We are counting down the weeks until we see you at
Fire Mountain Scout Camp.

Below are some of the changes you can expect to see at camp this year.
Be sure to review the full presentation and share it with the families in your unit.
We know many leaders, parents, and Scouts have questions on what Scouts BSA Summer Camp will look like this year. While we can't answer everything - some programs are too exciting to hurry along - we do know how important it is to communicate updates as they happen.

What we know

Scouts BSA camp at Fire Mountain Scout Camp is happening and we can't wait to see you.

Camp is going to be different, and we think different is going to be great! There are three key areas where you will notice the biggest differences as we work to provide an exciting camp experience while keeping safety and health as our absolute highest priorities.

  • Pre-Screening
  • Sanitation and Cleanliness
  • Physical Distancing

Each of these areas is being thoroughly addressed using input from local experts utilizing County, State, and Federal guidelines.
Pre-Screening
Medical Pre-screening and check-in will now be a 2 stage process.

  • Pre-camp screenings
  • Check-in procedures

On the advice of medical professionals, the CDC, the Skagit County Department of Health, and the American Camp Association many changes in screening have been implemented and these now occur both before camp and at check-in.

  • Unit check-in times will be staggered to avoid gathering in the parking and screening areas.
  • Prior to leaving for camp, units will need to do certain pre-screening activities including temperature checks, exposure surveys, and verification of medical form completion.

When a unit arrives at camp they will be asked to stay in their individual cars.
  • Participants, drivers, leaders, or Scouts should not leave their car, even to "just go ask a question" of someone else in the unit.
  • Once assigned to a car those persons should remain in that car and with that group of people until admitted to camp.
  • A staff member will instruct you as to when to exit your vehicle and provide further guidance.

While we are working hard to streamline our process we ask that you please be patient during this new procedure. We will be processing cars as quickly as possible however the process is expected to take longer than in years past.
Sanitation and Cleanliness
Every aspect of camp sanitation and cleanliness is being reviewed. A few changes you can expect to see:

  • New handwashing stations in common areas
  • Designated sanitation staff
  • New equipment and chemicals which meet new sanitation and disinfection guidelines

In campsites a few changes you'll notice:

  • Troops will no longer be assigned times to clean the showerhouses.
  • Units will be expected to clean KYBOs and handwashing stations located within their campsite.

Equipment and campsites will be sanitized between groups.

To allow for our new sanitation schedule, camp will now end on Friday afternoon .

To continue the camp experience, and to allow the Scout families to finish off the week together, we will be broadcasting a Virtual Campfire Program on Friday evenings. This program will feature recordings produced in camp that week - your families won't want to miss it!
Social Distancing
How do you hold camp without being near anyone?

In addition to our sanitation and cleanliness procedure, addressing the required social distancing component has been a key piece of our camp strategy.

Let's look at how we will accomplish this:
Cohorts
A cohort is a self-contained group at camp. In this case, the unit.

Different cohorts, or members of those cohorts, never directly interact with each other. Each cohort will essentially receive their own private summer camp experience!
Dining
Many an exciting meal has been shared in our dining hall at camp and we look forward to doing so again - but not this year.

Menus will consist of breakfasts and dinners in the campsite and "grab-and-go" lunches.

More information, including any unit required equipment, will be shared at a later date
Activities
We think you're going to love what we have planned this year!

While Merit Badges won't be the focus; challenges, team-work, camaraderie, and adventure will be in abundance.

Units will have the opportunity to sign-up for Quests. Quests will be familiar activities - swimming, archery, shooting - plus some new activities including Advanced Fire-Building, an Action Slingshot Range, and Super Pioneering. Don't forget Search and Rescue Practical; or as we like to call it "Advanced Hide and Seek".

In addition to the Quests, units will have the opportunity to participate in distanced inter-Troop competition.
Zipline
A trip to Fire Mountain Scout Camp isn't complete without a ride on the zipline.

All units will have the opportunity to do an evening zipline. This will be in addition to any Quests that they choose during the week.
Change is Good
We are always encouraging our Scouts to try and solve a problem in a new way or to expand their thought process when designing a Troop meeting. The same applies to embracing Summer Camp in 2020.

We know that camp looks different - but different is exciting!

  • Your Troop has a chance to build its own adventure at camp this summer.
  • The leadership opportunities for your youth leaders are greater than ever before.
  • When your Troop goes home at the end of the week, it will be stronger for the rest of the year because of your experience at camp.
All your favorite areas of camp are waiting for you, plus a few new areas you may not know about.

Scouts BSA Summer Camp in 2020 is destined to be the memory of a lifetime and we can't wait to share it with you.
We are bound by State and County restrictions which makes our plans very fluid. As of this communication, Scouts BSA Summer Camp is scheduled to begin on July 19th. Look for more communications discussing program and health and safety at camp. Should our plans change we will communicate that information as soon as possible.