Camp Emerson today consists of 160 acres of old pine forest in the San Jacinto mountains of Riverside County.Situated at 5200 feet, Emerson is the oldest continuously operating Boy Scout camp West of the Missippi. The camp is available year-round and can be used for traditional summer programs, a new high adventure (E-Team) program, as well as other major outdoor events throughout the year.

My+troop+attended+Camp+Emerson+last+summer%2e++We+found+that+it+was+an+excellent+camp+for+first+year+boys+haveing+thier+first+long+term+experience%2e++The+staff+was+amazing+and+made+the+trip+very+enjoyable+for+scouts+and+scouters+alike%2e++There%27s+even+a+merit+badge+and+advancement+program+for+the+adults%2c+to+keep+ya+busy+and+out+of+the+boys+hair%2e++Great+job+Emerson%2e%0d%0aMatt+Flanagan%2c+Committee+Chair+Troop+634+Rancho+Cucamonga%0d%0a

We+just+returned+from+Camp+Emerson%2c+7%2f07%2c+Third+week+of+camp+operations%2e+Here+are+the+pros%3a+Beautiful+location%2c+above+average+staff%2c+lots+of+merit+badges+offered+%28Including+many+not+offered+at+most+summer+camps%29%2e++Program+Director+is+great+and+took+care+of+problems+immediately%2c+Archery%2dRifle%2dHandicrafts+areas+very+well+run%2e+Archery+allowed+two+scouts+to+complete+their+qualifications+from+previous+year+at+different+camp%2e++Handicrafts+super+accomodating+allowed+scouts+to+take+merit+badges+late+in+week%2e++Nice+campfire+area+and+programs%2e++OA+campfire+had+very+good+Native+American+style+drums%2c+songs%2c+and+stories%2e++Wood+Chips+used+throughout+most+of+camp+to+keep+dust+down%2e++Saw+Mill+machine+very+cool%2e++Small+one+acre+lake+but+appeared+to+be+good+canoeing+program%2e++Nature+facility+one+of+the+best+we+have+seen%2e++Campwide+games+very+fun%2e++Camp+included+several+tours+to+local+areas+for+merit+badges%2e++Mountain+top+day+hike+very+popular%2e++Good+price+overall%2e%0d%0aCons%3a+Food+is+good%2c+but+very+small+portions+and+not+always+enough+for+seconds+%28long+seconds+lines%29%2c+Some+of+our+people+ended+up+sick+when+we+got+home+%28probably+because+plastic+spoons+were+used+by+all+campers+to+serve+salad+condiments+laid+in+food+instead+of+using+long+handled+utensils%29%2c+no+hand+washing+facilities+within+150+yards+of+mess+hall%2e++Because+of+the+limited+seating%2c+troops+in+the+last+half+of+the+line+often+can%27t+sit+together+at+chow+and+may+not+get+seconds%2e+Our+troop+was+small+and+was+never+picked+to+go+early+in+the+chow+line%2e++Very+little+fruit+served+with+meals+%28Leftover+fruit+from+the+couple+of+meals+was+sold+in+trading+post%21%29+The+mess+hall+is+partially+outside+under+tarps%2e+One+member+taking+BSA+Lifeguard+worked+hard+all+week+but+wasn%27t+allowed+to+get+his+snorkeling+cert+as+promised%2e++One+nature+area+instructor+demanded+scouts+call+him+%22Nightmare%22+and+ridculed+a+scout+for+repeatedly+calling+him+%22Sir%22%2e+Trading+Post+worse+than+most+we+have+seen%2c+had+a+great+selection+of+Ice+Creams+but+always+out+of+sodas%2e+Camp+had+the+fewest+trash+cans+I+have+ever+seen%2e++Some+program+areas+didn%27t+have+trash+cans+and+none+in+campsites%2e++The+more+remote+campsites+require+you+to+bring+your+own+tent%2c+are+not+restroom%2fshower+close%2c+require+you+to+haul+equipment+up+hills%2c+and+make+trips+to+and+from+program+areas+tedius+for+the+scouts%2e++Main+adult+restroom%2fshowers+in+camping+area+shared+by+women%2e++If+one+female+is+inside+all+male+leaders+have+to+wait+or+walk+150+yards+to+another+restroom%2e+%28Need+porta+potty+there+for+emergencies%29%2e++Some+confusion+on+who+instructors+were+for+Eagle+Merit+Badges+like+Cit%2e+in+Community%2c+Nation%2c+and+World+%28Some+scouts+didn%27t+get+started+till+Wednesday%2c+but+staff+was+accomodating%29%2e++Nature+director+was+very+threatening+to+campers+first+few+days+regarding+endangered+%22Mountain+Yellow%2dLegged+Frog%22+habitat+%28The+Strawberry+creek+area+running+through+the+main+camp+is+off+limits+to+everyone%29%2e+Camp+staff+killed+a+rattlesnake+instead+of+capturing+it+for+observation+by+campers+or+relocating+it%2e+%28So+much+for+it%27s+habitat%21%29++Merit+Badge+sign+up+was+not+online%2e++MB+sign+up+was+fax+or+email+first+come+first+served%2e++No+fires+allowed+in+campsites+due+to+high+fire+danger%2e%0d%0aOverall%2c+We+gave+the+camp+about+a+7+on+the+10+scale%2e++Not+the+greatest+but+better+than+most%2e+Happy+Camping%21%0d%0a

Can+this+camp+be+used+for+groups+other+than+Scouts%3f++I+am+looking+for+a+campground+for+a+christian+Biker+weekend%2e++If+not+this+one%2c+do+you+know+of+any+other+scout+camps+that+might+be+available%3f%0d%0a

2011%2doffered+a+new+scouting+program%2e+New+program+director%2e+Transistion+to+scouting%2e+Nature+center+was+improved%2e+Shooting+sports+was+upgraded++and+offered+free+of+charge%2e+Rifle+Merit+and+Shotgun+merit+badge+offered%2e+E%2dTeam+and+cope+courses+offered+accomodating+to+Venture+crews%2e+Black+Powder+offered+again+Free+of+charge%2e+Canoeing+was+good%2e+Those+in+charge+knew+what+they+were+doing%2e+Accomodating+handicraft+area%2e+Nature+Lodge+was+in+great+order+and+merit+badges+offered+were+great%2e+Scoutcraft+area+was+great+and+welcoming%2e+Catapults+were+built+and+used+to+throw+water+bombs+at+Scoutmasters+during+Scoutmaster+Golf%2e+Funny+game%2e+Adult+training+offered+during+the+day%2e+First+Aid+and+CPR+and+even+Paddlecraft%2e+One+of+the+more+extensive+adult+trainings+more+then+other+camps%2e+Even+Adult+Merit+badges+to+keep+Adults+busy%2e+Trading+post+was+well+stocked%2e+Tahquitz+Peak+hike+great+frida+morning+activity%2e+Polar+bear+swim+and+mile+swim%2eMany+new+and+exciting+things+at+Emerson+%2e+Worth+the+price%2e+%0d%0a