Re: Need high adventure alternative BSA/GSUSA
Daniel W Brown (dabrown2@VT.EDU)
Wed, 29 Nov 1995 12:06:16 +0500
Ed Henderson wrote:
>Sharon & Others....
>
>There is ONE place in the USA where the Boy Scouts of America (Flint River
>Council BSA) and the GSUSA (Pine Valley Girl Scout Council) work hand in hand
>at the Thunder Scout Reservation for two one week sessions of Co-Ed High
>Adventure Camp for Exploring & Senior Girl Scouts.
Make that TWO Ed. Coed Explorer Posts and units from the Virginia Skyline
Conucil GSUSA have participated in the High Knoll Trail Camp at the Blue
Ridge Scout Reservation since the early eighties.
The High Knoll Trail Camp is a Philmont style backpacking program that
operates in the backcountry of our large reservation with more than 100
miles of hiking trails, six staffed outpost camps and a several of unstaffed
outposts. Crews on High Knoll will hike from outpost to outpost
participating in at least one of our unique outposts each day. During the
week, each crew will cover between 35 and 50 miles of rugged and primitive
trails. The manned outposts may include King Ranch (horseback riding,
western lore, chili, and cornbread), Hanks Haven (mountain biking), Puncheon
Camp (wilderness and rough living), Bark Camp (rock climbing and
rappelling), White Oak Camp (tree spiking and logging lore), Point Camp
(rock climbing and rappelling), Indian Village (Native American lore and
crafts), Appalachian living (mountain lore, and crafts) and Rendezvous
(black powder rifle) . All outposts are not offered in all years. The
participants on High Knoll can also arrange a white water canoeing or white
water rafting trip as part of their trek or on the Saturday before or after
their trek. There is an additional fee for whitewater trips. The program
is open to scouts 12-1/2 by June 1 and a first class scout. We recommend
that a scout have two years experience at summer camp before going on High
Knoll. Coed explorer posts are welcome at High Knoll and there are
opportunities for provisional participants.
Below is the full blurb on the BRSR.
Reservation Blue Ridge Scout Reservation
Council Blue Ridge Mountains
Office (Mailing) PO Box 7606 Roanoke VA 24019-0606
Office (Location) 2101 Valley View Blvd Roanoke VA
Office Phone 540-265-0656
Camp Rt 1 Box 98A Hawassee VA 24347 (Near Pulaski VA on
Interstate 81)
Programs Camp Powhatan (Summer Camp), Camp Ottari (Summer Camp), New
River High Adventure, High Knoll Trail Camp, Byrd
Lodge Sailing Camp
The Blue Ridge Scout Reservation located forty miles west of Roanoke in
southwestern Virginia. It is within an eight hour drive of about of all or
part of fifteen states and welcomes out of council troops. Many out of
council troops come back year after year. They come mostly from the
mid-Atlantic states, but we have had troops this year from Texas, Florida,
Mississippi, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Ohio. Next year we
have one coming from Arizona. The 16,000 acre reservation is the largest
council owned scout reservation in the nation. The BRSR is located in the
ridge and valley terrain of the Appalachian mountains and includes several
mountains and three large watersheds. There are over 100 miles of hiking
trails. Many of these trails are also suitable for mountain biking and
horseback riding.
The New River High Adventure Program is for older scouts, explorers and
adults that are camping with their troops at Camp Ottari or Camp Powhatan.
High Adventure participants have a different high adventure opportunity each
day. The programs available this year are White Water Canoeing, White Water
Rafting, Caving, COPE Climbing, and Rappelling, and Mountain Biking. The
COPE course features a 40 foot climbing/rappelling tower. Participants must
be 13 by January 1 of the year that they participate.
White Water Canoeing is done off reservation on the New River or James
River depending on water level and other factors. Transportation for all
off reservation trips is provided by fifteen passenger vans. Lunch is
provided for all day programs. All boats and safety equipment is provided
and all trips are guided. White Water Rafting is done off reservation at
West Virginias New River Gorge called the grand canyon of the east.
Transportation and meals are provided en route. Caving is done off
reservation at one of several caves in the area. Our COPE course and
climbing/rappelling tower is located on the reservation. Mountain Biking is
done on the reservation on our extensive 100 mile trail system.
The High Knoll Trail Camp is a Philmont style backpacking program that
operates in the backcountry of our large reservation with more than 100
miles of hiking trails, six staffed outpost camps and a several of unstaffed
outposts. Crews on High Knoll will hike from outpost to outpost
participating in at least one of our unique outposts each day. During the
week, each crew will cover between 35 and 50 miles of rugged and primitive
trails. The manned outposts may include King Ranch (horseback riding,
western lore, chili, and cornbread), Hanks Haven (Mountain biking), Puncheon
Camp (wilderness and rough living), Bark Camp (rock climbing and
rappelling), White Oak Camp (tree spiking and logging lore), Point Camp
(rock climbing and rappelling), Indian Village (Native American lore and
crafts), Appalachian living (Mountain lore, and crafts) and Rendezvous
(Black powder) . All outposts are not offered in all years. The
participants on High Knoll can also arrange a white water canoeing or white
water rafting trip as part of their trek or on the Saturday before or after
their trek. There is an additional fee for whitewater trips. The program
is open to scouts 12-1/2 by June 1 and a first class scout. We recommend
that a scout have two years experience at summer camp before going on High
Knoll. Coed explorer posts are welcome at High Knoll and there are
opportunities for provisional participants.
Byrd Lodge is a new camp that is scheduled to open in the 1996 season. Byrd
Lodge is located a few miles off of the reservation on Claytor Lake.
Program details are not yet available, but the camp will offer basic and
advanced sailing, motorboating and water skiing. The camp program will also
include some or all of the aquatics merit badges except swimming which is a
prerequisite for all participants.
Camp Ottari is the smaller camp of our two camps and is located on the
eastern end of the reservation. It accommodates around 200 scouts and
leaders in ten sites. It is the most rugged and most beautiful of the two
camp and sits in hilly terrain with a mix of forest types. Ottari has the
largest of our two lakes which allows us to offer small boat sailing. The
lake features a good population of bass and bluegill.
Camp Powhatan, on the western end of the reservation, is larger and can
handle up to 350+ scouts and leaders in 14 sites. It is located in the
valley of Max Creek and is not quite as hilly as Ottari. The camp has been
in continuos operation since the 1950s. Its facilities include a new 400
seat dining hall, a 900 seat amphitheater, and several new showers. The
lake is stocked with trout.
Programs for both camps include a traditional merit badge program, first
class adventure program, and demonstrations. One popular feature is a
weekly cooking demonstration at each camp by nationally known camp cook and
author Torchy Walrath. Horesback riding, mountain biking, any hiking are
available for the more adventurous.
Costs (1995 Season) Camp Powhatan and Camp Ottari - $115 (in council) and
$125 (Out of Council). Provisional $10 extra. High Knoll and New River
High Adventure - $135 (in council) and $145 (Out of Council). Provisional
$10 extra. There are extra fees for Ottari and Powhatan participants for
mountain biking, horseback riding, white water trips and climbing. There
are extra fees for High Knoll participants for white water trips. There are
no extra fees for New River High Adventure.
Staff It take more than 100 staff members to operate these programs in a
safe and professional manner and we need to replace retiring and add new
staff members every year. We have positions for male and female scouts,
explorers, and adults. Interested persons should contact the council office
before Christmas of the previous year.
Additional Information If you are interested, there is a twenty some minute
video that covers all of our camps and the council office will send you one
free of charge. Contact the office at Blue Ridge Mountain Council, PO Box
7606, Roanoke VA, 24010-0606. Telephone 703-265-0656 or contact Dan Brown
at 540-951-4451 (O) or 540-951-3642 (H)..
YIS WWW I used to be a fox (SE-261)
Dan Brown Mimawanachen Wikhetschik (Trail Builder) ASM T56 (est. 1922)
Blacksburg VA, New River District, Blue Ridge Mountains Council, Tutelo
Lodge #161
Technical Writer @ Litton Poly-Scientific (Security Products) dabrown2@vt.edu
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
