Challenge Camp Banner AR 2020

CHALLENGE CAMP

July 22 – 26, 2024 at Camp Friedlander

WHAT IS CHALLENGE CAMP?

Our goal is to ensure that all youth can participate and benefit from Scouting.

Today, youth are faced with many challenges. Scouting prepares youth to accept responsibility and to care about principles and causes beyond their own self-interest. ScoutREACH prepares them to be leaders and responsible citizens. Our core mission encourages self growth through relationship development with other youth, mentors, places of worship, schools and other organizations. ScoutREACH is a well-defined program based on values, learning by doing and positive role models.

Challenge Camp, an extension of ScoutREACH, is one of the premiere camping outreach programs offered in our community. Conducted throughout the year, the purpose of Challenge Camp is to build upon the character and values they have learned about throughout the ScoutREACH program via an interactive camping experience.

The youth who participate in Challenge Camp do so at no cost to themselves or their families. All program materials and equipment are provided, as well as a nourishing lunch and snacks. One of the days, parents are invited out to see camp and enjoy a breakfast with their family.

The diversified group of volunteers include a mix of business professionals, police, firefighters, PLN members and community leaders. In addition to facilitating fun outdoor programming, the volunteers truly mentor their group through team building initiatives and personal interaction.

The experience can be best summed up by longtime Challenge Camp mentor Al Beasley: 

“Much has been written about the plight of the inner city youth and the struggles they face with respect to drugs, gangs and poverty. Challenge Camp is an open door to a different world where these youth get an opportunity to see and work with successful men and women from the world of business and government. Many of these youth would often say ‘Do you think I could be like you when I grow up?’ A tear would often start to fall from my eye as I realized that without hope for a better future what do these youth have? Challenge Camp gives them a chance to be around nature and dream/plan for a positive future by developing a positive self-image. Please continue your support of these youth.”

A special thank you to all our Challenge Camp Sponsors for supporting local youth.

Do you have questions about Challenge Camp? Please contact Karen Carter at (513) 577-7686 or email Karen.Carter@scouting.org.