BSA Camping Overview

Organized camping is a creative, educational experience in cooperative group living in the outdoors. It uses the natural surroundings to contribute significantly to physical, mental, spiritual, and social growth.

• Camping contributes to good health.
• Camping helps campers develop self-reliance
  and resourcefulness.
• Camping enhances spiritual growth.
• Camping contributes to social development.
• Camping is an experience in citizenship training.
• Camping at the Cub Scout level introduces boys to
  the knowledge and skills that they will learn and
  apply more thoroughly as a Boy Scout.

Cub Scouting offers camping opportunities for Cub Scouts through day camps, resident camps, Webelos den overnight
campouts, council-organized family camps, and pack overnighters.

Day Camps

Day camp is an organized one- to five-day program for Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts conducted by the council under certified leadership at an approved site. Day camps are conducted during daylight or early evening hours. Day camps do not include any overnight activities.

Check with your council and district leaders for day camp opportunities available in your area.

Resident Camps

Cub Scout and Webelos Scout resident camping is a council-organized, theme-oriented overnight camping program. It operates for at least two nights and is conducted under certified leadership at a camp approved by the council.

Each year, councils change their overall theme to offer different adventures. Examples of themes include Sea Adventure, Space Adventure, Athletes, Knights, Circus Big Top, American Indian Heritage, Folklore, and the World Around Us.

Check with your council and district leaders for resident camp opportunities available in your area.

Webelos Den Overnight Campouts

Webelos Scout overnight campouts introduce the boy and his parent or guardian to the basics of the Boy Scout camping program. These events SHOULD be conducted under the leadership of a Webelos den leader who is trained in Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders, an outdoor-emphasis training provided by the district or council. In most cases, the Webelos Scout will be under the supervision of a parent or guardian. In all cases, each Scout is responsible to a specific adult. BSA health and safety and Youth Protection guidelines apply.

Webelos dens are encouraged to have several overnight campouts each year. These campouts are parent-son events, under the direction of the Webelos den leader. At the den overnight campout, the Webelos den leader may be assisted by the assistant Webelos den leader and the Webelos den chief. Sometimes, additional leadership from a Boy Scout troop may join you.

Webelos dens are also encouraged to participate in joint overnight campouts with a Boy Scout troop. However, a parent or guardian of each Webelos Scout should still attend.

Council-Organized Family Camps

Council-organized family camps are overnight events involving more than one pack. The local council provides all the elements of the outdoor experience, such as staffing, food service, housing, and program. These are often referred to as parent/pal or adventure weekends.

Council-organized family camps should be conducted by trained leaders on sites approved by the local council. In most cases, the youth member will be under the supervision of a parent or guardian. In all cases, each youth participant is responsible to a specific adult.

The council must approve overnight activities involving more than one pack.

Pack Overnighters

Pack overnighters are pack-organized overnight events involving more than one family from a single pack, focused on age-appropriate Cub Scout activities and conducted at council-approved sites. If nonmembers (siblings) participate, the event must be structured to accommodate them. BSA health and safety and Youth Protection guidelines apply. In most cases, each youth member will be under the supervision of a parent or guardian. In all cases, each youth participant is responsible to a specific adult.

Adults giving leadership to a pack overnighter must complete the Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) to properly understand the importance of the program intent, Youth Protection guidelines, health and safety, site selection, age-appropriate activities, and sufficient adult participation. Permits for campouts are issued locally. Packs use the Local Tour Permit Application (see the Forms page).