activity!

There were also opportunities to take in the sights and beauty. On the water, the pontoon boat took riders on tours of the lake. On land, hikes to the Swimming Hole and Viewing Rock took hikers to some of the highlights of Goshen.

And once again, Lauren returned for Labor Day Family Camp to call the Saturday Night Square Dance with her boundless enthusiasm. Everyone had a fantastic time showing off the dance moves she taught them – as well as some of their own! The night was about to end with the Last One Standing challenge line dance to the tune of Footloose, but with so much energy, kids requested a two song encore!

They brought that tremendous energy to the campfire the following night, where families, Troops, Packs, Staff, and Staff Alumni shared their favorite songs, skits, and stories before heading back to their campsites for bed.

Labor Day Weekend Family Camp was a great time for all ages! We hope to see you next year, either at our Memorial Day Weekend Family Camp or on Labor Day Weekend Family Camp!