Camp Buckskin Overview
Camp Buckskin of Read Scout Reservation is the finest dining hall camp in the Northeast. Offering a wide variety of traditional advancement programs and the benefits of the Summit high adventure activities, a week at Buckskin is a true adventure for your Scouts. Our pledge to you is to do everything in our power to ensure that your Scouts have a camp experience they will always treasure. If you see something that needs improvement, please point it out to us immediately. A correction improves the week for your Scouts and all that follow.

Camp Map 

Advancement Schedule

The First Day in Camp
Check-In
Check-in will be at the Dining Hall beginning at 1:00 p.m. The Business Manager will check over the unit's roster and payment records. 

Units (with Leaders) will be allowed to enter Camp beginning at 1:00 p.m. The unit should make plans to arrive together, along with their Leader. Please arrive no later than 4:00 p.m.

Please see Parking Information.

Camp Orientation
A staff guide will meet your troop upon your arrival in camp. They will accompany you to your campsite. With the senior patrol leader and the scoutmaster, the site guide will inspect the campsite equipment. A camp orientation will then be conducted by the site guide. Before leaving the site, each Scout and Leader should have changed into swimming gear and have his medical form and any medication.

Medical Recheck
There will be a medical recheck at the Dining Hall. The health officer or his designee will review all medical forms and any medication. Blank medical forms are available at the Council Service Center and are available in the Download section of this site. Buddy tags will be issued at this time.

If any child or adult has any special needs due to medical or physical disabilities, please notify the Health Officer and Camp Director immediately upon medical check.

Swim Check
A swim check will take place at the waterfront. Buddy tags will be kept at the waterfront. Several waterfront rules will be explained by the staff. Each scout should understand these rules. These rules will be enforced by the waterfront staff throughout the week.

Camp Tour
A camp tour will follow the swim check. Everyone in the troop should participate in this tour even if they are veterans of the camp. Each of the program areas visited will have a staff member who will explain the program and answer any questions.

Leaders' Meeting
A unit leaders meeting will take place at 4:30 p.m. the porch of the trading post. It is essential that at least one adult leader and the senior patrol leader from each troop attend.If supervision of your campsite is needed due to a leader's attendance at this meeting, let us know at check in and an adult staff member will be assigned to the
campsite. New camp opportunies as well as other important information will be discussed.

Retreat
Formal retreat will be held at 5:45 p.m. on the parade field. Troops' formation will be discussed at the Scoutmasters' meeting. Class A uniform is expected; troop and patrol flags are welcome.

Dinner
Waiters (1 per table) should report to the dining hall at 5:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m.

Merit Badge Sign-up
Merit badge changes will be addressed at the Newton Dining Hall Sunday evening, beginning at 7:15. Instructions for badge signup will be given at retreat. All Scouts badges should have been registered on our web site, here, well before coming to camp. The advancement system on our web site will allow you to print out a master schedule for your troop and each Scout. Simply make note of any changes or additions before Sunday evening. It is critical that each Scout know his schedule and follow it on a daily basis.

Please be aware that some very popular badges may have limitations on the number of scouts that can be instructed properly and safely. If a badge is over booked, a system has been established where a troop gets a boy in the class for every so many Scouts in Camp. The ratio is established based on the demand for the badge and the safety requirements of the badges. Badges that may be limited include archery, rifle shooting, small boat sailing, climbing, shotgun shoo��ng and horsemanship.

Opening Campfire
The opening campfire is the final event of the day. It will begin at 8:30 p.m. at the campfire ring. The campfire is put on by the staff.

Taps
Taps is at 10:00 p.m. Everyone should be back in their campsites and getting ready for the next day.

Daily Themes

• Tuesday of each week - Counselor-In-Training Day: CIT's will run retreat on this day.
• Wednesday of each week - Order of the Arrow Day: OA members are encouraged to wear OA T-shirts during the day, and their sashes to retreat.

Rainy Day Program
The regularly scheduled camp program continues, rain or shine. The waterfront program may need to be adjusted in the case of an electrical storm, but everything else operates as normal.

Additional program options may be added during open program periods in the dining hall at Buckskin. Announcements will be made as necessary.

BOSS
During the week troops compete for the BOSS (Best of Scout Skills) award. It is given out on the basis of a troop’s participation in camp programs. This award is given to one troop each week.

Camp Newspaper
The camp daily newspaper will be distributed each day at breakfast. Updates on program happenings as well as important inspection information will be contained in the newspaper. Leaders should post the newspaper on their bulletin boards.

Trading Post
Opening Day: 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Weekdays: 8:50 - NOON
1:50 - 4:45 PM
6:50 - 8:30 PM
Closing Day: After retreat until 11:00 AM

Camp Buckskin's Trading Post is located next to the Camp Office.

Each Trading Post is stocked with an assortment of patches, cups, merit badge pamphlets, Scouting supplies,
camp T‐shirts, soda, and various other items. No candy will be sold just before meals. There is no specific
amount of money a Scout should being to camp, but on the average, Scouts spend between $25 and $40,
depending on the purchase of supplies for merit badges. New for 2013 ‐ Visa and MasterCard will be
accepted at both trading posts!

Flag Ceremonies
Camp Buckskin holds flag raising at 7:50 a.m. and retreat at 5:50 p.m. daily.

Full class "A" uniform is requested at all retreats.

Showers
Camp Buckskin has two shower houses—one near the Pioneer camp site and the other just above Scoutcraft on the Trans-Siberian trail.

A shower cleaning schedule will be posted. Please adhere to this to keep these facilities clean!

Trash Separation
Trash must be separated for recycling per local laws. Further details will be available from your Commissioner when you arrive in camp.

Campsite Inspection
Campsite inspection will be conducted daily by your Commissioner. Each troop will be responsible for a specific area of camp to clean as well. Specific details will be distributed at the opening day leaders meeting.

Meals
Camp Buckskin meal times

• Breakfast: 8:00 a.m.
• Lunch: 12:15 p.m.
• Dinner: 6:00 p.m.

Waiters are to report to the Dining Hall 20 minutes before meals. One waiter per table is needed. Dining Hall procedure will be explained during the opening day camp tour.

Full Class "A" uniform is requested at all dinners, except the "Weekly Theme" day.

Please note that the first served meal for Troops arriving Sunday is dinner. Sunday brunch is not included in the camp fee except between weeks for unit staying multiple weeks.  Any unit wishing to make special arrangements for extra meals must contact the Central Office by Thursday of the previous week.