It’s time to, if you haven’t already, start looking at summer camp ideas for your scouters. Here are a few of our favorites. I just talked to the summer program director last night and it sounds like this summer is going to be a blast! We’re just sad we heard too late because we’re already halfway paid through BTSR.
El Rancho Cima (“Cima”) is a big western ranch in the middle of the beautiful Texas Hill Country 18 miles northwest of San Marcos, Texas, in both Hays and Comal counties. It has steep hills, deep gullies and canyons, springs and a river, stately cypress trees and the sprawling pinion, rocks and rills and just plain rugged land waiting for a bunch of Scouts to explore. El Rancho Cima’s 2,680 acres are just off Ranch Road 32 in the beautiful scenic area known as the Devil’s Backbone. Cima’s programs are tailored to Scouts of all ages. Cima is divided into two camps, Cockrell River Camp (which includes Ironwheel Mesa) and Walter Scout Camp – Horseshoe Bend.
Horseshoe Bend, at Cima, is the hub of the ranch’s western lore program, it has all the features of a good Scout camp plus the flavor of the old west with corrals, horseback trail rides, chuck wagon cooking, a “cowboy” outpost, Black powder, a cool pool and a full selection of merit badges. Breakfast and dinner are in the Horseshoe Bend Dining Hall and lunch is “get and go” to be enjoyed in your campsite or at another camp location of your choosing, it’s a great time to explore Cima.
Ride a Horse! The camp’s horsemanship program, the Cowboy camp, and Friday’s rodeo are highlights of your week at camp! Cool-off in the pool! Lifesaving, swimming, snorkeling, the Mile Swim, and BSA Lifeguard are the part of the aquatic program at the Horseshoe Bend pool. Horseshoe Bend also includes a large variety of activities and merit badges that make your week unforgettable. Fossil beds are abundant at Cima, making geology a prime activity. Wildlife abounds, and with the unique plants of the Hill Country, nature, ecology and conservation study are a reality. Climb the Horseshoe Bend tower and rappel back down, then cool off in the pool and don’t forget to ride the horse or wagon and the cool off in the pool.
Cockrell River Camp, on the banks of the cool Blanco River, at the foot of “Appetite Hill”, features a full advancement program for the new and older Scout. Swim in the river, go rock climbing, learn about geology of the area, become a member of the “Sentinel Peak Sunrise Club”, and participate in some of the awesome adventure programs. Many of the campsites at Cockrell River Camp follow the river’s edge. For a change, camp at Ironwheel Mesa, catch the gentle evening breeze, and eat your meals in the Mesa’s dining pavilion.
NEW for 2009 – The Cima Odyssey program is a new older Scout program at El Rancho Cima this summer. Scouts from Cockrell River Camp and Horseshoe Bend can participate in this exciting adventure program with a limit of 30 Scouts per week. The program will take place at the Ranch and the surrounding Hill Country with the Scouts returning to the Troop campsite before dinner each day except to a special overnight program later in the week. Be sure to let your knows that Les will be running Odyssey. If they have taken climbing instruction, COPE, or Leave No Trace, chances are, they will be in fighting form to take this program with Les.
Hi! I’m with Troop 993 in Houston. We are planning a trip to BTSR for Week 5. I noticed on the reservation chart on BTSR’s website that Troop 483 is also going that same week. Yet, when I went on this blog, it looks like you may not be going to BTSR after all. We are looking for another troop with whom we can charter a bus. Are we out of luck?
Hi there. We’re going to BTSR, but after talking at length with Kevin Smith, Cima’s summer camp director, I felt compelled to remind folks that there is a great camp not so far away. Regarding the bus, I passed the email that was sent to one of our leaders onto Robin who tends to be our cruise director. 🙂 I think we’re driving, but it’s certainly worth consideration.
We are driving, but address in the information guide published on the web is not so good. I have tried it in yahoo maps and it don’t locate it. So if you have better directions or a good address please let me know. We leave by vehicle on sunday.
Dave
🙂
Congratulations on such a excellent post. I really liked reading it. Thank You!!
Edinburg’s LDS Troop 106 is looking forward to summer camp. We are wondering if you have a summer schedule available. Please send information and cost per scout to attend. Would you also send a list of the merit badges that will be available. Thanks in advance for your help.
R. Sanchez S.M
Troop 106 Edinburg.
Contact shac.org for that information