Good program, good staff, food service not a high point

Very+good+facility%2c+new+tents%2c+nice%2c+helpful+staff%2e++Food+service+was+better+this+year+than+last%2e%0d%0a

Thunder+Scout+Reservation+includes+both+the+Gerald+I%2e+Lawhorn+Canoe+Base+and+Camp+Thunder%2e++To+just+look+on+a+map+you+would+be+shocked+at+the+location%2e++There+is+a+steep+gorge+along+the+Flint+River+with+rock+outcropings+and+%28at+least+to+Florida+folks%29+Mountains%2e++This+area+of+the+Flint+has+several+rare+%26+endangered+species+of+mollusks+and+plant+life+as+well+as+ancient+Indian+historical+sites%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+camp+has+a+full+time+year+round+staff+and+conducts+its+own+reservations+from+its+reservation+office+on+the+2100+acre+facility%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+camp+has+many+wonderful+and+unique+programs%2e++They+have+a+serious+Camp+Trading+Post+that+is+open+year+round+and+would+rival+most+scout+shops+%28plus+it+has+a+lot+of+stuff+you+are+likely+never+to+find+in+a+Scout+Shop%29%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+camp+is+supported+by+a+dedicated+group+of+volunteers+and+a+stong+Camping+Committee%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aI+HIGHLY+recommend+Thunder+Scout+Reservation+not+only+for+summer+camp+but+as+an+off+season+activity%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22BIG+ED%22+Henderson+%28BigEd%40USscouts%2eorg%29%0d%0aPast+Program+Director%2c+Business+Manager%2c+Chaplain%2c+Fine+Arts+%26+Technology+Director%2c+Winter+Camp+Staff%2c+%26+Medic%0d%0aSummer+of+1979%2c+80%2c+81%2c+82%2c+83%2c+87%2c+88%2c+89%2c+91%2c+94%2c+95%2c+96%2c+%26+Winter+of+1999%0d%0a%0d%0a

Camp+was+excellent+this+year%2e+Faciliities+were+very+good+with+constant+improvements+being+made%2e+Food+service+was+much+improved%2e+Merti+Badges+offered+gave+a+full+range+of+activities%2e+High+Adventure+program+including+out+of+camp+programs+are+underutilized%2e+Good+value+for+dollars+spent%2e+%0d%0a

Just+got+the+new+2002+Leader%27s+Guide%2e%2e%2eor+I+should+say+CD%2dROM%2e++Thunder+Scout+Reservation+is+always+on+the+cutting+edge%2e++I+love+this+%2d+in+fact+we+burned+CD%27s+to+give+to+each+parent+for+our+trip+there+this+summer+so+everyone+could+watch+the+Camp+Promo+Video+on+their+own+PC+at+home%2e+%28It+is+an+MPEG+right+on+the+CD%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aOur+home+council+is+still+fooling+around+with+their+print+guide+for+the+camp+%2d+they+now+say+it+won%27t+be+out+till+February%21++These+guys+have+their+act+together+%2d+that+is+why+we+go+out+of+state+for+this+beautiful%2c+cool+camp+in+the+Pine+Mountains+of+Georgia%2e++This+is+ione+camp+that+can+keep+our+older+scouts+coming+back+each+year%2e%0d%0a

Our+Troop+just+spent+a+fantastic+week+at+Camp+Thunder%2e++The+staff+has+been+well+selected+and+trained%2e++None+of+our+scouts+wanted+leave+at+the+end+of+the+week%2d%2d%2dthats+a+great+sign%21%21%21%0d%0a%0d%0aCamp+Thunder+has+new+tents%2c+showers+in+every+camp+combined+with+a+well+organized+staff+to+run+things%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aFood+is+good%2c+the+programs+are+geat%2c+new+scouts+will+get+great+training%2d%2d%2dcheck+out+the+Buckskin+program%2e++Older+scouts+can%27t+get+enough+of+the+high+adventure%2c+really+a+quality+camp%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aScoutmaster+Troop+164%0d%0a

Just+got+back+from+Winter+Camp+at+great+Camp+Thunder%2e++Have+to+say+that+those+guys+are+a+class+act%2e++Where+else+would+you+find+a+great+staff%2c+good+food+and+great+times+in+the+middle+of+winter%2e++Kudos+to+Camp+Thunder%21%21%21%21++We+will+see+you+in+summer%2e++T%2d%21%5e%21%0d%0a

Just+spent+the+week+there%2e++Others+say+all+new+tents%2c+but+it+must+be+luck+of+the+draw+because+ours+were+deplorable%2e++All+ripped+and+full+of+spiders%2e++Mosquitos+were+moderate+so+bring+nets+to+sleep+under%2e++The+covered+pavillion+for+each+site+with+head+and+private+showers+with+hot+water+was+awesome%2e+Our+head+however+went+out+of+service+twice+while+we+were+there+requiring+use+of+very+sub%2dpar+alternative%2e++The+food+was+fairly+bad+and+haphazard%2e++In+serious+need+of+a+nutritionist+review%2e++%28Who+eats+chicken+fried+steak+for+breakfast%3f%29++Even+the+old+faithful+standby+of+PB%26J+when+all+else+fails+was+bad+%28was+that+bread+or+what%3f%29+Thank+goodness+for+the+salad+bar+and+the+a%2fc%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aWe+all+felt+many+of+the+councilors+were+too+young+and+unsupervised%2e++Most+were+completly+uninterested+and+it+showed+to+the+scouts%2e++The+lake+is+the+worst%2e++It+is+small%2c+nasty%2c+and+scummy%2e++One+scout+returned+home+with+a+staff+infection+and+an+adult+got+some+sort+of+parasite+problem%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aAll+of+this+relates+to+the+Camp+Thunder%2e++The+high+adventure+canoe+base+is+a+different+story%2e++It+is+apparent+they+put+all+of+their+money+and+attention+to+this+place%2e++It+is+awesome+and+the+part+of+the+troop+who+went+there+were+estatic+over+their+experience%2e%0d%0a

Just+returned+from+Summer+Camp+2006%2e++Our+Troop+went+there+last+year+as+well%2e++The+best+camp+our+boys+have+attended%2e++Very+knowledgable+staff%2c+motivated+youth+directors%2c+excellent+campsites%2c+food+service+needs+little+improvement%2e++Great+year%2dround+facility%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aCommittee+Chair%0d%0aTroop+420%0d%0aLudowici%2c+GA%0d%0a%0d%0a

The+Camp+now+sits+on+2600+acres+of+wilderness%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aAll+campsites+have+very+nice+tents+except+3+which+have+primitive+cabins+or+adirondacks%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+camp+is+currently+in+the+middle+of+a+facilities+upgrade%2e++The+kitchen+is+experiencing+a+large+upgrade%2e++They+have+a+new+Rifle+and+Shotgun+Range%2c+and+will+soon+have+a+50%2d100+yard+black+powder%2fpistol%2fhigh%2dpower+rifle+range+for+Venturers%2c+an+new+Archery+Range%2e+In+the+near+future%2c+the+water+front+will+be+redone+with+a+bigger+pavilion+for+instruction%2c+bigger+dock+area%2c+and+shower+facilities%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aAll+campsites+have+a+covered+shelter+in+each+campsite%2e++Currently+3+do+not+have+electric+lights+in+the+shelter%2c+the+other+sites+have+a+roofed+and+are+electrically+wired%2e++All+sites+have+hot+water+showers+in+the+camp+sites+%28very+nice%21%29%0d%0aBe+prepared+that+if+you+come+as+a+small+troop+that+you+will+likely+be+sharing+a+site+with+another+troop%2c+but+90%25+of+these+troops+from+a+lasting+bond%2c+and+I+know+of+several+that+go+on+trips+together%2e++Campsites+vary+in+capacity%2c+but+all+tents+are+in+good+shape%2c+they+are+not+the+standard+BSA+Camp+Tent%2e++They+are+larger+and+nicer%2e++In+my+all+my+years+camping+there+have+never+gotten+wet+in+one%2e++At+the+beginning+of+Summer+2007+every+tent+got+a+brand+new+mattress%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aCampsites+are+not+concentrated+in+one+area%2c+but+scattered+around+the+camp%2e++The+result+is+every+campsite+is+close+to+something%2c+and+you+don%27t+have+to+trek+for+20+minutes+to+get+to+your+campsite%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aProgram%3a%0d%0aMerit+Badge+Program+is+second+to+none%2e++A+young%2c+but+knowledgeable+staff+gives+very+personal+attention+to+each+scout%2e+Shooting+Sports+and+Nature+Programs+definitely+top+the+charts%2e%0d%0aEagle+Trail%2fHumanities+is+an+excellent+program%2c+but+is+very+restrictive+due+to+time+limits+of+summer+camp%2e++Please+only+put+your+kids+in+one+class+of+Eagle+Trail%2fHumanities+%2c+they+will+be+sitting+all+day+otherwise%2c+and+will+not+enjoy+camp+as+much%2c+instructor+give+lots+of+homework+to+keep+on+schedule+multiple+classes+in+this+area+will+over+burden+your+scouts%2e%0d%0aBuckskin+Program+is+a+very+beneficial+program%2e++for+first+year+scouts%2e++The+program+is+a+day+long+program%2e++Scouts+are+placed+in+a+patrol+and+will+learn+all+their+material+with+a+Buckskin+Guide%2e++++Scouts+learn+almost+every+requirement+for+++Tenderfoot%2dFirst+Class+and+Totin+and+Fireman+Chit%2e++They+also+get+First+Aid+and+Swimming+Merit+Badge%2e++All+scouts+including++Buckskins+have+the+option+to+do+several+evening+merit+badges%3a+Fingerprinting%2c+Basketry%2c+and+Nature%2e++If+the+Buckskins+do+this+they+have+most+of+their+other+requirements+and+5+merit+badges%2c+not+bad+for+a+week+of+camp%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aSpecialty+programs+are+great%3a%0d%0aMountain+Man+is+the+newest%2e+Older+scouts+leave+main+camp+on+Monday+and+stay+several+miles+away+in+the+middle+of+the+back+country%2e++There+they++cook+their+own+food+over+coals+and+with+dutch+ovens%2e++They+learn+about+trapping%2c+flint+napping%2c+++++++++++tomahawk+throwing%2c+knife+making+%28they+get+to+make+a+really+nice+knife%29%2c+tanning%2c+black+powder+rifle%2c+cabin+construction%2c+and+many+other+primitive+skills%2e++The+Director+and+Staff+of+this+program+layout+the+program+for+the+kids+the+first+day+and+they+pick+what+they+want+to+do%2e++If+they+want+to+fish+they+fish%2e++They+don%27t+run+on+a+set+schedule%2e++They+sleep+when+they+are+tired+and+eat+when+they+are+hungry%2e++Best+food+in+the+camp+is+served+at+Mountain+Man%2e++Well+worth+the+extra+money+this+program+costs%2e++Scouts+return+on+Thursday+afternoon+and+do+activities+in+camp+on+Friday%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aHigh+Adventure%3a+Best+in+the+South%2c+and+maybe+the+nation%2e++Camp+has+not+1+not+2+but+4+climbing+towers%2e++Ranging+from+20+feet+to+65+feet+tall%2e++The+tallest+tower+has+a+60+foot+high+450+foot+long+zip+line%2e++Has+a+gorgeous+natural+rock+face+along+the+river+and+an+indoor+climbing+room+for+inclement+weather%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aHas+one+of+the+largest+COPE+Courses+anywhere%2e++Unlike+most+camps+that+have+the+COPE+course+in+an+open+area%2c+the+new+course+at+Thunder+is+intertwined+in+the+forest+canopy+providing+shade%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+camp+also+accesses+65+miles+of+the+Flint+River+for+canoing%2e++About+3%2d4+miles+of+this+is+along+the+camp+property%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aAlong+with+the+on+site+high+adventure+programs+they+offer+several+off%2dsite+programs%2c+they+have+some+package+deals%2c+but+offer+a+very+unique+build+your+own+adventure+program%2e++You+can+do+some+of+everything%2c+or+all+of+something%2e%0d%0aActivities+include+Caving%2c+Canoing%2c+Rock+Climbing%2c+Whitewater+Rafting%2c+Backpacking%2c+Sailing+%2825%27+boat%29%0d%0a%0d%0aOver+and+under+is+the+most+popular%2e++Includes+caving%2c+climbing%2c+whitewater%2c+and+more%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aPaddles+and+Sails+is+another+which+includes+3+days+of+Canoing+on+the+Chattahoochee+of+Flint+and+2+days+of+Sailing+in+a+25+foot+sail+boat+on+West+Point+Lake%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aAdd%2da%2dtrips%3a%0d%0aYou+can+add+these+to+a+week+of+summer+camp+for+a+extra+fee%2e++Most+of+these+are+in+the+evening%2c+but+a+couple+are+during+lunch%2c+and+the+rafting+is+all+day%2e+Here+they+are%3a%0d%0a%0d%0aWhitewater+Rafting+on+the+Ocoee%0d%0aThursday+Thunder+%28Legends+Car+Racing+at+the+Atlanta+Motor+Speedway%29%0d%0aStone+Mountain%3a+Laser+and+Fireworks+show%2c+and+a+gorgeous+park%2e%0d%0aFDR%3a+Trip+to+FDR%27s+Little+White+House+in+Warm+Springs%2c+the+historic+pools+for+polio+treatment%2c+and+a+trip+to+the+Bullock+House+for+an+old%2dfashioned+southern+meal+%28excellent+biscuits+and+fried+chicken%29%0d%0aCanoe+and+Climbing+on+Saturdays%0d%0a%0d%0aI+have+been+going+there+for+years+and+have+been+to+several+other+camps%2c+and+none+of+them+compare+to+Thunder+in+every+way%2e++Other+camps+are+bigger%2c+have+nicer+facilities%2c+but+all+fail+to+give+you+the+personal+feel+that+Camp+Thunder+does%2e++Camps+in+North+Georgia+have+twice+as+many+campers+per+week%2c+but+Thunder+exchanges+quantity+for+quality%2e%0d%0a+%0d%0aThe+camp+literally+has+everything%2e++Check+it+out+for+this+summer+if+you+haven%27t+made+a+reservation%2e%0d%0a

We+spent+the+week+of+June+11th+in+Camp+Thunder%2e+The+staff+is+awesome+and+the+boys+completed+a+majority+of+the+merit+badges+that+they+signed+up+for%2e+The+scout+masters+lodge+was+clean%2c+cold+and+quite%2e+The+senior+administrators+worked+very+hard+to+correct+any+issues+that+arose%2e+The+only+thing+that+was+a+drawback+was+the+food%2c+we+had+2nd+seating+and+our+food+was+always+luke+warm%2e+There+was+also+usually+not+enough+left+to+provide+a+quality+meal+to+the+boys%2e+Other+then+that+I+would+recommend+this+camp+as+the+staff+and+location+more+then+made+up+for+the+few+shortcomings%2e%0d%0aJ%2e+Cotton%0d%0aASM%0d%0aTroop+492%0d%0aPembroke+Pines%2c+FL+%0d%0a

My+troop+just+returned+from+Camp+Thunder%2e+We+went+for+the+2nd+week+and+had+a+great+time%2e+The+boys+loved+the+whole+experience+except+for+the+spiders%2e+The+food+was+alright%2e+However%2c+they+had+seconds+at+every+meal%2e+It+appeared+that+every+path+led+up%2e+But%2c+it+wsa+great+for+the+boys+endurance%2e+We+took+11+boys%2c+8+which+were+12+years+old+or+younger+and+they+all+had+a+blast%2e+Scoutmaster+Specifics+training+was+great%2e+They+also+appear+to+have+a+great+high+adventure+program+which+they+are+expanding%2e+Climbing+towers+look+amazing%2e+We+hope+to+come+back+here+sometime+in+the+future%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aTom+Fretch%0d%0aScoutmaster%2c+Troop+584%0d%0aMiami%2c+FL%0d%0a