Although the mailing address is Longbarn, Camp Hi-Sierra is actually located approximately 1 mile SE of Cold Springs (see the topo map). The route into camp is less direct (g). Turn right at the gravel pit (shown on the topo) just west of Cold Springs. Follow the signs to Hi-Sierra. Where the sign says go right, and you think you should go left, go right. especially if you're pulling a trailer. The branch to the right lets you avoid a very sharp and nasty left turn.
Comments
Although the mailing address is Longbarn, Camp Hi-Sierra is actually located approximately 1 mile SE of Cold Springs (see the topo map). The route into camp is less direct (g). Turn right at the gravel pit (shown on the topo) just west of Cold Springs. Follow the signs to Hi-Sierra. Where the sign says go right, and you think you should go left, go right. especially if you're pulling a trailer. The branch to the right lets you avoid a very sharp and nasty left turn.
Camp+is+at+5000%27+so+in+winter+there+is+sometimes+snow%2e+Camp+is+available+for+reservation+year+round%2e+Great+summer+Camp+program+in+July+%26+August%2e%0d%0a
Hi%2c+Did+anyone+attend+Hi%2dSierra+in+2005%3f++Just+want+to+get+some+updated+info+on+the+program+and+merit+badge+program%2e++Looking+for+a+good+staff+and+directors+that+ensure+the+badges+are+taught+and+earned%2e++Please+email+me+at+joeyr60%40yahoo%2ecom%2e++Thanks+in+advance%21%0d%0a
Our+Troop+attended+Camp+Hi%2dSierra+in+August+2006%2e++Here+is+what+we+experienced%2e++Pros%3a+Beautiful+location%2c+nice+facilities%2c+awesome+weather%2c+no+mosquito%2dinsect%2dsnake+problems+at+all%2e+There+is+a+detailed+campership+program+at+the+camp+that+takes+hours+of+interviews+on+Friday+and+an+elaborate+ceremony+that+night%2e+Cons%3a+Many+of+the+merit+badges+shown+to+be+offered+online+and+over+the+phone+one+week+before+camp+were+either+not+offered+or+only+open+to+small+class+sizes%2e++Out+of+a+troop+of+12+scouts%2c+no+boy+got+into+all+3+badge+classes+planned+for+and+some+did+not+get+into+any%21++Badge+sign+up+totally+unorganized%2e++Check+in+took+hours+primarily+due+to+a+bottle+neck+with+the+Camp+Medical+person+who+interviewed+each+camper+individually%2e++Food+was+poor+quality+and+sometimes+in+small+quantities%2e++Merit+badge+classes+were+staggered+and+given+every+half+hour%2c+so+if+you+take+a+9%3a30+class+that+may+be+the+only+one+you+can+take+in+the+morning%2e++Free+Time+or+Open+Area+time+was+at+4%3a00+pm+while+other+area+classes+were+still+going+on%2e++Example%3a+If+you+took+Archery+and+needed+to+qualify+during+free+shoot+you+were+unable+to+take+a+late+afternoon+class+or+wouldn%27t+qualify+at+archery%2e++Some+merit+badge+councelors+did+not+show+up+to+class+on+time%2c+were+inattentive+to+scouts%2c+and+sometimes+rude+to+adults+who+were+observing+classes%2e++Area+hours+and+office+hours+were+not+adhered+to+and+posted+%22May+change+without+notice%22%2e++Our+troop+requested+for+O%2eA%2e+members+to+assist+with+a+call+out+ceremony+but+staff+were+unable+to+help+because+we+were+an+out+of+council+troop%2e++There+was+time+for+an+O%2eA%2e+cracker+barrel+and+Brotherhood+ceremony+during+the+week%2e++The+aquatics+area+is+a+wide+place+in+the+stream+and+the+water+is+very+cold%2e++Scouts+who+do+not+intend+on+taking+aquatic+badges+or+going+to+free+swim+might+want+to+pass+on+the+swim+test+in+the+very+cold+water%2e++If+the+council+and+staff+put+as+much+work+into+the+merit+badge+program+as+they+did+into+the+campership+program+this+would+have+been+an+excellent+camp+instead+of+mediocre%2e++Our+troop+will+not+return+to+this+camp+until+there+is+a+major+change+in+management%2c+program%2c+and+staff%2e++We+would+like+to+thank+those+staff+members+who+worked+with+the+scouts%2c+were+helpful%2c+and+were+dedicated+to+service%21%0d%0a
A+much+better+website+is+here%3a++%0d%0a%0d%0ahttp%3a%2f%2fwww%2ecamphisierra%2eorg+%0d%0a%0d%0a%3ca+href%3d%22http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ecamphisierra%2eorg%22%3eFriends+of+Camp+Hi%2dSierra%3c%2fa%3e%0d%0a%0d%0aCalled+the+%22Friends+of+Camp+Hi%2dSierra%2c%22+it%27s+unofficial%2c+but+maintained+by+staff+and+frequent+campers+of+Camp+Hi%2dSierra%2c+with+a+lot+simpler+navigation+than+the+official+Council+site%2e++%0d%0a
Our+troop+attended+Hi%2dSierra+for+the+first+time+this+year%2e+The+experience+was+mixed%2c+very+successful+in+some+respects+and+less+than+positive+in+others%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aCheck%2din+was+a+mixed+bag%2e+The+camp+nurse+interviewed+each+Scout+individually%2c+keeping+us+from+swim+checks%2e+This+even+though+there+was+a+physician+doing+pre%2dinterview+reviews+of+the+health+forms%2c+etc%2e+One+Scout+had+a+minor+episode+of+vomiting+%28one+time%29+shortly+after+arrival%2e+History+of+attention%2dseeking+behaviour%2e+Long+story+short+he+was+sent+in+to+the+ER+right+away+despite+some+VERY+bad+acting+on+his+part%2c+claiming+the+room+was+spinning%2c+etc%2e+40+miles+to+the+ER%2c+nurse+wouldn%27t+let+him+stay+unless+he+was+medically+cleared%2c+had+an+Rx+for+an+inhaler+that+assisting+doc+said+he+needed+%28boy+was+a+poorly+managed+early+asthmatic+who+hadn%27t+seen+his+own+doc+in+a+year%2c+but+that+wasn%27t+why+he+was+sent%29%2e+Missed+supper%2c+opening+campfire%2c+etc+for+nothing%2e+For+the+record+I+am+a+Paramedic%2dSpecialist%2fRN+with+34+years+medical+practice+and+could+easily+see+through+the+ploy+on+the+youth%27s+part%2c+but+the+nurse+took+every+statement+as+literal+fact%2e+ER+tested+inside+and+out+and+sent+him+back+with+a+script+for+his+inhaler+and+said+there+wasn%27t+anything+wrong+they+could+find%2e+I+made+a+professional+complaint+to+the+activities+director+but+basically+was+given+a+song+and+dance+routine+about+how+the+nurse+was+the+best+one+they%27d+had+in+years%2c+etc%2e+Left+a+very+bad+taste+in+my+mouth+and+the+Scout%27s+family+with+a+whopping+ER+bill+they+absolutely+cannot+afford%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aStaff+moral+overall+was+beyond+excellent%2e+Well+staffed%2c+and+they+seemed+to+know+their+stuff%2e+This+is+the+only+camp+I+have+ever+seen+across+7+states+that+offers+Paper+and+Pulp+merit+badge%2e+100%25+of+the+troop+%2814+boys%29+earned+it%2e+The+camp+is+built+on+an+old+saw+mill+site+so+that+served+for+the+facilities+tour+requirement%2c+I+was+told%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+lake+is+a+dammed+stream+that+runs+more+than+a+bit+chilly%2e+Again%2c+long+story%2fshort+version+when+we+did+get+to+do+swim+checks+the+following+morning+one+boy+became+acutely+hypothermic%2e+I+was+never+notified+save+by+another+adult+leader+later%2c+by+which+time+rewarming+had+been+going+on+for+the+better+part+of+an+hour+and+the+boy+was+still+hypothermic+but+improving%2e+Do+beware+though%2c+besides+chilly+water+temps+the+altitude+will+be+a+limiting+factor+for+boys+and+adults+from+lower+climes%2e+For+us+it+was+over+a+4%2c500+foot+elevation+gain%2c+and+it+showed%2e+Breathing+during+the+exertion+required+for+the+swim+test+can+and+will+be+a+problem%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aWe+were+there+the+first+week+of+camp%2e+Trading+post+was+poorly+stocked%2c+2010+camp+shirts+weren%27t+in%2c+and+trading+post+was+closed+Friday+because+the+staffer+became+ill%2e+Closed+again+Saturday+morning+before+we+could+break+camp+so+never+did+get+in+those+last+day+purchases%2e+The+only+craft+kits+for+woodcarving+were+pinewood+derby+car+kits%2e+They+had+more+in+the+way+of+high%2dpriced+camp+trinkets+than+they+did+for+craft+items+needed+for+merit+badges%2e+I+felt+bad+for+the+trading+post+manager%3b+the+lack+of+stock+wasn%27t+of+his+choosing%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aFood+was+very+good+and+in+quite+fair+quantity+with+family%2dstyle+serving%2e+The+salad+bar+was+very+bleak%2c+however%2e+Not+what+I+have+come+to+expect+with+dining+hall+service%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0aOn+Friday+we+had+another+boy+who+had+a+minor+vomiting+episode%2c+with+2+others+who+witnessed+this+claiming+illness+as+well%2e+End+result+was+the+camp+nurse+decided+we+had+carried+a+bug+into+camp+with+us+and+had+us+quarantine+the+3+boys+in+our+campsite+for+the+remainder+of+the+session%2e+I+had+to+disinfect+the+campsite%2c+and+she+literally+had+the+staff+disinfecting+rocks%21+I+wish+I+were+kidding%2e+The+boys+got+incompletes+on+their+merit+badges+as+a+result+and+their+meals+had+to+be+sent+up%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aHi%2dSierra+does+offer+some+very+good+overnight+campouts+for+camping%2c+wilderness+survival%2c+astronomy%2c+etc%2e+More+than+you+normally+see+at+most+camps%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+camp+is+small+and+everything+is+uphill+both+ways%2c+but+the+setting+is+comfortable%2e+Very+nice+shower+house+with+individual+units+for+privacy%2c+so+no+worries+about+youth%2fadults+or+females+mixing%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aA+unique+feature+of+the+camp+is+the+extra+week+for+your+SPL+at+no+additional+cost%2e+Ideally+he+would+go+before+the+troop%2e+Since+were+there+the+first+week+he+merely+stayed+over+and+flew+home+afterwards%2e+He+was+the+SPL+his+first+week+and+learned+a+lot+from+the+experience%2e+His+2nd+week+he+earned+the+merit+badges+he+didn%27t+have+time+for+the+1st+owing+to+his+other+duties%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aI+can+recommend+Hi%2dSierra+once+for+the+experience%2c+but+traveling+600+miles+as+we+did+to+get+there%2c+only+to+run+into+staff%2dcreated+or+exacerbated++problems+as+we+did+means+it+is+not+a+trip+we%27ll+likely+make+again%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%0d%0a
The+new+Camp+Hi%2dSierra+website+is+%0d%0ahttp%3a%2f%2fcamphi%2dsierra%2eorg%2f%0d%0a
I+have+seen+Hi%2dSierra+progress+over+six+years+as+both+a+camper+and+a+staff+member%2e+I+know+the+struggles+that+they+faced%2e+In+order+to+lead+a+whole+Boy+Scout+camp+the+program+manager+as+well+as+the+camp+director+has+to+be+creatively+focused+on+providing+the+best+camp+experience+for+the+campers+as+possible%2e+%0d%0aI+believe+great+strides+have+been+taken+to+accomplish+this+in+that+for+one+our+facilities+are+much+nicer+and+we+have+a+team+that+works+around+the+clock+to+keep+them+that+way%2e++Some+of+our+major+improvements+have+been+our+new+shower+building+for+the+campers%2e+This+multi%2dmillion+dollar+project+was+funded+on+the+sole+fact+that+we+wanted+the+campers+to+have+some+of+the+same+comforts+as+they+did+at+home+in+camp%2e+%0d%0aThe+Camp+Hi%2dSierra+facilities+just+part+of+the+dramatic+improvement+this+camp+has+seen+over+years%2e+The+camping+program+is+vaster+than+just+merit+badges%2e+Camp+Hi%2dSierra+program+offers+scouts+a+chance+to+grow+in+their+understanding+of+nature+and+skills+that+they+will+utilize+in+their+everyday+life%2e+We+offer+excellent+age+appropriate+skill+building+in+leadership+as+well+as+character+building%2e+%0d%0aThink+back+to+when+you+were+a+boy%3a+were+you+given+the+help+and+encouragement+to+succeed+in+everything+that+you+feared%3f+I+have+seen+boys+do+things+that+they+would+not+even+consider+in+the+suburban+setting+they+call+home%2e++I+have+seen+scouts+who+are+afraid+of+heights+push+themselves+to+climb+to+the+top+of+our+climbing+tower%3a+supervised+by+our+highly+trained+staff%2e+%0d%0aCamp+Hi%2dSierra+offers+adults+a+chance+to+observe+their+scout+for+the+first+time+excel+in+their+endeavors%2e+Hi%2dSierra+provides+opportunities+for+adults+to+become+more+proud+of+their+scouts+than+they+had+ever+felt+possible%2e+This+camp+rewards+scouts+who+accomplish+anything+from+seemingly+smallest+of+accomplishments+to+the+most+monstrous+undertakings+with+the+Tribe+of+Hi%2dSierra%2e+%0d%0aThe+Tribe+of+Hi%2dSierra+is+a+reward+system+which+a+scout+earns+rank+by+such+things+as+service+to+others+and+improvement+of+facilities%2e+This+is+a+passive+way+of+teaching+pride+in+one%92s+work+and+in+one%92s+self%2e+The+tribe+at+the+end+of+the+camp+week+is+followed+by+a+ceremony+recognizing+the+scout+in+his+accomplishments%2e+%0d%0aAlthough+Camp+Hi%2dSierra+may+seem+like+it+is+tailored+toward+the+younger+audience%2c+it+really+has+a+large+range+of+age%2dcentered+activities%2e+For+older+scouts+%28boys+or+girls%29+we+offer+the+trekking+program%2e+The+trekking+program+is+centered+on+venturing+high+adventure+guidelines%2e+It+is+for+ages+16+years+and+up%2e+The+trekking+program+succeeded+the+base+camp+program%2e+Trekking+offers+scouts+an+opportunity+to+do+more+than+most+have+ever+done+in+their+lifetime%2e+%0d%0aTheir+activities+throughout+the+week+include+%28and+are+not+limited+to+climbing%2c+hiking%2c+mountain+biking%2c+canoeing%2c+kayaking%2c+swimming+in+Pinecrest+as+well+as+the+Clavey%2c+and+so+much+more%2e+The+trekking+program+inspires+young+adults+to+become+self%2ddependent+by+allowing+them+the+opportunity+to%2e+The+trekking+program+is+also+good+for+crews+who+want+to+go+camping+and+hiking+more%2e+%0d%0aSome+of+the+skills+that+the+scout+will+learn+are+and+not+limited+to+navigation+with+a+map+as+well+as+a+GPS%2c+cooking+skills+and+leadership+skills%2e+In+our+computer%2doriented+society%2c+it+is+hard+to+gain+practical+skills+such+as+these%2e+The+trekking+program+offers+scouts+an+opportunity+to+meet+new+people+and+learn+to+work+together+such+as+they+would+in+the+everyday+workplace%2e+%0d%0aAt+the+end+of+the+week%2c+everyone+%28trekking%2c+adults%2c+staff%2c+and+campers%29+gathers+in+our+amphitheater+for+a+show+of+skits+and+songs+that+is+completely+hosted+by+the+scouts%2e+This+is+similar+to+the+opening+campfire+at+the+beginning+of+the+week+hosted+by+staff%2e+It+is+high+energy+and+it+enables+scouts+to+highlight+their+experiences+from+the+week+as+well+as+show+their+public+speaking+skills%2e+It+brings+everyone+together+to+celebrate+the+scouts+and+their+accomplishments+throughout+the+week%2e+%0d%0aThat+is+the+purpose+of+Hi%2dSierra%2e+It+is+for+the+scouts%2e+Our+staff+works+tirelessly+to+provide+exceptional+services+to+which+are+centered+on+the+participant%2e+Hi%2dSierra+has+made+strides+of+improvements+in+everything+from+facilities+to+program%2e+Hi%2dSierra+offers+the+best+camp+experience+a+boy+can+get+because+we+are+detail+oriented+and+service+oriented+to+everyone+who+comes+to+our+camp%2e%0d%0a++%0d%0a%0d%0a