Camp Shenandoah: Welcome Home

There is something special about Camp Shenandoah in the summertime. Every week, Scouts arrive excited for new adventures, new friendships, and new experiences. By the end of the week, many leave calling camp their second home.

That has been our goal for 76 years.  Our purpose is simple: to help every Scout find a home at camp and grow in character so they carry the values of the Scout Oath and Law with them for the rest of their lives. Everything we do—from our programs to our facilities to the people who make camp possible—is centered on that mission.

This has been our strongest summer since before the pandemic. More than 1,300 Scouts, leaders, volunteers, and family members have already come through our gates, filling camp with the excitement and energy that make Shenandoah such a special place.

Watching Scouts try something new, overcome challenges, and build friendships reminds us why camp matters. Whether it’s a Cub Scout attending their first overnight camp or an older Scout earning a challenging merit badge, every week is filled with moments they’ll remember for years to come. This summer has also brought several exciting additions to camp.

DINO CAMP was TREX-CELLENT! From the moment campers arrived, they embraced the prehistoric theme with enthusiasm. Week One was full of discovery, imagination, and plenty of dinosaur-sized fun, and we’re excited to see the program continue to grow.

We’ve also launched the Minor League Program, thanks to the hard work of Corey May. This new program has given older youth the opportunity to learn more about camp, work as a team, and prepare to be future staff.

For those looking for adventure beyond camp, our partnership with Vivid Earth has opened the door to guided caving expeditions. These trips have quickly become a memorable highlight for many Scouts looking to experience something truly unique.

Camp is built by people.

Every successful program, repaired building, and smiling staff member is the result of volunteers and supporters who give their time, talents, and resources throughout the year.

A special thank you goes to Tracey Stakem for her incredible work developing our Cub Scout program and bringing DINO CAMP to life. Thank you to Paul Hansohn for the countless projects that continue to improve camp, Corey May for coaching the new Minor League Program, and Kent Baisley for helping share the Camp Shenandoah story and encouraging Scouts to join us.

We are also grateful to Dirk Gold and Paul McGill for all their work supporting our Blacksmithing program, Chuck Palmer and Josh Samuels, Shenandoah Lodge, Dee Schartiger & Zac Collins with all their efforts to lead camp and hire our team throughout the offseason, Kathe & Tom Maneval for their help on Sunday Check-Ins, Tom Greenwood for leading the Trading Post, Kyle Enfield for all his effort to keep Camp healthy and safe, Ed Lickey & Sarah Lindegren for supporting our Nature program, Lauren Ball & Tom Stiehl for helping with our Adult Leader Training, Dennis Camp for his help with NCAP, and Craig Weston for his work during Ranger Week. Your work behind the scenes often goes unseen, but it makes an enormous difference for every Scout who comes to camp.

To the generous donors who helped provide new dining ware, life jackets, and a replacement motor for our waterfront, thank you for investing directly in the experience our Scouts have every day.

And finally, thank you to every staff member, volunteer, Scout, parent, and unit leader who encouraged someone to attend camp, join our staff, or volunteer. Camp Shenandoah has always grown through personal invitations from people who believe in this place. Your support is the reason we continue to grow.

While there is still plenty of summer left to enjoy, we’re already excited for what comes next. Every year we look for new ways to improve camp while preserving the traditions that make Shenandoah feel like home.

We hope you’ll join us again in 2027.

Thank you for being part of the Camp Shenandoah family. We’ll see you at camp.