Location: Mount St. Helens
Drive Time: 3h15
Description: Caving hike of 2.8 miles through lava tubes: very popular trip with local troops. We would have to research nearby campgrounds and car camp (Seaquest State Park is recommended.) Good to loop in visiting the Interpretive Center at Mt. St. Helens.
Cost: Hiking the caves is free, but renting a campsite nearby would have a cost
Accessibility: Reserve online
Visited by troop: May 2024...camped 1 hour away from Ape Caves.
Location: Puget Sound, Whitby Island
Drive Time: 1h10
Description: Saltwater shoreline on Badilla Bay, adjacent to the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Water access for boating/fishing/shellfishing. In addition to campsites, there are six cabins for reservation, each with a double bed and two single bunk beds, and a refrigerator. Some cabins have interior restroom and the rest use a nearby bathhouse.
Cost: $55-$90/cabin
Accessibility: Reserve by calling (888) 226-7688 or reserve online.
Location: Hood Canal
Drive Time: 1h30
Description: Belfair State Park is a 65 acre, year-round camping park on 3,720 feet of saltwater shoreline at the southern end of Hood Canal in western Washington. It is noted for its saltwater tide flats, wetlands with wind-blown beach grasses and areas for beach walking and saltwater swimming.
Cost: $60-$80/cabin
Accessibility: Reserve by calling (888) 226-7688 or reserve online.
Location: Cameno Island
Drive Time: 1h15
Description: Water-front rustic cabins (microwave, fridge & beds) that sleep ~4-6, bathhouse, grounds have extensive trails, boating opportunities (Center for Woden Boats), fire pits, gift shop, visitor's center, Ranger talks. Contact ranger for service project opportunities.
Cost: $87-$100/cabin
Accessibility: Reserve by calling (360) 387-1550 or reserve online.
Location: San Juan Island
Drive/Ferry Time: 4h
Description: Camp Bogardus is a 'trust' run camp operated for the benefit of Scouts from around the world, but in particular Washington State and British Columbia. It has an archery range, tomahawk range, frisbee golf course, plant identification trail, 2000 meter compass orienteering course, horseshoe pits, campfire bowl and seating. The camp is directly connected to the US National Historic Park 'English Camp' and is home base for those Scouts wishing to earn their National Historic Trails Award by hiking and working on the 'Pig War Military Road Trail' which connects the English & American Camp National Parks.
Cost: Unclear, would have to inquire as to fees
Accessibility: Reserve by email via the website.
Location: Monroe
Drive Time: 0h45
Description: Both camps feature their own lake and campsites, many of which have shelters. Great for training/skills weekends. Camp Pigott also features the COPE course, which is great for team-building.
Cost: $40/campsite (includes use of any cabins)
Accessibility: Reserve on seattlebsa.tentaroo.com; contact the camping office at 206-725-0361 or campingdept@seattlebsa.org
9/22 Notes: Stayed here for our 2022 PLC Retreat: very easy place to camp at, but a little expensive. (Lion's Club is free for youth-serving orgs.)
Location: Hood Canal
Drive Time: 2h20
Description: One of the oldest scout camps in the country, located on Hood Canal with water access for boating (kayaks and canoes can be rented as well)
Cost: $40/cabin (generally capacity of 8, reserved separately from campsites)
Accessibility: Reserve on seattlebsa.tentaroo.com; contact the camping office at 206-725-0361 or campingdept@seattlebsa.org
9/23 Notes: Stayed here one night prior to launching for canoe camping at Dosewallips: arrived after dark, scouts cooked after arrival. Great place to launch from.
Location: Mt. Rainier National Park
Drive Time: 1h30
Description: This is a great jump-off point for many hikes in the Mt. Rainier area. Cabins are heated with bunks.
Cost: $150/cabin (generally capacity of 24).
Accessibility: Reserve on seattlebsa.tentaroo.com; contact the camping office at 206-725-0361 or campingdept@seattlebsa.org
Location: Hood Canal
Drive Time: 2h20
Description: Year-round camping park with 5,500 feet of saltwater shoreline on Hood Canal and 5,400 feet of freshwater shoreline on either side of the Dosewallips River. Cabins have bunkbeds that sleep 3 and a futon that sleeps 2.
Cost: $55-$80/cabin
Accessibility: Reserve by calling (888) 226-7688 or reserve online.
Location: Mt. Vernon
Drive Time: 1h15
Description: Scout camp run by the Mount Baker Council, they offer off-season camping. Campsites have Adirondacks and Stents.
Cost: $30/night for campsites or cabins
Accessibility: Book online
11/23 Notes: Stayed in campsites for WFA training: there's a band of raccoons marauding in the camp!
Location: Hood Canal
Drive Time: 2h20
Description: Other similar forts include Fort Casey and Fort Flagler. Historic fort and grounds with barracks that can be freely explored (epic for Hide and Seek and Capture the Flag). They offer free tailored interpretive tours. Many trails to explore. Because they are in the rain shadow, weather is usually mild even in the fall. Forest campgrounds are more sheltered from the wind than the beachfront campgrounds, but Forest campgrounds close in the winter. (There are indoor camping options as well, in old military buildings.)
Cost: Will swap free campsites in exchange for service projects
Accessibility: Book online, contact the Fort rangers for making arrangements
11/22 Notes: Visited Veteran's Day weekend and did a two-hour service project (scraping moss off the barracks) on Saturday (included a ranger talk on "what it takes to be a ranger") before greeting the Pack 550 Webelos for a single night overnight/outreach. Took an interpretive tour about the history and science of the fort, and then had a campfire program where we retired the Fort's flag. Fort would like to host us again. Camped in beachfront sites - weather was cold but dry.
11/23 Notes: Visited Veteran's Day weekend and did a two-hour service project (adding gravel to a trail) on Saturday (included a short ranger talk. Had 2 Webelos from Pack 550 join for a single overnight. Had a troop-run campfire program where we retired the fort's flag. Camped in beachfront sites in a MASSIVE windstorm (over 50mph) where we lost three tents. Scouts thought it was very exciting. Weather was also periodically rainy. Still, great campout!
11/24 Notes: Visited Veteran's Day weekend and did a two-hour service project (adding gravel to a trail) on Saturday (included a short ranger talk. Had 2 Webelos from Pack 550 join for a single overnight. Had a troop-run campfire program where we retired the fort's flag, invited another troop. Rainy and rather windy on Saturday night. Always a troop favorite.
Goldendale Observatory State Park
Location: Columbia River
Drive Time: 3h30
Description: No camping allowed in this state park, but there are local state park campgrounds nearby (Maryhill State Park, Brooks Memorial State Park)
Cost: Programs are free
Accessibility: Book online, free interpretive programs available (solar program, evening program) but must be reserved
Location: Puget Sound, Seattle-Tacoma area
Drive Time: 0h50
Description: 3-mile trail that loops around park, adjacent to the Green river (which is a popular rafting/kayaking/fishing spot)
Cost: $50-$80/cabin
Accessibility: Reserve online
Kayak Point Regional County Park
Location: Puget Sound, Bellingham area
Drive Time: 0h50
Description: Saltwater beach park that offers pier fishing, crabbing, a short trail system, boat launching. Car camping is also an option, as there are many campsites. Winter yurt camping has a 2-night minimum, Yurts have an occupancy of 5.
Cost: $85/yurt
Location: Central Washington, Grand Coulee
Drive Time: 2h58
Description: The hike through the caves is only 1.5mi, but it is possible to spend the better part of a day exploring the caves and the coulee country surrounding Lenore Lake (where there are fishing opportunities. Camp nearby at Dry Falls and Sun Lakes State Park, which offers Trout fishing, hiking trails, a snack shack, and even a miniature golf course.
Cost: Caves are free to visit, but there would be a campsite fee of $25/site (reserve online). Campgrounds also has a Discovery Pass requirement. Campground is only open April 15-Nov 1, and water supply could be cut off any time after Oct 1.
Location: Cameno Island
Drive Time: 1h15
Description: Campsite run as gift to Seattle youth-facing programs by University Lions Club: campsites consist fo two cabins that sleep 10 and 12 and 14 stents. Facilities also include a meeting room (with electricity and WiFi) and adjoining fully-stocked kitchen. Highly recommended as Planning Retreat location. They will happily accept the gift of service hours (generally trail maintenance) in exchange for the use of their facilities.
Cost: Free
Accessibility: Reserve by calling contact # on website
3/23 Notes: Stayed here for our 2023 PLC Retreat: accommodations were wonderful. Used the kitchen to cook a group meal, met in the group hall and camped in the field. Spent Sunday morning doing a service project (trail clean-up). Great experience.
3/24 Notes: Stayed here for 2024 PLC Retreat: just as good as last year, did 1 hour of service.
USS Turner Joy
Location: Bremerton
Drive Time: 1h20
Description: Not currently offered because of COVID, but the Bremerton Historic Ships Association used to offer a Live-Aboard Program where you could spend a night aboard this US Naval Destroyer. Max of 20 people
Cost: $650 for up to 10 people, and $65 for each additional person.
Accessibility: Enquire online
Program is currently suspended
Location: Central Cascades - Steven's Pass West
Drive Time: 0h45
Description: Includes opportunity to hike Wallace Falls trail (hike to upper falls is 5.6 miles roundtrip with 1300' gain).
Cost: $55-$80/cabin
Accessibility: Reserve online
Visited by Troop: November 2020
11/20 Notes: Worked with ranger in advance of trip to make plans: the ranger let scouts also set up tents in the grounds surrounding the cabins (we had too many campers for the cabins reserved, and also some scouts wanted camping nights. There was a picnic shelter in the middle of the cabins that we used as a dry space for cooking and eating. Ranger gave us a talk about the history of the park, and then we did a 2-hour service project (raking the trail free of debris) before hiking the Wallace Falls Trail.