Goshen Leader Update #4: Early Bird Deadline – April 15 at 11:59 pm!

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Hello Goshen Leaders!
We are just a few days away from the Early Bird deadline for the summer 2026 season at Goshen Scout Reservation!
Ahead of this April 15th deadline, we encourage you to be prepared and begin registering and paying for attendees in full prior to the deadline to help create a smooth registration process. Sarah Moses, NCAC Camping Specialist, and I are here to help you! We appreciate your patience as we process a large volume and phone calls ahead of this deadline.
Below are important reminders to help you and your units be best prepared to take advantage of the early bird discount.
Early Bird Registration Deadline – April 15 at 11:59 pm
The Goshen Scout Reservation Early Bird Deadline is April 15 at 11:59 pm. Youth and adult campers added to your registration after this point will be at an increased rate.
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!
How does the Early Bird benefit you and your Scouts?
  • Campers with registrations made before the early bird deadline (April 15 at 11:59 pm) will attend at a lower cost!
  • With more accurate attendance numbers, our team is best able to prepare for your arrival and focus on service and a high-quality camping experience.
  • Enables camp coordinators to have the majority of youth enrolled so that they can help parents be prepared (medical forms, gear and equipment readiness, pre-camp meeting with all attendees, etc.)
Registration “How To” Reminders
Accessing Your Unit’s Camp Registration
If you need to access your registration, this post goes over how to do so:
If you are no longer the Registration Contact for your unit, this post goes over how to update your registration:
Adding Campers to Your Registration
For guidance on how to add participants, use this post has a quick walkthrough:
Remember, as you begin to add participants to your registrations, you should only add participants as you are ready to pay for them.
Splitting Adults on Your Registration
If you have adults who are planning to “split” the week at camp within one another and you’re wondering how to register them, check out this post: www.gotogoshen.org/registration/registration-tips-splitting-adults/
Enabling Parent Portal On Your Summer Camp Registration
As you continue to add more youth to your unit’s summer camp registration, please keep in mind the “Parent Portal” option, which allows your unit to give parents the ability to add their youth to your unit’s registration and pay for them directly. This function can also be used for registering Scouts BSA youth for merit badge sessions.
Registration Trouble Shooting
  • Having issues applying a campership or popcorn voucher? Contact Camping Specialist Sarah Moses at sarah.moses@scouting.org
  • If within a week of making your EFT payment (e-check) you receive a notice from the system that your payment has been reversed, the most common error is that there was a typo when entering the routing or the account number. Please double check your numbers and try the payment again. If you run into an instance where you were paid in full prior to the Early Bird deadline, but the system is now charging the regular rate, please contact Sarah Moses at sarah.moses@scouting.org to get this addressed before completing checkout.
Discounted Rate for All Youth Crossing from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA
We know that many Scouts BSA Troops have recently welcomed new Scouts to their Troops who have recently crossed over from the Cub Scout program. As we believe that summer camp is the pinnacle of the Scouting year, we want to encourage all Scouts to attend summer camp, even if they recently joined your unit.
All youth who have crossed over from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA since the beginning of the year are eligible for the discounted early bird rate, regardless of when they register to attend summer camp at Goshen Scout Reservation. This is the second year of this program. To take advantage of this discount, please register newly crossed over youth as “New Crossover Scout Youth” when adding them to your unit’s registration.
What Documents Do I Need to Bring to Camp?
  • Unit roster reflecting current Scouting America registration of youth and adults attendees
    • All youth and adult attendees must have an active membership in Scouting America at the time of their attendance at camp.
      • For Packs attending Camp Ross, the Guide to Safe Scouting permits and exception to this policy. Cub Scout Packs are required for two adult leaders to be registered in Scouting America, but not additional attending parents. Please review the Guide to Safe Scouting for more information.
    • Remember that all adults must have current Safeguarding Youth Training at the time of their attendance at camp.
  • Scouting America Annual Health and Medical Records (Parts A, B, and C) for all attendees. We recommend bringing two copies that are not the original document, one for you to maintain in your campsite, and one to reside in the camp first aid office.
  • Completed Pre-Camp Swim Check Form (not required, available to Scouts BSA and High Adventure only)
  • If attending Lenhok’sin High Adventure:
    • Wilderness First Aid Certification for at least one crew member
    • CPR Certification for at least one crew member
    • Weather Hazards Training for at least one crew member
    • Safe Swim Defense for at least one crew member
    • Safety Afloat for at least one crew member (River Trek only)
    • Paddle Craft Safety Basic Certification for one adult leader (River Trek only)
New Resource Available – Pre-Camp Parent Meeting Guide
A pre-summer camp parents meeting is a critical orientation held by unit leadership to ensure families are informed about travel logistics, medical requirements, and program specifics prior to your departure for summer camp. Through this meeting, your unit’s leadership, parents, and attending Scouts will feel more comfortable and prepared ahead of your upcoming summer adventure.
We encourage you to use the Goshen Scout Reservation “Pre-Camp Parent’s Meeting Guide,” which provides an editable agenda outline and script to support your unit’s leadership in leading a pre-camp parents meeting. This guide is available at https://www.gotogoshen.org/information/forms-downloads/ under “General Goshen Downloads.”
Bus Ticket Sales Begin May 1, 2026
Did you know you can take the bus to summer camp? Goshen Scout Reservation offers a round-trip bus service from Fairfax, VA and Largo, MD (by request) for $90.00 per seat! Ticket sales will open May 1, 2026 and will be available for purchase through your unit’s summer camp registration portal. To learn more about our bus transportation service, visit https://www.gotogoshen.org/information/transportation/.

Yours in Scouting,

Elisabeth Warren | Goshen Scout Reservation Director

SCOUTING AMERICA
National Capital Area Council

Goshen Leader Update #3: $1 Million Investment Update, Upcoming Webinar, Merit Badge Registration

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Hello Goshen Leaders!

Can you believe that we are now less than 100 days until the first day of summer camp? As you continue to recruit youth to attend Goshen Scout Reservation with your unit, please keep the following information top of mind!

$1 Million Investment Update – Goshen Scout Reservation

Great things are happening at Goshen Scout Reservation in preparation for your arrival this summer! Within the past month…

  • 117 new camper tents and 250 new cots have been delivered and are awaiting your arrival!
  • 25 canoes, 20 kayaks, 6 sailboats, and john boat motors have been ordered to support our Aquatics programs
  • Removed approx. 350 priority trees to improve the safety of our campsites and program areas
  • 35 sets of picnic table legs have been delivered.
  • Reroofed the Archery pavilions at Camp Olmsted and Bowman. The Olmsted Rifle Range roof will be replaced within the next few weeks.
  • Ordered a new backhoe to support the Reservation Superintendent and Ranger team.
  • Installed a new liner in the Camp Olmsted well to improve water color and clarity.

We can’t wait to share all the other projects that we’re working on over ahead of the summer season!

General Registration Reminders

Unit Registration Contacts

If you are no longer the Registration Contact for your unit, this post goes over how to update your registration:

Accessing Your Unit’s Camp Registration

If you need to access your registration, this post goes over how to do so:

Adding Campers to Your Registration

For guidance on how to add participants, use this post has a quick walkthrough:

Remember, as you begin to add participants to your registrations, you should only add participants as you are ready to pay for them.

Early Bird Registration Deadline – April 15 at 11:59 pm

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

As you continue to add more youth to your unit’s summer camp registration, please keep in mind the “Parent Portal” option, which allows your unit to give parents the ability to add their youth to your unit’s registration and pay for them directly. This function can also be used for registering Scouts BSA youth for merit badge sessions.

Goshen Webinar Series: Pre-Camp Planning & Program Schedules

One of the most important steps of preparing your Scouts and parents for attending summer camp is hosting a “pre-camp parents meeting!”

Join the Goshen Scout Reservation team on Monday, March 23rd at 7:00 pm as we review our recommended outline for your pre-summer camp parent’s meeting. The second part of this session, for Scouts BSA camp attendees, will review how register Scouts BSA youth for their merit badge selection in anticipation of merit bade registration opening March 31st.

Pre-register for the webinar at https://ncacbsa-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ha1KQy-URSS7oBIK-ghT0Q#/registration.

This webinar will be recorded and posted on www.weownadventure.com for those who are unable to attend.

Scouts BSA Camp Merit Badge and Program Schedules

2026 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.

Scouts BSA Camp Merit Badge Registration – March 31 at 7:00 pm

Merit Badge Registration for Camps Olmsted, Bowman, and Marriott will open March 31st at 7:00 pm.

In order to register for merit badges and to save a Scout’s merit badge selection, the Scout must either have either registered for camp prior to the camper deposit deadline ($100 deposit by Feb. 28) or have registered and paid in full after Feb. 28. If the system shows “Checkout Required” under the Scout’s name, they are not yet booked and their space in those merit badges and activities will not be secured.

The 2026 Scouts BSA Program and Prerequisite Guide will be posted under the “Forms and Downloads” section of the GSR website no later than Friday, March 27, 2026. The Program and Prerequisite guide provides a brief description of each merit badge offered at camp, along with any pre-requisites that may be required in order to complete a merit badge by the end of a week at camp.

Questions about Merit Badge Sign Ups? Attend the Goshen webinar listed above and 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. Scouts BSA youth who wish to participate in the Mile Swim do need to register in advance to participate.

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.

Annual Health and Medical Record Form Reminder

Don’t forget! – All attendees at camp, youth and adults, must provide a copy of their completed Annual Health and Medical Record Form (AHMR), Parts A, B, and C. This is a requirement regardless of duration of your stay at camp. Please note that Part C of the AHMR requires a physician’s signature.

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 to Safe Scouting, and as listed in the GSR Leader Guide.

Scouts America Registration Requirements – All Units

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. All registered leaders are required to have active Safeguarding Youth Training (formerly Youth Protection Training, available at www.my.scouting.org).

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, we recommend a ratio of one adult to every ten youth.

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, we recommend avoiding 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.

We’re Hiring! – Join the NCAC Camp Staff Team

Know someone looking for a great summer job? This could be the best and most fulfilling job they ever have with incredible memories and fun at camp!

Lifelong Benefits of Staffing Camp:

  • Develop better leadership skills by guiding others.
  • Practice working well with a team.
  • Solve problems when things don’t go as planned.
  • Take responsibility for important tasks.
  • Gain experience teaching skills to others.

Apply online at www.gotogoshen.org/staff or www.gotosnyder.org/work

There are still openings available. Submit your application soon to interview for your first choice of job.

Open positions include:

  • Camp Administration (18+)
  • Aquatics (Goshen: 16+; Snyder:15+)
  • Area Directors & Program Leads (18+)
  • First Aid & Health Services (18+)
  • Retail Operations (18+)
  • Archery & BBs Directors (18+)
  • Program Area (15+)

Yours in Scouting,

Elisabeth Warren

Goshen Scout Reservation Director

Goshen Leader Update #2: $1 Million Investment Update, Registration Reminders, and More!

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Hello Goshen Leaders!
We’re looking forward to your arrival at the Goshen Scout Reservation in just a few short months! Please read the email below to continue to plan for your unit’s upcoming summer adventure.
$1 Million Initial Investment at Goshen Scout Reservation Update

The $1 Million Investment in Goshen Scout Reservation strengthens our future and improves the camper experience at our properties and programs. With new program equipment, facilities and infrastructure upgrades, and expanded outreach, we look forward to sharing the magic of Goshen with more Scouts and Units. Highlights from this past month include:

  • Aquatics: Program Equipment, Infrastructure
    • Landscape specialist has visited all aquatics areas to provide feedback and help plan a beach retention project to address erosion concerns.
    • Plans for a centralized winter boat storage structure are designed with a planned construction date in March.
  • Range Upgrades: Berm Work, Structures, Safety
    • A contract has been signed to re-roof 4 RATA pavilion / range structures ahead of this spring.
  • Camper Tents
    • Over 100 canvas camper tents have been purchased from Scouting America Outfitters at a significantly discounted rate! Because of this discount, this project has been expanded to include purchasing 250 new cots! The new tents are anticipated to be delivered to camp early next week.
  • Picnic Tables
    • A down payment has been made on the order for 35 sets of picnic table legs, with an anticipated delivery date in March.
  • Priority Tree Removal
    • This month, over 170 trees identified as being potentially hazardous have been felled in a strategic and select cut manner.
  • Infrastructure
    • A ventilation upgrade project at the Camp Marriott shower house is in progress, replicating the same successful projects at Camp Olmsted and Ross completed in 2025.
If you missed the original announcement of this initial investment in Goshen Scout Reservation, you can read it here: From the Desk of the Scout Executive
 
General Registration Reminders
  • Unit Registration Contacts
  • Accessing Your Unit’s Camp Registration
  • Camper Deposit Phase Extended to February 28, 2026

    • The “Camper Deposit” phase of our registration has been extended from February 15th to February 28th. The $100 camper deposit locks in a Scout’s place at camp until full payment is made, allowing for families and units to make “partial” payments prior to the end of the early bird deadline (April 15th). The camper deposit is counted towards the total cost of camp and serves as a commitment to your youth’s attendance for the coming summer. An early commitment to attending camp helps us to best plan and prepare for our total summer attendance and helps to inform items including material and equipment ordering and staff hiring.

  • Adding Campers to Your Registration
  • How to Spilt Adult Leader Registrations
    • We recognize that many adult leaders may find it difficult to attend a full week of summer camp with your unit. Goshen Scout Reservation supports “splitting” multiple adults across one adult participant registration. For example, one adult can attend camp with your unit Sunday – Wednesday, and another adult take over for Wednesday – Saturday.
    • To register “split-week” adults, please write the first and last name of the first adult in the “first name” box, and the first and last name of the second adult in the “last name” box.
  • Utilizing the Parent Portal
    • Did you know that your unit’s camp registration has a built in Parent Portal? The Parent Portal function allows for unit’s to give parents and guardians limited access to your unit’s summer camp registration to pay for Scouts once added to a unit’s camp registration. This function can also be utilized for Merit Badge signups (Scouts BSA camps only).
    • For video tutorials on how to use Parent Portal, please view the registration system’s How To Videos.
      • Parent Portal: Unit Leader’s Guide – youtube.com/watch?v=RBJmmnQuSo4
      • Parent Portal: Parents Guide – youtube.com/watch?v=Xflql-R-VZE

    • If your unit is the Parent Portal feature for your families, don’t overpay for your adults! Book your free adults before giving out Parent Portal credentials.

  • Early Bird Registration Closes April 15 at 11:59 pm
    • Early Bird Registration will close Friday, April 15 at 11:59 pm. Participants who have registered before this time will receive the posted discounted price when attending camp.
Looking for more registration tips and tricks? Review the slides from our December Webinar here: weownadventure.com/summer-camp-planning-registering-your-scouts-at-goshen-scout-reservation/
 
Camperships
Scouts who applied for a campership (financial aid program for summer camp attendance) prior to February 1, 2026, they should be expecting to hear back on the status of their application within the next week.
If your unit has Scouts who may be in need of financial aid to attend summer camp at the Goshen Scout Reservation, please encourage them to complete the NCAC Financial Support Request Form by March 1, 2026 for their application to be reviewed in the next round. Financial aid is available for qualifying families in the National Capital Area Council. The form can be found at www.ncacscouting.org/financial.
The NCAC Campership Committee will be convening again in early March to review additional applications. Applications will still be accepted afterwards and we anticipate the committee reviewing applications on a monthly basis. Camperships will be awarded into the spring as funds allow. Please help us encourage any families applying after the initial deadline to submit their application as early as possible to allow processing time and prevent delays in their registration.
Merit Badge & Activity Sign Ups: March 31 at 7:00pm
For those attending our Scouts BSA camps – Camp Bowman, Camp Marriott, and Camp Olmsted – sign ups for merit badges and activities opens on March 31. Scouts can view the class sign up schedule without being booked, but in order to save their selection, they will need to be “booked.” If they still have “Checkout Required” in red under their name, their class selection will not be saved. This means that any Scouts who pay their $100 non-refundable deposit by February 15 will be able to save their selection without needing to be paid in full. They will have until April 15 to make final payments to receive the Early Bird Discount price. After the February 15 deadline, Scouts will need to be paid in full to be “booked” and save their badge and activity selection.
Leader and Program Guides, Program Schedules
Copies of the 2026 GSR Leader Guides, Program Guides, and Program Schedules will be posted on www.gotogoshen.org in the coming weeks. Thank you for your patience as we continue to plan for an exciting Summer 2026!
 
Yours in Scouting,

Elisabeth Warren | Goshen Scout Reservation Director