Summer Camp Wrapup and Looking to 2026
Our 75th summer at Camp Shenandoah in Swoope has officially wrapped-up and what an amazing summer it was! It seems like only yesterday everyone was putting the final touches on getting ready for Summer Camp. Now all the Scouts, Leaders, and Staff have returned home, looking forward to next year.
Scouts and Scouters didn’t just walk away with Slushies and Merit Badges, they walked away with a week full of memories and growth. There were campers who overcame their homesickness and there were campers who persevered to finish those last Merit Badge requirements.
There were Scouts that were trying things out for the first time! Scouts who never got to blacksmith, weld, or sail all got the chance to learn something new.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this summer possible. Thanks to Paul Hansohn, the Ranger Corps, Charlie Rodgers, and all the volunteers who came before the summer to get Camp up and running. Thank you to Jay Fox and Jim Echols for working throughout the fall and spring to recruit and interview staff. Thanks to Dee Schartiger and Kathe Maneval for navigating Black Pug and helping units with their registrations and classes.
For some of our programs this summer, we reached out to folks in the community for support. Thanks to the First Tee program in Harrisonburg for helping with the Golf Merit Badge. Thanks to Steve Hammond and John Baber for teaching the Law Merit Badge. Thank you to the Swoope Volunteer Fire Department for continually supporting the Fire Safety Merit Badge. Thank you to the Augusta County Sheriff’s Department for sending two Deputies to assist with our Range and Target program during our Week 2. Thanks to Dr. Kyle Enfield and all his work supporting our Med Lodge and for debuting the Search & Rescue Merit Badge. Thank you to Tracey Stakem and her team for supporting our Cub, Webelos, and Arrow of Light programs! Thanks to Matt Phillippi, Tom Greenwood , Jenette Reyes, Melissa Watts, and Corey May for helping in the Trading Post. Our camp is supported by so many volunteers that care – thank you to everyone who helped make this summer great for our Scouts.
We must also commend and thank our hard-working camp staff. They are the ones who make the magic happen!
We are already working on Summer 2026 and asking ourselves how we deliver a Camper First program. We want to continue innovating our program and continue to offer new and exciting opportunities at Camp Shenandoah.
For anyone interested in Summer Camp at Camp Shenandoah in 2026, be sure to save-the-dates:
ScoutsBSA Summer Camp 2026
Week 1: June 21 – June 27, 2026
Week 2: June 28 – July 4, 2026
Week 3: July 5 – July 11, 2026
Week 4: July 12 – July 18, 2026
We are offering ScoutsBSA units the chance to lock-in 2025 pricing now. If a unit puts a $100 deposit down for 2026 before September 15, they are guaranteed the 2025 summer camp price. For more information and to submit a deposit for 2026, please click: https://scoutingevent.com/763-CampShenandoah2026.
Welcome Home to Camp Shenandoah – Celebrating 75 Years
For 75 years, Camp Shenandoah has been more than just a place to camp—it’s been a home. A home where Scouts grow in confidence, character, and friendship. This summer, we celebrate a legacy that spans generations, built on shared experiences and the simple magic of being together outdoors. We carry forward our purpose: “To help every Scout find a home at camp and grow in character, so that they live the values of the Scout Oath and Law throughout their lives.”
Staff Week – Setting the Tone
Our summer kicked off with over 40 staff reporting for training. They come from near and far—including Tidewater, National Capital Area, Buckskin, Chief Seattle, and Heart of Virginia councils— with staff members from the following VAHC units: Troops 8, 11, 28, 29, 30, 37, 40, 84, 92,111, 114, 119, 138, 162, 314, 1029, and 3125 and Crews 22 and 1154. These are some of the best Scouts and Scouters, ready to lead, teach, and create unforgettable experiences and they bring the energy and commitment that makes camp possible.
Cubs and Webelos Kick Off the Summer
We welcomed over 100 Cub Scouts for Cub Resident Camp and more than 220 Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts for Webelos Resident Camp—both up from last year. From rocket launches to lake adventures, these young Scouts got their first real taste of Shenandoah, and the smiles said it all.
Scouts BSA Resident Camp – Growing Strong
Our Scouts BSA weeks are off to a strong start, with total campership up nearly 15% from last summer. Alongside our VAHC units, we’re hosting troops from: Occoneechee, Tidewater, National Capital Area, Transatlantic, New Birth of Freedom, Baltimore Area, Tuscarora, Colonial Virginia, Shenandoah Area, and Heart of Virginia. We’re also rolling out new merit badges and program options—giving Scouts more ways to explore, challenge themselves, and have fun along the way.
A Heartfelt Thank You
Camp doesn’t run on its own—and we’re especially grateful to the volunteers who worked behind the scenes all year to get Shenandoah ready for summer. Huge thanks to Paul Hansohn, Jim Echols, Jay Fox, Tracy Stakem, Kyle Enfield, Tom Greenwood, JW Campbell, William Abrahamsom, Charlie Rogers, Ed Lickey, Melissa Watts, Shenandoah Lodge, and the countless others who gave their time, tools, and talent to make camp shine. Your efforts built the foundation for everything we’re enjoying this season.
We’re off to a great start, and we’re just getting going. From Cubs to Scouts BSA, from first-time campers to seasoned staff, this summer is shaping up to be something special. We’re excited for what’s ahead—and grateful to everyone who helps make Camp Shenandoah feel like home.
Off-Season Happenings at Camp
If you haven’t seen our VP of Properties, Paul Hansohn, then you haven’t spent enough time out at Camp Shenandoah. There has been a ton of activity happening this winter.
If you hadn’t heard the news about the trading post, the short version is that we had a mold infestation. As a result, we have spent a lot of time clearing out inventory and gutting the building down to the metal so that we could clean everything. This is a costly endeavor for our council but it is a necessary one to make sure we have a functioning trading post for the camping season. We had two workdays this December where a number of volunteers came out and ended up filling a dumpster, plus some. Now we will be moving on to cleaning, insulating, and restocking so we can bring you an even better trading post this summer.
There was also a leak in the roof discovered on what has long been called the “Cook’s Cabin.” One look at the moss-covered shingles would tell you this was a possibility and that the roof had been in need of some care for a while. This was another project taken on this winter as the roof was replaced.
Of course, it’s not all about maintenance out at camp, we also have some new things to be excited about. Our log splitter had seen better days and we all know the amount of wood we go through out at camp would be difficult to get through with Scout power along. We managed to obtain a new log splitter to help us catch up on the firewood usage at camp, which will be welcome news to the units visiting for Klondike next month.
Lots is happening out at camp all the time, and you should look to be a part of that! We are always in need of extra hands for different things. Carpenters, plumbers, electricians, roofers, masons, mechanics, you name a skill and even if you are just marginally knowledgeable about it we could use your help. And if you don’t think you have a helpful skill, you would be wrong because everyone has something they can contribute to make Camp Shenandoah the best it can be for our 75th anniversary!
