Goshen Leader Update #2: Registration Reminders, Merit Badge & Program Schedules, and Additional Guidance (03/04/2025)

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Hello Goshen Scout Reservation Leaders!
We are just a few months away from welcoming you and your Scouts to the Goshen Scout Reservation for an incredible summer adventure. Please review this email carefully for information on registration, merit badge and program schedules, and additional guidance.

General Registration Reminders

The Goshen Scout Reservation Early Bird Deadline is April 15 at 11:59 pm. Registration made before this time will receive a discounted rate. As the Camper Deposit phase has ended (enable Units to register youth at a $100 deposit rate, to be applied to total cost of camp), full payment is now available for youth and adult campers.

We encourage that you register your attending youth and adult campers as soon as possible so that we can best plan and prepare for a high quality camping experience and your arrival at camp!

Parent Portal

Did you know that Goshen Scout Reservation has a “Parent Portal Option” to pay for scouts once added to a Unit’s Camp Registration, as well as to manage Merit Badge signups.

For video tutorials on how to use Parent Portal, please view the registration system’s How To Videos.

Adult Registration Requirements

We have received a few questions regarding adult leader requirements from Units. Please see the guidance below, in line with the Guide for Safe Scouting, and as listed in the GSR Leader Guide.

At any time, each unit must have at least two adults over the age of 21 who are registered members of Scouting America If there are female youth members with your unit, one of these registered leaders must be female. While not required, one of these leaders would preferably be your unit’s year-round leader or assistant leader. Unit leaders are responsible for the good behavior and practices of their scouts at all times and are expected to be available to assist their Scouts and Camp Staff in assuring the best camping experience possible.

Scouting America Registration Requirements — Scouts BSA & High Adventure Camps

All adults, ages 18+, staying overnight must be currently registered as an adult volunteer or an adult program participant in Scouting America. Registration as a Merit Badge Counselor position does not meet this requirement. Please refer to the Guide to Safe Scouting for a list of approved adult registration fee required positions. While there is no required adult to youth ratio for Scouts BSA troops and Venturing Crews, however we recommend a ratio of one adult to every ten youth, not including the minimum of two Adult Leaders to satisfy the requirements above.

Scouting America Registration Requirements — Camp Ross

We require a 1:4 adult to Webelos/AOLs with a minimum of 2 adults per unit. To give all Webelos & AOLs the best program, please avoid a direct 1:1 adult to youth ratio. Adults splitting the week are welcome! At least of these two adults must be registered leaders, as described above. All other adults, if they are parent/guardians attending with their child, are not required to register as leaders, but must be accompanied by a registered leader any time they are with youth members other than their own child. Phoenix Nest adults must be registered leaders.

At least one leader (we recommend more) must be BALOO trained.

Guidance for Units in the Approved Combined Troop Pilot Program

If your Unit is a part of the approved Scouting America Scouts BSA Combined Troop Pilot program, please use your primary Unit number and register all Scouts and adults under the single registration. If you a part of the pilot program and already registered your Units separately, please contact Sarah Moses at sarah.moses@scouting.org.

Scouts BSA Boys and Girls units who are not a part of the combined troop pilot program must complete separate registrations, regardless of if units are linked. Venturing Crews and Cub Scout Packs may continue to register male and female youth campers on the same registration, as these programs are considered to be co-ed.

GSR Leader Guide

To review the 2025 Goshen Scout Reservation Leader Guide and receive guidance on GSR policies, procedures, services, and recommended best practices, please visit  www.gotogoshen.org/information/forms-downloads. We highly recommend that all attending Adult Leaders and Unit Registration contacts review this document prior to their arrival at GSR.

Merit Badge and Program Schedules

Merit Badge Program Schedules for all GSR Camps have been updated and posted online! Please refer to the forms and downloads section of your camp webpage to view and download.

Program and Pre-Requisite Guide (with subject to change note)

The Goshen Scout Reservation Scouts BSA Program & Prerequisite Guide for Merit Badges at Camps Bowman, Marriott, and Olmsted has been posted! This Guide shares Merit Badge descriptions and specifics on requirements that must be completed prior to arriving at camp in order for your scouts to complete the merit badge.

You can download a copy of the 2025 Program & Prerequisite Guide in the Scouts BSA Specific downloads section of your camp webpage or on the GSR Forms & Downloads page. Please note that select merit badge pre-requisites are under final review and may be subject to change. We will be sure to inform you if that is the case. For the most up to date requirements for all merit badges, please refer to https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/.

Older Scout Programs – Updates for Summer 2025

Osprey – GSR’s New Older Scout Program: I am very excited to announce Goshen Scout Reservation’s NEW Older Scout Program – Osprey!  Offered to Scouts at Camps Bowman, Marriott, and Olmsted, Osprey is a full day, week-long program that includes high adventure opportunities and explores Goshen Scout Reservation. Over the course of the week, Scouts will become a team at Low COPE, participate in a service project, circumnavigate Lake Merriweather in canoes, engage in a metalworking and welding workshop, and embark on a backpacking overnighter with Lenhok’sin High Adventure activities. The Osprey program is based out of Camp Marriott is a replacement for the former Goshen Vets program.

I am also pleased to share that Goshen Scout Reservation recently hired an ATV Director for the 2025 Summer season, and we look forward to hosting this program again this summer.  We are currently still hiring a second ATV Director position so that we may host our expanded ATV program – if you aware of anyone over the age of 21 that may be interested, please send them our way!

Goshen Scout Reservation will continue to host COPE and Climbing programs! Learn more at www.gotogoshen.org.

Merit Badge Registration:

Merit Badge Registration for Camps Olmsted, Bowman, and Marriott will open March 31, 2025 at 7:00 pm. Please be sure check out the Program & Prerequisites Guide for the latest prerequisites, class descriptions, age recommendations, and specialty class fees.

Scouts BSA Program and Prerequisites Guide (also available under “Forms and Downloads”): https://www.gotogoshen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-Scouts-BSA-Program-Guide.pdf

Questions about Merit Badge Sign Ups? Check out the “How To: MB Sign Ups” Guide (also available under “Forms and Downloads”). https://www.gotogoshen.org/general/how-to-merit-badge-activity-sign-ups/

Scouts interested in participating in “Open Program” blocks do not need to register for these sections.

If your unit is opting to use the “parent portal” feature for merit badge sign ups, please be sure to select the “allow parent portal class selection” check box under the “use parent portal” section of the registration contact section.

Camperships

If your unit has any families that are in need of financial assistance for their Scout to attend summer camp at Goshen Scout Reservation this summer, please have them fill out a campership application, available here: www.gotogoshen.org/camperships.

The Greg Augustine Campership Fund allows applicants to be granted up to 50% of the cost of summer camp. The deadline is March 1, but we will be accepting applicants afterwards as well. Applicants that submitted by March 1 will receive their initial approval should expect their Goshen specific voucher code via email by March 15, 2025.

Annual Health Medical Form Reminder

Don’t forget! – Everyone in camp must have completed Parts A & B of the BSA Medical Form with them upon arrival at Goshen. Any youth or adult camper staying for more than 72 hours and/or participating in camp activities must also have Part C and the NCAC Health Advisory.

Pre-Camp Swim Checks

Camps Bowman, Marriott, Olmsted, and Lenhok’sin High Adventure allow pre-camp swim checks to be submitted. Pre-camp swim checks are only valid if conducted by approved certified instructors, as listed on the GSR Pre-Camp Swim Check Form. Pre-camp swim checks must be submitted to the Goshen camp you are attending using the “GSR Pre-Camp Swim Check Form,” available under the “Forms and Downloads” section of each camp webpage and at www.gotogoshen.org/information/forms-downloads.

Although pre-camp swim check can be administered on a Unit level given appropriate administrators are present, National Capital Area Council is hosting pre-camp swim checks at Camp William B. Snyder May 31 and June 1! More information, including registration links, to come soon!

Pre-Camp Swim checks are not required and swim checks are conducted as a part of your Unit’s check in process upon arrival at GSR. Please note that Camp Ross does NOT accept pre-camp swim checks.

Yours in Scouting,

Elisabeth Warren | Goshen Scout Reservation Director

SCOUTING AMERICA
National Capital Area Council

Serving youth in Washington, DC; Maryland; Virginia; U.S. Virgin Islands; and Direct Service