Summer Camp

Summer Camp is an annual right of passage for young boys.  We go to Rodney Scout Reservation in Northeast MD, on the Chesapeake.  Camp Rodney hosts hundreds of scouts from numerous troops weekly.  Camp Rodney requires a swim test be completed upon arrival that will allow scouts to participate in all water activities such as the Swimming and Boating merit badges and open swim times.  The past few years, Troop 33 has completed the swimming test prior to camp at the Brandywine YMCA.  Those scouts unable to make that test would be required to take the swim test upon arrival at camp.  If your son is not an experienced swimmer, please reassure him that the swimming instructors at Camp Rodney will spend the time to teach him the basics during swim instruction periods, so if he doesn’t do well in the swim test, no worries, other kids will be there learning as well.

1st year scouts participate in the fully planned, daily scheduled “Brownsea Program” throughout their first week at camp.  Named for the island off the coast of England where the first camp was set up that lead to the original Scout movement in 1908, the Brownsea Program is a full daily schedule of events designed to orient and introduce the new scouts to Camp Rodney and all of the activities available.  The boys stay together as a group all week, and are led to each subsequent event throughout the day by a troop parent in attendance.  They will earn the Nature Merit Badge and may also earn the Swimming MB, as well as numerous other important scout stuff like the Fireman’s Chit and the Totin’ Chip giving them permission to start fires and carry a pocket knife!  

2nd year and older scouts are able to choose, in advance, up to 4 or 5 merit badges to work on throughout the week during the multiple schedule periods each day.  It is their responsibility to get themselves to each MB class.  

Breakfast, lunch and dinners are held in the dining hall.  Stationary canvas tents on wooden platforms with cots are arranged into various campsites throughout Rodney.  Troop 33 has had squatter’s rights on the best campsite at Rodney for the past few years, Bayview Campsite!  Boys are free to pair up in a tent with whomever they choose, or will be paired up with another scout upon arrival.  No scouts bunk alone!  The two most important things to bring to camp are a mosquito net to hang over the cot, and the uniform shirt, which must be worn to dinners.

Information on which activities and merit badges are offered at camp, as well as suggestions for what to bring to camp (downloadable form near the bottom of this page) for the week (as well as weekend camping) are normally sent out via email in advance.  Medical forms will be required annually.  Finally, Rodney has a trading post so a little pocket cash is a good thing for water-ice and souvenirs!