Very Good Camp !!! Excellent Staff for Summer Camps. Good pool, Great OA ceremonies,I will never forget them. 2000 will be our 4th year,our boys like it so well for summer camp.
Wed, 10-May-00
Went to summer camp there in late June 1998. The heat & humidity was stiffling and there was no breeze whatsoever. The OA tap-out; however, was very impressive. I can't imagine another scout camp topping Pioneer's OA ceremony.
Comments
Could someone suppy contact information
Very Good Camp !!! Excellent Staff for Summer Camps. Good pool, Great OA ceremonies,I will never forget them. 2000 will be our 4th year,our boys like it so well for summer camp.
Went to summer camp there in late June 1998. The heat & humidity was stiffling and there was no breeze whatsoever. The OA tap-out; however, was very impressive. I can't imagine another scout camp topping Pioneer's OA ceremony.
During+the+week+of+June+10%2d16%2c+2001%2cour+troop+attended+summer+camp+at+Camp+Pioneer+near+Mena%2c+Arkansas+in+the%0d%0afoothills+of+the+Ouachita+Mountains%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+camp%2c+operated+by+the+Caddo+Area+Council+in+Texarkana%2c+Texas%2c+is+430+miles+from+where+we+live%2e+This+was+our+first+visit+to+Camp+Pioneer%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThis+was+my+21st+trip+to+summer+camp+and+the+10th+different+camp+I%27ve+attended%2e+From+an+overall+standpoint%2c+I+rate+Camp+Pioneer+among+the+top+two+or+three+camps+I%27ve+experienced%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aWe+had+a+large+campsite+for+our+36+Scouts+and+10+adults%2e+The+site+had+a+large+covered+shelter+with+electricity%2c+a+storage+building+and+a+latrine+with+hot+water+showers%2e+Wall+tents+with+platforms+were+provided%2e+We+had+significant+rainfall+on+Thursday+night+and+the+tents+stood+up+well+with%0d%0aonly+a+few+minor+leaks%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aWe+enjoyed+the+cool+nights+and+low+humidity+which+is+different+from+what+we+usually+experience+at+Texas+summer+camps+in+our+area%2e+It+did+warm+up+to+the+low+90s+during+most+days+but+this+wasn%27t+a+major+problem+as+our+campsite+was+very+shaded%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aCamp+Pioneer+had+the+most+enthusiastic+and+friendly+camp+staff+I%27ve+seen%2e+They+lined+up+in+the+entrance+to+the+dining+hall+and+sung+to+us+at+each+meal%2e+The+camp+was+adequately+staffed%2c+something+I+can%27t+say+for+some+of+the+camps+we%27ve+attended+during+the+past+few+years%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aGenerally%2c+the+merit+badge+classes+were+excellent+and+our+Scouts+enjoyed+them%2e+One+of+our+Scouts+caught+42+fish+while+working+on+the+Fishing+merit+badge%2e+We+didn%27t+have+any+Scouts+in+the+first+year+camper+program+but+a+couple+of+adults+from+other+troops+seemed+to+rate+the+program+well%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aIn+addition+to+the+merit+badge+program%2c+Camp+Pioneer+offered+an+extensive+program+of+special+activities+for+older+Scouts%2e+This+included+an+outstanding+C%2eO%2eP%2eE%2e+program%2c+mountain+biking+in+three+classifications%2c+an+excellent+mountain+man+program%2c+a+climbing+wall%2c+a+rappelling+tower+and+the+opportunity+to+take+part+in+a+special+17+mile+hike+on+Friday%2e+We+had+Scouts+in+all+the+special+programs%2c+and+the+reports+I+heard+were+very+positive%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aOn+the+negative+side%2c+the+camp+food+wasn%27t+very+good+at+a+couple+of+meals%2e+The+enchiladas+were+especially+bad%2e+The+dining+hall+is+too+small+to+feed+everyone+at+once+so+meals+were+served+in+two+shifts%2e+We+were+in+the+second+shift+and+the+food+was+not+always+warm+plus+they+ran+out+of+a%0d%0acouple+of+items%2e+We+were+there+the+first+week+of+camp+so+this+will+probably+improve+as+the+summer+continues%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+only+other+negative+aspect+was+that+our+campsite+had+a+great+deal+of+poison+ivy+and+many%2c+many+ticks%2e+The+Caddo+Area+Council+needs+to+work+on+this+and+we+mentioned+these+problems+in+our+camp+evaluation%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aOverall%2c+we+had+a+great+week+at+Camp+Pioneer+and+our+Scouts+voted+overwhelmingly++to+add+the+camp+to+our+summer+camp+rotation%2e+Camp+Pioneer+is+an+excellent+summer+camp+opportunity%2c+especially+for+troops+in+Texas%2c+Oklahoma%2c+Arkansas%2c+Louisiana%2c+Mississippi%2c+Missouri+and++even%0d%0awestern+Tennessee%2e%0d%0a
Camp+Pioneer+is+located+in+the+beautiful+foothills+of+the+Ouachita+Mountains%2e+Mountain+Fork+River+and+Two+Mile+Creek+converge+at+the+camp%2c+adding+to+its+scenic+beauty%2e+The+camp%27s+hills+are+covered+by+pines+and+a+large+variety+of+hardwood+trees%2e+Located+near+Texarkana%2c+AR+%28or+TX+if+you+perfer%29%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0a
I+have+been+attending+summer+camps+for+forty+years+and+can+truthfully+say+Camp+Pioneer+is+by+far+the+best+I+have+ever+seen%2e++The+goal+of+the+saff+is+to+do+whatever+it+takes+to+ensure+that+each+scout+has+an+exciting%2c+funfilled+experience%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aOA+lodges+across+this+nation+could+take+a+lesson+from+this+lodge%2e++Their+members+are+excitied+and+dedicated+and+their+ceremonies+show+it%2e++It+is+by+far+the+best+I+have+ever+seen%2e++My+boys+were+scared+to+death%2e++Afterwards+they+laughed+and+agreed+it+was+AWESOME%2e+jd%0d%0a%0d%0a%0d%0a
Four+distinctive+characteristics+are+why+we+continue+to+come+back+to+Camp+Pioneer%2e++Those+are%3a+the+high+quality+of+the+Camp+Staff%3a+the+best+camp+food+I+have+experienced%3b+the+remarkable+Order+of+the+Arrow+Call%2dOut+Ceremony+was+inspiring+and+one+my+Scouts+won%92t+soon+forget%3a+and+the+peaceful+mountain+setting+with+the+tall+pines%2c+cool+nights+and+mild+days%2e%22+%2d+Jim+Dunkin%2c+Scout+Master%2c+Troop+707%2dDallas%2c+Texas+%96+Circle+Ten+Council%0d%0a%0d%0a
I+just+wanted+to+let+everyone+know+that+you+can+go+to+www%2ecamppioneer%2eorg+for+information+about+anything+pertaining+to+this+camp%2e%0d%0a
Excellent+camp%2e++This+was+our+troops+first+trip+to+Pioneer%2c+but+not+our+last%2e++We+made+reservations+for+next+year%2e++The+scenery+is+beautiful%2e++The+staff+and+MB+counselors+are+outstanding%2e++The+program+is+great%2e++They+have+activities+every+night+to+keep+the+boys+busy%2e++For+example%2c+they+have+aquatics+night%2c+movie+night%2c+stunt+night%2c+free+swim%2c+free+shooting+and+a+campfire+that+rolls+over+to+the+OA+call+out+ceremony%2e++The+ceremony+is+extremely+impressive%2c+but+looooong%2e++It+is+at+least+two+hours+and+very+tedious+for+scouters+with+bad+backs+and+younger+scouts%2e++You+leave+the+campfire+and+hike+to+the+OA+ring%2e++There+are+benches+surrounding+the+OA+ring+that+will+hold+500+to+600+scouts%2e++The+problem+is%2c+they+have+you+stand+thru+almost+the+entire+ceremony%2e++It+is+impressive%2c+unlike+anything+you%27ll+likely+see+elsewhere%2c+but+it+needs+to+move+a+little+faster%2e++The+food+was+good+and+pleniful+and+the+first+aid+staff+were+great%2e++The+only+complaint+we+had+was+that+our+campsite+was+not+clean+when+we+arrived%2e++Part+of+that+may+be+due+to+attending+the+first+week+of+camp%2c+but+with+an+OA+Lodge+as+active+as+this+one+seems+to+be%2c+the+camp+sites+should+have+been+clean+when+the+first+week+campers+arrived%2e++As+I+said%2c+we+will+be+back+based+on+a+vote+of+the+boys%2e%0d%0a
This+camp+here+is+the+best+and%2c+no+Im+not+saying+this+because+I+was+a+staff+member+and+got+++tap%2dout+there+but+I+leave+in+illinois+now+and+nothing+up+her+comes+close+to+the+way+the+camp+staff+and+the+OA+is+run%2e%0d%0a
Although+I+do+agree+with+the+above+comment+on+the+excellent+OA+tap%2dout%2c+and+enjoyed+the+new+on%2dline+merit+badge+enrollment+process%2c+I+feel+this+camp+has+a+lot+of+areas+in+serious+need+of+being+overhauled%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+food+at+the+camp+was+the+worse+I+have+had+in+the+last+four+long+term+camps+I+attended%2e++Milk+was+being+served+well+beyond+its+expiration+date+%28pouring+milk+out+on+cereal+with+the+consistency+of+cottage+cheese+does+a+lot+for+the+appetite%29%2c+the+peanut+butter+table+ran+out+of+peanut+butter+three+days+into+a+6+day+camp%2e++Food+not+eaten+in+previous+meals+was+obviously+being+recycled+in+later+meals%2e++Other+food%2c+namely+hot+pockets%2c+and+corn+dogs+were+stale+and+beyond+the+ability+to+eat%2e++Several+of+my+scouts+became+sick+by+the+end+of+the+week%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aStray+dogs+are+allowed+to+run+loose+throughout+camp+with+the+camp+ranger%92s+dogs%2e++These+dogs+are+malnourished%2c+cause+delays+and+distractions+during+merit+badge+classes%2c+run+thought+the+mess+hall+during+dinner%2c+and+are+tick+infested%2e++One+dog+accidentally+bit+a+scout+which+caused+this+scout+to+seek+medical+attention+at+the+local+hospital+and+the+dog+to+be+quarantined+%28only+after+the+affected+troop+complained%29%2e++The+medical+treatment+of+the+scout+bitten+was+irresponsible%2e+++%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+trading+post+was+complete+out+of+stock+of+shirts+and+ran+out+of+ice+cream+on+Thursday+and+only+after+several+complaints+restocked+the+snack+bar%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aI+honestly+felt+bad+for+the+staff+working+at+the+camp%2e++Jeff+and+Frank+were+great%2e++Always+available+and+worked+hard+to+make+everything+right+for+the+Troop%2e++Unfortunately+the+camp+and+their+talents+don%92t+come+close+to+matching%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a
This+is+a+beautiful+setting+for+a+camp%2c+in+the+foothills+of+Arkansas%2e+The+campsites+are+well+shaded%2c+the+staff+is+highly+self%2dmotivated%2c+and+really+cares+about+what+they+do%2c+and+doing+it+well%2e+The+boys+always+remember+most+Staff+by+their+camp+names+from+year+to+year%2c+and+tell+Camp+and+Staff+stories+year+round%2e+It+is+hard+to+pick+a+best+area%2c+I+haven%27t+found+a+bad+one%21+The+OA+calling+out+is+one+you+will+not+forget%2e+%0d%0aThe+sites+have+good+tents+with+wooden+platforms%2c+and+hot+showers+can+be+had+even+in+the+sites+with+small+latrines%2e+The+extras+like+the+COPE%2c+Mountain+Man%2c+Mountain+Biking%2c+Climbing%2fRappelling+tower%2c+and+the+Famous+%22Rich+Mountain+Hike%22+are+things+the+older+scouts+have+really+spoken+well+of%2e+There+is+an+activity+almost+every+night+for+the+troops%2c+and+for+structure%2c+the+Coup+Stick+challenge+keeps+Scouts+in+the+Patrol+method+and+troop+activity%2e+If+you+are+fortunate+enough+to+be+there+for+%22Movie+Night%22+it+is+something+to+experience%2e+%0d%0aI+plan+to+go+back+even+when+my+boys+are+gone%2e%0d%0a
I+have+just+finished+replying+to+my+first+letter+to+Caddo+Area+Councils%2c+SE+about+some+complaints+about+Camp+Pioneer%2e++His+first+response+was+a+series+of+statistics+glossing+over+some+real+concerns+about+the+program+areas+during+week+five+of+2007%2e+++It+has+taken+this+long+for+my+blood+to+quit+boiling+when+I+think+of+Pioneer+to+be+able+to+rationaly+record+my+thoughts%2e++First+there+was+the+food+on+a+scale+of+1%2d10+it+was+a+definite+0%2e++The+facilities+were+at+best+run+down+and+in+need+of+maintenance%2e++Tents+were+holey+and+leaked%2e++The+%22free+cots%22+were+rancid%2e+Many+of+the+staff+were+no+older+than+the+boys+I+brought+to+camp%2e+++Program+areas+went+an+entire+week+without+checking+of+any+accomplishments%2e++Scout+Skills+boys+achieved+minimal+achievement%2e++Boys+were+awared+Totem+Chits+and+Fireman+chips+without+using+or+sharpening+an+ax+or+building+a+fire%2e++Dogs%2e++Mangy+smelly+pesty+dogs+even+in+the+Dining+Hall+on+occasion%2e++If+I+remember+correctly+a+boy+was+bitten%2e++The+latrines+had+such+a+stench+as+to+wake+you+at+night%2e++Honestly+Cat%2dHoles+would+be+better%2e++The+Camp+Director+never+attended+the+daily+scoutmaster+meeting+despite+urgings+from+myself+and+several+other+scoutmasters+that+he+should%2e++Finally+a+boy+from+our+troop+was+in+the+Wilderness+Survial+merit+badge%2e++For+the+overnite+shelter+camp%2dout+the+staff+did+not+have+a+role+sheet%2e++Subsequently+the+staff+abandoned+camp+at+around+midnite+leaving+the+boy+from+my+troop+alone+in+his+made+shelter+in+a+severe+thunderstorm+less+than+a+mile+from+a+raging+river%2e++About+2%3a00+am+he+woke+up+and+made+his+way+to+our+campsite+and+quietly+went+into+his+tent%2e++I+found+out+about+this+while+patrol+lines+were+getting+ready+for+breakfast%2e++And+went+to+the+first+adult+staff%2c+Phil+from+aquatics%2e++I+heard+back+from+the+camp+commissioner+but+never+from+the+Camp+Director%2e++%0d%0aThe+SE+quoted+my+evaluation+scores+back+to+me+recently+however+the+staff+that+took+up+our+SM+and+SPL+evaluations+proceeded+to+open+and+read+them+before+we+had+left+camp%2e++He+got+angry+at+a+comment+the+SPL+made+and+swatted+him+on+the+arm+with+a+clip+board%2e+++I+can+promise+any+one+reading+this+that+our+troop+will+not++attend+Camp+Pioneer+again+unless+some+serious+attention+is+paid+and+the+serious+deficits+are+corrected%2e%0d%0aFrank+Griffin+SM+T342+Chandler+TX%0d%0a