Hawk Mountain Council

Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation is the Boy Scout camp associated with Hawk Mountain Council. It is located in Strasstown, Pennsylvania on Blue Mountain Road. The camp has 635 acres (2.57 km²) of forest and a lake that is named Lake Nalaheman. National Camp School is held at the camp every year. The reservation holds Camp Meade for Boy Scouts and Camp DuPortail for Cub Scouts. Camp DuPortail is an acclaimed camp nationwide.

Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation

Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation is separated for two sets of Scouting. There is Cub Scout Day Camp which is on the Cub Scout side of Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation. There is also Boy Scout Summer Camp which is on the Boy Scout side of Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation and is a week long. There is also Webelos Extended Camp which is on the Boy Scout side of the camp, but is for three days. Cub Scout Day Camp is for Cub Scouts and spend the entire day at the camp and leave later in the day.

Cub Scouts Day Camp

The Day Cump is for Cub Scouts in either the Tiger, Bobcat, Wolf, and Bear ranks and they stay for the entire day and leave that someday. It is for a week, but the Cub Scouts do not sleep over at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation. At Cub Scouts Day Camp, the Cub Scouts earn certain awards and badges for doing arts and crafts, nature, activities, and other fun things that a Cub Scout can do to earn badges and awards.

Webelos Extended Camp

The Webelos Extended Camp is on the Boy Scouts side of camp and the Webelo Scouts sleep over for three days. Webelos Extended Camp is for Scouts that are either a Webelo I or a Webelo II. They do the same things that the Cub Scouts do since Webelos is still apart of Cub Scouting, just a branch to prepare for the Boy Scouts.

Boy Scout Summer Camp

The Boy Scout Summer Camp is on the Boy Scouts side of camp and the Scouts sleep over for an entire week (five days). The Boy Scouts do Merit Badges that they select before camp begins and complete certain requirements for that respective badge and try to earn the badge at the end of the week. You need 21 Merit Badges to be an Eagle Scout and twelve of them 21 must be Eagle required. There are other activities that are able to be done and also some ceremonies.

Buildings

There are multiple buildings at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation. In these buildings, you mostly do Merit Badges. Merit Badges are awards you earn by completing their respective requirements.

Nature Lodge

At the Nature Lodge you can earn a bunch of Merit Badges that deals with the outdoors and nature. The Nature Lodge is located all the way in the woods at the end of Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation. You can earn badges, such as: Nature, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Mammal Study, Oceanography, Fish and Wildlife Management, Soil and Water Conservation, Weather, Environmental Science, Geology, and Forestry. Environmental Science is the only badge at the Nature Lodge to be Eagle required.

Scoutcraft

Scoutcraft is where you can earn Merit Badges for knots, hiking, camping, and other outdoors activities. The Scoutcraft is located about a quarter of a mile from the parking lot. At the Scoutcraft, you can earn Merit Badges, such as: Camping, First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, Cooking, Wilderness Survival, Pioneering, and Orienteering. Camping, First Aid, and Emergency Preparedness are the three Merit Badges to be Eagle required.

Handicraft

Handicraft is where you do Merit Badges that deals with arts, crafts, and drawings. The Handicraft is located right next to the Scoutcraft and is about a half a mile from the parking lot. Merit Badges that can be taken at the Handicraft area, are: Metalwork, Art, Wood Carving, Leatherwork, and Basketry. There are no Merit Badges at the Handicraft to be Eagle required.

Science and Technology Center

The Science and Technology Center is where all the Merit Badges deal with either science, technology, or communications. The Science and Technology Center is air conditioned and is located in the field above the parking lot, with a statue of Robert-Baden Powell in the front of the building. Merit Badges to be taken in the Science and Technology Building, are: Communications, Computers, Space Exploration, Astronomy, Electricity, Energy, and Electronics. Communications is the only Merit Badge in the Science and Technology Center to be Eagle required.

Indian Village

The Indian Village is an area where the Merit Badges deal with ancient, historical, and monumental things. The Indian Village has teepees and a bon fire located in the field of the Indian Village. The Merit Badges take place inside of the pavilion. The Indian Village is located right down the dirt road from the parking lot and also you can go through the Scoutcraft to get there as well. Merit Badges to take place at the Indian Village, are: Indian Lore, Archaeology, Landscape Architecture, and Fishing. There are no Merit Badges at the Indian Village that are Eagle required.

Reary Pool

The Reary Pool is the Boy Scouts pool of Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation. It is located just to the left of the Dining Hall. Merit Badges that you can do at the Reary Pool, are: Swimming and Lifesaving. Both of them Merit Badges are Eagle required. You can also do at the Reary Pool, BSA Lifeguard, The Mile Swim, Snorkeling, and Polar Bear.

Lakefront

At the Lakefront, you get to do Merit Badges that deals with boating. You can also do open boating during siesta. The Lakefront is located at the bottom of the Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation and it is at the bottom of the field where the Dining Hall is located. Merit Badges that can be taken at the Lakefront, are: Small-Boat Sailing, Canoeing, and Rowing. These three Merit Badges are not Eagle required.

Shooting Sports

The Shooting Sports area is a very dangerous area and all of the rules must be obeyed. At the Shooting Sports area, you can take Merit Badges that deals with shooting a gun or a bow and arrow. The Shooting Sports area is located all the way at the end of the Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation. Instead of going on the way to the Nature Lodge, you go down to the bottom of the field where the Lakefront is located, and follow the path that way, just like you would to the Nature Lodge. Merit Badges that can be taken at the Shooting Sports area, are: Rifle Shooting, Shotgun Shooting, and Archery. These three Merit Badges are not Eagle required.

Dining Hall

The Dining Hall is the place where the Scouts and their leaders eat dinner. To eat dinner, you must be dressed in Class A Uniform and hats must be off when entering the Dining Hall. Both breakfast and lunch is cafeteria style which means you don't have to attend them if you don't want to. Leaders, Senior Patrol Leader, and Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders are able to eat lunch approximately fifteen minutes earlier than the Scouts can.

Trading Post

The Trading Post is the store of Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation. You can buy camp t-shirts, camp mugs, leader mugs, pocket knives, Boy Scout Handbooks, Merit Badge books, sashes, Merit Badge kits, camp cups, compasses, fire starter kits, and etc. They also sell candy, slushies, pretzels, nachos, hot dogs, fiesta dogs, and other foods. They also have ice creams, sodas, energy drinks, and other desserts and beverages.

Administration Building

The Administration Building is the most important building at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation. On Sunday, the first day of Boy Scout Camp, you must sign in and on Friday, the last day of Boy Scout Camp, you must sign out. Also, you can get the Kittatiny papers, the Merit Badges, the Patches, Rifle Tickets, and the Chicken BBQ tickets. In the Leader's Lounge, which is located at the downstairs of the Administration Building, you can have Internet access on the Leader's Computer, you can have coffee and relax, read the newspaper, and get your mail from the counselors or other staff members that work at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation in your mailbox. You can also put mail into the staff members and counselor's mailbox.

Activities

There are plenty of fun activities you can do at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation besides the Merit Badges. They keep you busy and they are a lot of fun to do too.

Kittatiny Award

The Kittatiny Award is where you can go do various activities at different areas of Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation. First Year Scouts must do the five required objectives, and must have five of the fourteen activities signed off to be eligible to earn the Kittatiny Award. Experience Scouts and Leaders must do the five required objectives and must have seven of the fourteen activities signed off to be eligible to earn the Kittatiny Award. At the end of the week, Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters go down to the Administration Building into the Leader's Lounge and stamp the Kittatiny neckerchief with the stamps that their Scouts have earned.

COPE

Cope is a course that Scouts fourteen and older may complete for a patch. You must wear jeans, long-sleeve shirt, and hiking boots to be able to attend the COPE course. To participate in the COPE course, you must sign up and attend the meeting on Sunday night. There are two times that you may attend COPE. There is in the morning, where first time Scouts that never competed in COPE before will attend. The afternoon is for experienced Scouts that have attended COPE previously. In COPE, you will complete high adventuring, repelling, and obstacle courses and must complete them successfully to be able to get the patch.

Bikeathalon

The Bikeathalon is a course where Scouts and leaders can compete in a bike course and go throughout Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation on a bike. Every person (Scout or leader) that competes in the Bikeathalon, will earn a patch for participating.

Siesta

Siesta is from 1:00 in the afternoon until 2:00 in the afternoon. During Siesta, it is your own free time to do whatever you want to. There is open swimming and open boating. Also, you can stay at your campsite and just relax in your tent, earn some requirements to advance in the ranks, build a fire and relax by it, talk to fellow Scouts and leaders, go to the pavilion and just talk and hang out, and etc. Siesta is free time and there are no Merit Badges scheduled during that time, except for the Cooking Merit Badge, which is from 12:00 in the afternoon until 2:00 in the afternoon.

Kittatiny Award

The Kittatiny Award is where you go around to get your paper signed off for your neckerchief to be stamped. The five required activities that must be completed are, Scout Spirit which is where you show the leaders and fellow Scouts in your Troop and not in your Troop respect and demonstrate the Scout Spirit by living the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, and the Scout Promise in your week at Boy Scout Summer Camp. Advancement is where you must help other Scouts in your Troop advance in the ranks and help them pass their Merit Badges. Individual Service Project is where you must do something in your campsite by yourself to improve the look of the campsite. Group Service Project is where you and your entire Troop fix up your campsite to make it look better as a group. Conservation Project is the last required thing to be completed and signed off for you to be eligible to earn the Kittatiny Award. In the Conservation Project, you and your entire Troop will do a Service Project for the Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation.

First Year Scouts at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation must complete five of the fourteen and Experienced Scouts and Leaders must complete seven of the fourteen programs to earn the Kittatiny Award. The programs you can complete, are: the Archery Award is where you would shoot a bow and arrow onto the target at the Shooting Sports area. The Rifle Award is where you shoot the rifle gun into the targets at the Shooting Sports area. The Axemanship Award is where the First Year Scouts go with a Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, or both of them to earn the Totin Chip Award and the proper way to use a knife, ax, and saw down at the Scoutcraft. The Cooking Award is where you can cook for your Troop at your campsite for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner (if you want to skip it). The Orienteering Award is where you can either set up an Orienteering Course or solve the Orienteering Course with a compass at your campsite. The Nature Award is where you go to the Nature Lodge and walk on a nature trial and answer a few questions that is asked by the Nature counselors and staff members. The Aquatics Award is where you can go swimming in the Reary Pool or go boating at the Lakefront, but you must complete both of them for it to count toward your Kittatiny Award. The Handicraft Award is where you draw a picture at the Handicraft Lodge. The COPE Award is where you must complete the COPE course successfully at the COPE area. The Silver Bullet Award is where you must beat your Scoutmaster's score at the rifle range in the Shooting Sports area. The Repelling Award is where you must repel down the fifteen foot wall in the COPE area. The Polar Bear Award is where you must go to the Reary Pool and swim in the pool at 6:00 in the morning, with ice cubes being thrown into the water and you must complete the Polar Bear swim the entire week, including Friday. The Indian Village Award is where you throw a total of four tomahawks into the wood block hanging on the wood posts, down at the Indian Village. The Science/Technology Award is where you go to the Science and Technology Center and you enter into the Planetarium and look at the stars, constellations, and zodiacs on the roof of the Planetarium.

There are other stamps that can be awarded to your Kittatiny neckerchief, such as: the Campfire Stamp means that you have spent a week at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation for Boy Scout Summer Camp for one year, and you get a new Campfire Stamp for each year at camp. The Order of the Arrow Candidate Stamp is a stamp that means you have been elected to join the Order of the Arrow within this past year. The OA Stamp means that you are a member of the Order of the Arrow. The Ordeal members get one stamp, the Brotherhood members get two stamps, and Vigil members get three stamps. The Leadership Award Stamp means that you are either a Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster of your Boy Scout Troop, also Junior Assistant Scoutmasters are entitled to wear this stamp. The Kittatiny Stamp means that you have earned the Kittatiny Award this past year at Boy Scout Summer Camp. The Arrowhead Award Stamp means that you have participated in the Order of the Arrow Ceremony at Summer Camp. The Staff Stamp is a stamp given to staff members, counselors, commissioners, and volunteer commissioners for the entire seven weeks of Boy Scout Summer Camp or for the week your Troop is at Boy Scout Summer Camp.

Ceremonies

The Ceremonies that take place at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation are either for a special tradition, group, or because it is part of the Scout Law.

Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony is on Sunday night from 8:00 at night until 9:30 at night. At the Opening Ceremony, which is behind the lake and past the Indian Village, you watch the Staff members and counselors put on skits and a show. They also show a Video Show about the first day of Boy Scout Summer Camp. They also then show a video on the "Twenty Days of Scout Camp" with Staff members that are the head of Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation or the director of their department. The Opening Ceremony closes with a Campfire and they sing the closing of the campfire song, called "Vesters".

Closing Ceremony

The Closing Ceremony is on Friday night after the Chicken BBQ dinner and is where the Scouts from each Troop (if want to) put on a skit for the other Troops, families, and friends, along with the staff. They have the closing campfire, they announce which Scout earned the award for each Merit Badge, the show a video of the entire week at Boy Scout Summer Camp, and then after the Closing Ceremony, everybody leaves and goes home, while some stay and sleep over until Saturday morning at their campsites and in their tents.

Chapel

The Chapel takes place in the Chapel area which is below the parking lot, but above the Indian Village. Chapel takes place on Wednesday at 7:45 at night. You must be dressed in Class A Uniform. If it rains or storms, then the Chapel will take place inside of the Dining Hall.

Order of the Arrow Ceremony

The Order of the Arrow Ceremony is where they put on a show between two Native Americans and explain the Order of the Arrow. They also have a call out where the newer members of the Order of the Arrow is called out into the field and stands by the bon fire. Afterwards, all members of the Order of the Arrow stay, while everyone else leaves back to their campsite, and eat at the cracker barrel and buy some merchandise for the Order of the Arrow. The Order of the Arrow Ceremony takes place on Wednesday night and is after Chapel. Everyone meets at the field in front of the Science and Technology Center and you then march down to the Indian Village and then the ceremony begins. You must be in your Class A Uniform and all Order of the Arrow Members must be wearing their Order of the Arrow sashes.

Training

There is certain types of Training that takes place for new leaders or few leaders to renew their certification. They take place certain days throughout the week and are short classes of the rules and what you can and cannot do while on these trips.

New Leader's Essential Training

The New Leader's Essential Training is for Assistant Scoutmasters or even Scoutmasters that are new and did not receive any training. The first part of the training is New Leader's Essential Training and all new leaders are required to attend to get this marked off and receive a certification card of the first part of training to become a Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster. The New Leader's Essential Training is at Boy Scout Summer Camp on Mondays at 7:00 in the evening.

Climb On Safely Training

The Climb On Safely Training is for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters that need to get or renew their certification for Climb On Safely. If you complete this training, you will be certified in Climbing, Rock Climbing, Repelling, and High Adventuring. The Climb On Safely Training is at Boy Scout Summer Camp on Tuesdays at 1:00 in the afternoon.