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About Camp Bowman
Experience Scout Camp as it is supposed to be.
Camp Bowman offers camping for 300 and includes a chapel, handicraft area, extensive archery, rifle and shotgun areas, parade field, aquatics, shower house, and direct access to hiking trails. Camp Bowman is our Patrol Cooking Camp and can help your Scouts apply their skills whether they are brand new or in their late teens. There are lots of lessons (teamwork, cooking, cleaning, etc.) to be learned through Patrol Cooking that cannot be learned in a dining hall.
Contents
Ask your friendly Camp Director if you have questions.
Merit Badge Program 2023
Program Schedule available in the
Admin
First Aid
Aquatics
Canoeing
Kayaking
Lifesaving
Motorboating
Rowing
Small Boat Sailing
Swimming
Water Sports
Culture Craft
Archaeology
Chess
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the World
Communication
Entrepreneurship
Journalism
Public Speaking
Theater
Handicraft
Architecture
Art
Basketry
Game Design
Leatherwork
Photography
Scuplture
Welding
Wood Carving
Nature
Astronomy
Bird Study
Chemistry
Engineering
Environmental Science
Fishing
Forestry
Geology
Mammal Study
Mining in Society
Oceanography
Soil & Water Conservation
Space Exploration
Weather
Scoutcraft
Camping
Cooking
Emergency Preparedness
Orienteering
Pioneering
Wilderness Survival
Shooting Sports
Archery
Rifle Shooting
Shotgun Shooting
Other
Climbing (Offered through Camp Post)
For New Scouts
Bowman Brigade
Our First Year Camper program is primarily designed for the Scout who has recently registered and has not been introduced to the Scout, Tenderfoot, and Second Class advancement requirements. In this program, Bowman Brigade staff take the first-years around camp to each of the different program areas and help them earn Merit Badges (Mammal Study, Leatherwork or Basketry, and Swimming), as well as the skills to earn multiple Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class requirements. Scoutmaster involvement is encouraged and always welcome.
For Older Scouts
In addition to advanced Merit Badges, Older Scouts at Bowman can take part in four of the reservation-wide programs offered to Scouts at the three Goshen Scout Camps – Bowman, Marriott, and Olmsted. When necessary, Scouts should arrange transportation with the Camp Staff at the Admin building or provide their own transportation.
Vets
Goshen’s Older Scout Program
Offered to Scouts at Camps Bowman, Marriott, and Olmsted, the Vets program allows Scouts to create their own program from a variety of challenges, including wakeboarding, action archery, a mini iron man, and a Taste of Lenhok'sin with visits to outposts. The program can also include an overnighter and hikes to higher altitudes and beautiful views. Potential Merit Badges include Geocaching, Search & Rescue, and Water Sports.
Vets is recommended for Scouts ages 14 and up and is offered out of Camp Bowman.
ATV Program
Come ride ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles) this summer at Goshen Scout Reservation!
There are two different opportunities to take part in the ATV program. The morning option runs from 9:00am - 12:00pm Monday through Friday. The afternoon option runs runs from 2:00pm – 5:30pm Monday through Thursday with dinner provided. Scouts complete a safety course before embarking on a week of excellent fun and adventure, involving circuit courses, mud pits, and trail riding.
Riders must be at least 16 years old on the first day of the program (new in 2021, due to a change in our leasing partner). It is recommended that they be strong enough to handle a 300-600 pound machine.
This program has additional fees. Please see Camp Costs on the Registration page.
We have a limited number of machines. Sign ups are first come, first served. Scouts are not required to attend with a buddy from their cohort.
Required equipment:
- Long sleeve shirts
- Pants that cover the shins
- Boots that cover the ankles
- Water bottle
Recommended equipment:
- Bandana
Gloves, goggles, and helmets will be provided but participants are free to bring their own. This program is run out of Camp Olmsted.
Climbing Program
During the day, we offer two sections of Climbing Merit Badge – from 9:00am to 10:20am and from 10:30am to 11:50am. Climbing Merit Badge is recommended for those ages 13 and above. On select evenings, the tower is opened up for Open Climb. All ages are welcome, as long as you fit in a harness! Recommended equipment:
- Sneakers
- Water bottle
This program is run out of Camp Post.
Project COPE
COPE is an acronym for Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience.
COPE is an acronym for Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience. The program is a series of initiative games, trust events, low elements, and high elements that challenge on an individual and group level. The concept of “challenge by choice” encourages each person to participate fully while maintaining the right to opt-out of an individual part of the program. The program is designed for older Scouts (ages 14 and up) and Venturers. COPE is offered Monday through Friday from 2:00pm to 4:50pm. Recommended equipment:
- Sneakers
- Water bottle
This program is run out of Camp Post.
For Adults
Training by Camp Staff
The Camp Staff hold a number of training sessions for Adult leaders. Training includes Safety Afloat, Safe Swim Defense, and others.
There is no fee for these courses and no online registration required. For more information on the training offered by the camp staff, please check out the program materials in the downloads section below or contact your Camp Director.
Training by NCAC Training Committee
Every year, volunteers from the National Capital Area Training Committee offer training sessions for adult leaders at Goshen camps at no additional cost. Past training sessions have included IOLS and BSLST. Not all training sessions are offered each week.
If you have any questions, please contact: Julia Mae-Shen Lesko at Scouter.Julia@gmail.com or Bill Mayo at william.g.mayo@gmail.com.
Meet Your 2023 Camp Director
Avery Tarwater
Avery first came to Goshen in 2009 as a cub, and Bowman as a Scout in 2011. Avery joined staff as a CIT in 2014, and has lived and worked 10 summers at Camp Bowman. They’ve filled positions in almost every area around Camp, including Shooting sports, Bowman Vets, Aquatics, and Scoutcraft before becoming an Area Director in 2017 where they’d go on to run Bowman’s Handicraft, Scoutcraft, and Aquatics areas, as well as founding and Directing Bowman’s Culture Craft area in 2018. Avery’s humbled by the opportunity to represent the best staff in Bowman’s history, eager to welcome scouts and venturers new and old.
Contact Us
Email: camp.bowman@gotogoshen.org
Phone (summer 2023 only): —
Find us on Social Media
Sending Mail
To send mail to a camper, please use the following format:
Recipient’s name, Troop/Crew #
Camp Bowman
Goshen Scout Reservation
340 Millard Burke Memorial Hwy
Goshen, VA 24439
2024 Summer Schedule
| Week 1 | 6/23 – 6/29 Open |
| Week 2 | 6/30 – 7/6 Open |
| Week 3 | 7/7 – 7/13 Open |
| Week 4 | 7/14 – 7/20 Open |
| Week 5 | 7/21 – 7/27 Open |
Availability indicates if new units are able to register for a specific week of camp. If your unit has already reserved a week at camp then your Goshen coordinator will be able to add campers as space allows.
Registration Information
| Price Per Camper | If paid by... | |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit Price | Deposit Youth: $470 | October 31 (First youth only to hold unit's spot) |
| Early Discount Price | Youth: TBD Adult: TBD* |
April 12 |
| Regular Price | Youth: TBD Adult: TBD* |
After April 12 |
*All units will receive two free adult leaders per unit!
Early Bird Special! All who pay in full by the Early Bird Deadline will be eligible for the new Goshen hat!
For more information about registration, including quick facts, add-on program fees, the Goshen refund policy, and camperships, please visit our Registration Page.
Forms & Downloads
Camp Bowman Specific Downloads
Camp Bowman Map [PDF]
2023 Archive Camp Bowman Specific Downloads
2023 Bowman Leaders Guide [PDF]
2023 Bowman Program Schedule [PDF]
2023 Bowman Brigade Schedule [PDF]
2023 Bowman Service Project List [Google Doc]
2023 Bowman Wish List [Google Sheets]
General Goshen Downloads
2024 Goshen Leader Guide [PDF] - Updated 09/11/2023
Goshen Scout Reservation Map [PDF]
BSA Medical Form with NCAC Health Advisory - Fillable [PDF]
2023 Goshen Pre-Camp Swim Check Form [PDF]
2023 Goshen Pre-Event Screening Checklist [PDF]
2023 Goshen Unit Pre-Camp Screening Form [PDF]
2023 Goshen Venturing Opportunities [PDF]
Scouts BSA Camp General Downloads
Scout Equipment List [PDF]
- Updated 08/29/20232023 Scouts BSA Program Guide & Prerequisites [PDF]
- Updated 06/20/20232023 Goshen Vets Activity Menu [PDF]
How To Guide - Merit Badge Sign Ups [Blog Post]
How To Guide - Get Merit Badge Records [Blog Post]
Menu
2023 Patrol Cooking Menu [PDF] - updated 6/15/2023
Dining Method
Patrol Cooking
Cook the food the way you want it!
Patrols pick up ingredients from the commissary and prepare the food for their patrol in their campsite. This is a great option for units tired of Dining Hall songs and looking for more opportunities to use the Patrol Method, wanting more unit time in their campsite, and hankering for greater influence and creativity with their food.
All meat, except bacon, is pre-cooked. The camp provides cook kits, but feel free to bring your own. The camp also has two burner propane stoves and propane tanks, both of which are available for checkout from the Camp Quartermaster. Cooking instructions are provided.
Patrols
Units form into patrols of about 10 people. Smaller units will often be all one patrol. Larger units will have multiple patrols. The camp will ask for your unit’s patrol breakdown (patrol name, number of people, and dietary concerns for each patrol) as part of the pre-camp e-check-in process in the weeks leading up to camp.
Units will be assigned campsites with Patrol sub-sites for the number of patrols they have. Each Patrol site has an area for food preparation and eating with a picnic table and a chuckbox. The area is covered by double canvas tarps.
Adults
For units with multiple patrols, we frequently see unit leaders to one of two options:
- Split up into each patrol for meals and then sleep in a separate Leader sub-site or
- Cook and sleep in their own Patrol sub-site.
Get more information on dining methods and dietary concerns on the Food & Menus page.
Wildlife
There is a wide variety of wildlife at Goshen Scout Reservation. We've got many different species of reptiles and amphibians. There are also a number of birds, from your regular sparrows to turkeys, hawks, and eagles. We have what we call mini-bears (skunks, foxes, raccoons, etc.) and actual black bears.
Both to ensure our safety and to preserve the wonder of our bit of wilderness, it is important to understand how to interact with the wildlife around us.
No Food in Tents
Store food in a manner approved for your camp. Remember to take trash to the dumpster each night.
What to Do When You See Wildlife
Report to Camp Staff at the Admin building if you see a bear or any injured wildlife, or if there is any wildlife interfering or otherwise negatively impacting your stay. See any cool wildlife? Let the Nature staff know. If you can, take a picture of it and share it with us on Facebook or Instagram when you get home!
Transportation
Units may take advantage of the Goshen bus system chartered by our local council.
Units can also drive.