James C. Justice National Scout Camp

★Chuck Best

Just returned from a week at camp with our linked Boy/Girl Troops. Very disappointing to say the least, and we will most likely not be going back. For starters, if you don't meet the BSA height/weight requirements you will be sent home. They don't tell you this in the guide, and you wouldn't expect it, because it's a Summer camp, not a Philmont high adventure, but that's the way it is. We lost a leader and Scout before we even had camp set up, with little to no discussion or personal consult with their physician.(10 hour drive back home). Some of the problems we faced were the same as any camp, but they shouldn't be happening at a place like Summit. Merit badge counselors who were very unprepared, instructed requirements from their phones, or at their worst, had no experience in the badge they were teaching (one of our Scouts taught the automotive maintenance class because the instructor told the class they didn't know anything about it). The dining hall was poorly designed with many choke points and inefficiencies, staff did not engage with Scouts, morning and evening flags were a "check the box activity", with no grace before meals. They were however nice enough to post the fees for 2025 which are $450 compared to the $560 we paid this year. One of the worst spots in camp was the waterfront. Very poor control of entry and exit. A group of our adults were using the paddle boards one afternoon, and the waterfront staff finished their classes and left us unsupervised. We were unaware until we were flagged in and asked not to say anything about the incident. Again, just very disappointing. If they want to survive they should get back to the basics of Scouting instead of hosting church groups and weddings.

★Jon Yegge

PLEASE READ if you are planning on going to James C. Justice National Scout Camp at Summit Bechtel Reserve for summer camp especially if you are a person who wouldn’t qualify to go on a high adventure trip with your scout. Some background: I have 3 boys in scouts and our troop has been planning to go to James C. Justice National Scout Camp since the end of last summer. I have gone to summer camp with my boys for the last 5 years, a few including Ransburg Scout Reservation in Indiana and S Bar F Scout Ranch in Missouri. I was with my oldest and middle son at each of their first scout camps. This year was my youngest son’s turn to finally go to summer camp, something he had been looking forward. When the troop picked Summit for summer camp my middle and youngest boys were not sure they wanted to go that far away or to that big of a camp. I reassured them that the camp would be like any other and I would be there if they needed support. We prepared for summer camp over the months before we went to camp. I had heard that the camp had a lot of walking and elevation changes. One of the parents in the troop that attended 7 years ago said that we should all get prepared for all the walking. We took this to heart; I took extra time each day to prepare for the hiking and we had our kids do the same. We read through the James C. Justice National Scout camp website and program guide to ensure we were prepared and there weren’t any restrictions that would hold us back. Summit is a National camp that holds high adventure programs that have strict height and weight requirements, but on the website it states “James C. Justice National Scout Camp is not a National BSA high adventure experience.” This made me feel that I was ok to attend with my kids since we weren’t doing high adventure activities. We did see on page 21 of the Program Guide that said participants would need to meet the height and weight chart requirements, but then further it said, “The BSA height/weight restriction applies only to participants in high adventure programs.” I felt better and consulted with my doctor just like the guide suggested and he said he had no concerns with me going to camp. When our troop arrived at Summit a couple of leaders went to check in and I went with the scouts on a walking tour of the camp, it was 95 degrees. On my way back to my vehicle I got a call to round up some scouts and myself to answer some medical questions. I found all the scouts and we headed to the office. At the office, they took my blood pressure which was a little high after the hike. At that point, one of the medical staff members took me to a conference room to tell me we had a problem. I was told that everything on camp property is considered a high adventure and I wasn’t even close to the weight I needed to be to meet height and weight requirements. The medical staff calculated how much I was over and said, “You’re way over. We can give out waivers if you’re over, but with your meds I can’t give you a waiver.” This was not handled very well; I knew I wasn’t close to the requirement. This whole time I was made to feel bad about myself and told I had to leave camp. I was sitting in this room after being told I’m fat and I’m thinking about how my boys were going to take this. At this point, I asked to speak to the camp director. I asked again why walking around camp was a high adventure and he answered all activities in camp are high adventure. I then asked if there was any way I could stay with my kids and he answered NO. I asked for documentation to show that attending camp is a high adventure. He said he didn’t know if it was in there. BSA has an oath and law that teaches the scouts to be respectful citizens, great leaders, and to help others in their time of need. The way I was treated doesn’t seem to follow what we are supposed to teach the scouts. I can’t go back and attend my youngest son’s first year at summer camp like I did for his brothers. My family has been affected by this and hopefully, you can avoid what I went through.

★★★★★Daniel Rudy

This camp is an amazing place and the experience they have been able to provide in these covid times have been beyond expectations

★★★★★byRemy

I Have been there at the World Scout Jamboree 2019 and it was Great! I was at the 11. Trupp of Switzerland and we made some Hoodies and some other Clothes too. Anyways we where sleeping in a tent on Boyscout beds an we showered for 10 Days with cold water, but that is what scouting makes! I am sorry for my English and have a nice day pls like :3

★★★★★Tyler Gomez

The only National Scout Camp in the history of the BSA does not disappoint. Breathtaking beauty, world-class facilities, and top-notch staff guarantee to take your Scouting experience to the next level.