Version 1.1 (Sept 1999)
Brought to you by members of the Scouts-L discussion list dedicated to Scout programs and leadership and training issues.

As this manuscript heads for the open door, we have had a chance to rethink the reasons for its coming into being: First, we pray, plan, and promote {in that order} that our new and continuing Scouts will be challenged beyond all recognition of boredom. Second, we expect that when given enough information, one is likely to use some. And third, there is no better or comparable learning experience outside of going to a new place to realize the value of our home or where our home could be.

This guide to five star Boy Scout long term camps and adventures will hopefully have value for your Scouts. Perhaps it will have direct use in determining where you will go for your next long-term camping adventure, or perhaps this guide will lay dormant for years before being used by your Scouts.

While hard to overcome, this guide is not equal in its coverage for the camps and adventures listed. Such is the state of art in promoting one’s product, we suppose. Please don’t miss the opportunity of finding a way to use the resources of camps with little web-available literature or commentary published here. The places included in this listing have provided FIVE STAR quality experiences in the minds and hearts of Scouts and Scouters.

Read, relax, and plan your next long term camp or adventure in Scouting knowing that others have gone before you, and others will surely follow.

What is a 5 star camp ? When we return from a long term camp or adventure, it is probably human nature to share our memories with our friends and family by describing the best, worst, and in between of our time away. Really our understandings and opinions of camping are being formed in this time by selectively remembering the good, the bad, and the tolerable.

Boy Scout long term camping and adventure is a spirit of learning, sharing, and developing positive skills and attitudes. Five Star Camps could mean the place with the best food, programs, latrines, campsites, equipment, or trading post. Or Five Star Camps could mean the place with the staff, advisors, and participating scouts making the best of their opportunities to learn, share, and develop skills and attitudes.

This listing of Five Star Camps and Adventures probably means the scouts and leaders have experienced the best in both of these areas. Originally a "tally sheet" was not sent to evaluate and submit the highest scoring camp(s) that your unit or crews have attended. Your advice on what five star camping experiences you and your unit have had in scouting was all that was requested.

Thank you to each of you who took the time to share for the benefit of others. This will be an ongoing project for a while, and we will be glad to add other places omitted from this elementary list of 5 star camps and adventures for Boy Scouts.

YIS,

Deb Keyes <cbkeyes@juno.com> Barrington, IL
Donald R Izard <dizard@acsu.buffalo.edu> Tonawanda, NY
Ed Henderson <biged@SCOUTER.COM> Kansas City, MO
Gary Apfelstadt <apfelsta@soltec.net> Dewey, IL
Jim Akridge <akridgej@eustis.army.mil> Newport News, VA